The Facts About Epilepsy

The common condition may not look like what you imagine.

Epilepsy, a brain disorder that causes seizures, affects around 3.5 million children and adults in the U.S. Epileptic seizures can look very different from person to person, which makes proper diagnosis essential.

“There are different types of seizures, and not all seizures are caused by epilepsy,” said Toufic Fakhoury, MD, neurologist, Epilepsy Program, Saint Joseph Hospital. “There are also certain conditions that mimic seizures but are not brain disorders. The gold standard for making that differentiation is video EEG monitoring. At Saint Joseph Hospital, we provide that service in a specialized epilepsy monitoring unit.”

The Level 3 Difference

Up to 30% of patients seen at epilepsy centers for drug-resistant seizures actually do not have epilepsy. As a Level 3 epilepsy center, Saint Joseph Hospital offers advanced diagnostic and treatment options for all patients. 

“As a Level 3 center, we provide detailed evaluation for patients with seizures,” Dr. Fakhoury said. “We have an outpatient clinic, an epilepsy monitoring unit, and neurodiagnostic imaging and testing.”

The epilepsy center also offers medication and some surgical treatment for seizures, including neurostimulation implants, which act like pacemakers for the brain.

“Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder in adults,” Dr. Fakhoury said. “We strive to reduce the stigma around this condition and provide successful treatment.”

Learn more about epilepsy treatment at Saint Joseph Hospital.