Emory Healthcare Seizures are frightening. And they can be serious. But with the right treatment, you can usually manage them well.
The Epilepsy Center at Emory Healthcare, part of the Brain Health Center, is here to help. Our team offers expert diagnosis and treatment for all types of seizures.
Whether you have epilepsy or seizures related to some other cause, we can help you take control and feel your best.
Getting the best seizure care begins with an accurate diagnosis. At Emory Healthcare, you have access to the most advanced diagnostic tools and a team of seizure specialists. Neurologists, neurosurgeons and other experts are at your side and ready to provide the guidance, support and care you need.
From your first symptoms to finding the right treatment and helping you with long-term management of your condition, you can rely on us.
Seizures are sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity in your brain. There are many types of seizures, and their symptoms and severity may vary. But they all interfere with how your brain works.
Seizures can occur in anyone but most often affect young children and older adults. We don’t always know what’s behind them, but in some people, causes include:
Conditions that affect the brain: These may include a head injury, brain tumor or stroke.
Congenital brain conditions: Problems present since birth.
Health issues: You may have a genetic condition or a disorder that affects development, such as autism or cerebral palsy. Seizures can also occur as a result of health issues such as fever, infection, or kidney or liver problems.
Problems that occur during birth: Receiving too little oxygen is an example.
Substance-related problems: Sometimes seizures occur as a result of a reaction to medication or withdrawal (quickly stopping the use of certain substances).
It’s possible to have a single seizure and never have another. But if you have repeated seizures over time and we can’t identify a cause, we refer to your condition as epilepsy.
It’s possible to have symptoms that look like epileptic seizures but aren’t. Things that may cause non-epileptic spells include:
When doctors rule out seizures with medical tests, they work to find the best treatment for you.
We look at your symptoms, medical history and a physical exam to help make a diagnosis. We are also likely to order one or more tests, including:
If we suspect you have epilepsy, we may need to order additional tests.
Emory Healthcare has one of the few level 4 epilepsy centers in the Southeastern U.S.