By Dr. Locatelli
Many years ago, people believed that seizures were caused by supernatural powers. If you have ever experienced a seizure or witnessed someone having one, you may understand why they believed this. Thanks to modern science, we know that this is obviously not the case!
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By Dr. Locatelli on October 20th, 2008 in Dr. Locatelli.
By Dr. Eduardo Locatelli
Writer Nancy Christie at EverydayHealth.com recently interviewed me about the increasing popularity of brain games and their benefits.
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By Dr. Locatelli on October 13th, 2008 in Dr. Locatelli.
By Dr. Eduardo Locatelli
Excessive drinking is not good for anyone. For people with epilepsy, drinking excessively can induce seizures because of the effect alcohol has on the brain.The effects of alcohol can temporarily reduce seizures for a few hours, but then increase the chances of having seizures as the alcohol leaves your body. Alcohol can also interact with anti-epileptic drugs, making them less effective. Heavy drinking can also lead to missed dosages of medications, lack of sleep, and a patient’s overall well-being, which can trigger seizures.
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By Dr. Locatelli on October 11th, 2008 in Dr. Locatelli.
By Dr. Gaby Cora
October 10th is National Depression Screening Day.
The current economic and financial crisis has created increased pressure on all of us. As many struggle with the uncertainty of whether or not they will continue to have a job, others deal with the challenges of laying people off, many of whom may have been colleagues and friends. With stress reaching epidemic numbers, many struggle with staying healthy during rough times. Stress affects the most vulnerable systems: some people will experience frequent migraine headaches, whereas others will develop gastrointestinal problems, and others will have high blood pressure. Stress may trigger panic attacks in some people and will affect others with clinical depression.
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By Dr. Corá on October 7th, 2008 in Dr. Corá.
By Dr. Eduardo Locatelli
A seizure or an infection might cause trauma to a portion of the brain. Fortunately, there are rehabilitative therapies available to help retrain the affected area of the brain that was injured or shut down.
Many scientists once believed the brain became “hard-wired” during childhood and that little could be done to improve its function once you entered adulthood. Not anymore.
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By Dr. Locatelli on October 6th, 2008 in Dr. Locatelli.
By Dr. Locatelli
Cognitive retraining therapy helps many of our patients regain function in areas of the brain - such as organization, attention, memory, and problem solving - that have been affected by seizures or brain injury.
Watch us on the WFOR Channel 4 5:00 p.m. newscast on Thursday, October 2 as we discuss and demontrate our techniques.
By Dr. Locatelli on September 30th, 2008 in Dr. Locatelli.
By Dr. Eduardo Locatelli
Living with the uncertainty of when or where a seizure will occur is extremely difficult. At Florida Neuroscience Center, our goal is to help our patients enjoy a better quality of life. In July, we wrote about the percentage of seizure patients who are potential candidates for surgery where a small portion of the brain responsible for seizure activity is removed. In addition, for those patients who cannot undergo surgery, prescription antiepileptic drugs (AED) can help control seizures.
A third option is now being studied to control seizures for people who do not respond to AEDs and who are not good candidates for surgery.
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By Dr. Locatelli on September 27th, 2008 in Dr. Locatelli.
By Dr. Eduardo Locatelli
In early August, Dr. Cora recommended several easy-to-implement strategies for managing stress. We all respond to stressful situations differently, but what we do know is that stress is an unhealthy response to life’s pressures and challenges. Your body’s response to stress, if constantly activated, may make you more vulnerable to life-threatening health situations.
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By Dr. Locatelli on September 25th, 2008 in Dr. Locatelli.
Vitamins E and B complex can help improve memory in people who experience seizures
By Dr. Eduardo Locatelli
It is not unusual for people who have epilepsy to have some difficulties with their memory. Vitamin E, an antioxidant, has been reported to slow dementia and improve scores of depression and cognitive function in some patients. Antioxidants, which can protect brain cells, act as buffers against possible damage caused by free radical molecules, thereby keeping brain cells healthy and working better.
Good sources of Vitamin E are popular foods such as grains, nuts, liver, peanut butter, wheat germ, vegetable oil and avocado.
Please consult with your physician before starting to take any new medication, vitamins, or supplements. Discuss the proper dosage and possible interactions with your prescription medications.
Have you seen improvement in your memory after taking vitamin E or B complex? Let us know by posting a comment!
By Dr. Locatelli on September 16th, 2008 in Dr. Locatelli.
By Dr. Eduardo Locatelli
Folic acid is a B vitamin and is an essential vitamin for any pregnant woman or any woman considering pregnancy. As stated in an earlier blog entry, more than 90% of women with epilepsy will have normal pregnancies. Whether you have epilepsy or not, vitamins that contain folic acid, or folate supplements, are recommended prior to and throughout pregnancy.
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By Dr. Locatelli on September 12th, 2008 in Dr. Locatelli.
