Epilepsy is a kind of disorder, in which a nerve cell in the brain is disturbed. Due to the disturbance in the nerve cell, a patient faces seizures. There are various treatment options for seizures, but one should remember that there is no cure for this condition. Even though this issue is self-diagnosable, doctors will often ask a patient to go for imaging or lab tests.

This article will provide information about the various ways in which people can manage or treat seizures.

Things to remember while trying to manage epilepsy and seizures
Epilepsy can get into the way of life of a patient as well as the caregiver, especially when seizures happen from time to time. Experiencing seizures can be a big problem as it affects one’s daily life. Be it work, school, or household chores, it changes everything that a person does. If one does not control seizures successfully, then it may lead to severe consequences like:

• Injury to the patient and others
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Sometimes, it may also result in the death of the patient

One should remember that sometimes, epilepsy treatment can tire a patient out as well.

Methods for treating epilepsy
When it comes to treatment, one can best manage their seizures by taking care of themselves. This treatment option is known as self-management. By using this method, a patient will learn to manage epilepsy, and thus start leading a normal life again, with more activeness and confidence.

To successfully self-manage their condition, one should try and talk to others about their problem. Healthcare providers, friends, and family should also be collaborative and supportive.

Tips for parents and caregivers
Parents should keep several tips in mind for their child if they face seizures from time to time. The same goes for caregivers who are responsible for looking after the patient.

• Always talk with the child’s healthcare provider as much as possible. They will provide adequate information about the condition that will help parents control their child’s seizures. They can also guide parents about treatment and self-management options.
• When the children enter their teens, parents will need to collaborate with their children and come up with different ways to help them treat their seizures when they are alone. They can search for The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “You Are Not Alone” program for guidance.
• Parents can also learn about more treatment options for their child’s seizures through various clinical trials.
• The Epilepsy Foundation also provides numerous resources for people who are suffering from epilepsy as well as for their caregivers.

How can a patient keep their seizures in check?
Following are some of the seizure treatment guidelines that patients can easily follow:

• Always take medicines, as and when prescribed by the doctor. Never forget or delay taking these medicines.
• Never refrain from talking to the healthcare provider, as and when one has any questions.
• Try to recognize the triggers for seizure. One such trigger is excessive stress.
• It is always recommended to keep a track record of all the seizures that a patient faces.
• Always try to get enough sleep throughout the day.
• Try to exercise slowly and safely. It will help in keeping seizures at bay.
• Plan to lower overall stress levels as it helps in decreasing the frequency of seizures.
• Connect with family members and friends more. They will keep a patient happy, and thus lower stress levels significantly.

Steps that healthcare professionals can take
Healthcare professionals can offer treatment for seizures by encouraging their patients to participate in self-management programs. This process is known as chronic illness care. When this recommendation comes from healthcare professionals, patients are more likely to opt for this proven and low-cost treatment option for seizures.

Apart from that, healthcare professionals can also participate in training for self-management support. Various institutions all over the world provide resources for training and imparting more knowledge to healthcare professionals, and paraprofessionals as well.

One can see that by using the right treatment methods, one can effectively keep seizures under control. However, as mentioned earlier, epilepsy has no cure. Therefore, it all comes down to the patient, and how they manage this condition by themselves to make their lives much more joyous and safe.

The procedures for managing seizures are not tedious, and an epilepsy patient can practice it easily. In this way, more and more people will become aware of epilepsy and its associated problems, and families and friends will become more supportive.