Issue for the Month... Epilepsy
Epilepsy is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. Epilepsy affects people
of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds. The condition can develop at any time of life,
especially in early childhood and old age. Epilepsy is a disorder in which there is a tendency
to have fits; fits maybe of many types, but the most easily recognizable ones are where a person
becomes unresponsive, jerks his limbs, breathes heavily, rolls his eyeballs, froths at the mouth,
bites his tongue and injures himself.
Causes for Epilepsy
There may be some tumors
Area of old damage
Developmental abnormality & Genetic
What is a fit?
A fit is an attack, in which the patient loses contact with his surroundings, loses
control of his mind & body parts, and may have abnormal jerking of different parts
of the body. The fits may stop spontaneously or after a drug is administered, and
the patient usually has no recollection of the events during the fit.
Department of Neurology@ Apollo Hospitals
Dr.Subhasini Prabhakar, Dr.Rajshekar,
Treatment for Epilepsy @Apollo Hospitals
Some forms of Epilepsy can be cured .If tumor; it can be removed by surgery. There are drugs
to control fits and continued for 2-3 years. The average epileptic patient needs at least one
evaluation with an MRI of the brain similarly some patients require an Electroencephalogram.
(EEG), Those patients who require surgical therapy need to be monitored in the Epilepsy
Monitoring Unit; such a unit is under consideration Once such a unit becomes functional,
then Epilepsy Surgery will become much more common at the hospital than it is now.
Why do fits occur?
Fits are the outward manifestations of abnormal electrical discharges arising in
some parts of the brain; these usually start from one point, called the epileptic
focus, and then spread to other parts of the brain within fractions of seconds, at
which point there is an outwardly evident fit. Fits may occur without any evident
precipitant (spontaneous fit); but in many individuals, fits occur only when the
brain is provoked, such as by fever, infections, lack of sleep, alcohol or other
drug intoxication, etc.
Send your query on health and wellness touchinglives@apollohospitals.com
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Snoring is a very common problem it arises when the air passage is blocked which
inhibits easy and normal breathing during sleep. Snoring occurs when the muscles
of the throat collapse, creating a blockage at the airway. The sound of snoring
varies with the degree of obstruction. Most people who snore do not know that they
snore. Snoring is not a sign of sound sleep; visit your physician to know more…
What is sleep Apnea?
Sleep Apnea is a sleeping disorder, which stops a person’s breathing up to hundreds
of times each night. It occurs when the airway collapses and airflow to the lungs
is blocked. Therefore the various organs are deprived of their supply of oxygen.
What is Snoring?
Snoring is noise caused by air passing through a partially obstructed upper airway tract.
The site of obstruction may be anywhere from the nose down to the Voice box (larynx).
The common causes are deviated nasal septum, growths in the nose, adenoids & large tonsils,
large soft palate &elongated uvula, large tongue, tumors & developmental abnormalities
in the lower jaw.
Is snoring harmful?
Some people may find it amusing. Others may find it annoying. But the simple fact is,
severe snoring could be the sign of a much greater problem: Sleep Apnea, and if left
untreated, it can progressively destroy your life.
What are the symptoms?
Severe snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness are the common symptoms, which accompany
sleep Apneas. In addition, it can also cause morning headaches, intellectual decline,
sexual impotence, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and even
sudden death.
Treatment for Snoring@ Apollo Hospitals
Snoring and Sleep Apnea can be effectively treated with excellent results when properly diagnosed.
For diagnosis patient is subjected to special investigations like Cephalometry and Polypsomnography.
After establishing the severity of disease and level’s of obstruction causing the problem, both medical
and surgical treatments are available depending on the cause.
Send your query on health and wellness to touchinglives@apollohospitals.com
BACK ACHE
Such a common problem, such a simple solution but alas so neglected. It is the commonest
problem in middle age. Mainly mechanical problem of spine and mostly responds to life style
modification and spinal exercises.
Prevention of Backache
Regular spinal and abdominal exercises Swimming is a good exercise.
Why does Backache occur?
Backache is the first symptom of mechanical imbalance of muscles, joints of back. It can be
part of the disc prolapse. Biggest contributor is improper life style.
What should one do if he/she falls and develops severe back pain?
Microdiscectomy
Done under microscopic magnification, the offending prolapsed disc is removed through
2.5 to 3.0cm incision.
Endoscopic discectomy
Done through a keyhole, the offending disc fragment can be removed using an endoscopic
technique. There is no muscle cutting. Patient can be discharged within a day.
Lumbar Fusion
Done through aDone if there is instability at any level. Limited cases of back pain could be due to this.
Only 5- 0% cases of disc prolapse require surgery.
Treatment of Backache?
Lifestyle modification
• Exercise
• Medication on doctor’s advice
• Surgery should only be offered if a disc prolapse is causing radiating pain down the leg. If there is no defect then a trial of non-surgical treatment should be tried.
• Emergency surgery if there is loss ofcontrol of bladder and MRI suggests thatdisc prolapse is the cause.
