Seizures can occur for various reasons. If you have experienced seizures, it could mean you have a seizure disorder—the most common one being epilepsy. Having a seizure can be frightening. Although they are scary, they are often treatable. WMCHealth offers comprehensive resources, including epilepsy support.
Our flagship location in New York has around-the-clock neurologists who provide innovative and multidisciplinary treatment for seizures, day and night. Westchester Medical Center is the only certified Level 4 Epilepsy Center in the Hudson Valley accredited by National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC), ABRET Neurodiagnostic Credentialing & Accreditation, and Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York, Inc. and offers both adult and pediatric treatment. Our highly skilled epileptologists have expertise in the newest seizure medications. We have access to the latest in technology, including minimally invasive brain surgery for epilepsy, to help patients with seizure disorders regain their quality of life.
What Are Seizure Disorders?
A seizure occurs when there is a sudden and uncontrolled burst of electrical activity within the brain. This results in changes in behavior, body movements, body sensations, and states of awareness. Most seizures last 30 seconds to two minutes. If a seizure is longer than five minutes, it is a medical emergency, and immediate medical attention is needed.
Having two or more seizures with an unknown cause over 24 hours apart is usually considered to be epilepsy.
Symptoms of Seizure Disorders
Symptoms of seizures vary depending on the type of seizure you may have. They can also range in severity. General symptoms include:
- Temporary confusion
- Cognitive or emotional changes
- Uncontrollable jerking movements or convulsions
- Changes in the state of consciousness or awareness
- Staring off without responding to the activity going on around you
Types of Seizure Disorders
There are many different types of seizures that range in severity and symptoms. Seizures are classified into two broad categories, based on location and brain activity.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures happen when there is an outburst of electrical activity in one area of the brain. They may cause a loss of consciousness.
Generalized Seizures
Generalized seizures seem to involve the brain in its entirety. There are many different types of generalized seizures, including:
- Absence seizures
- Tonic seizures
- Atonic seizures
- Myoclonic seizures
- Tonic-clonic seizures
Diagnosing Seizure Disorders
To diagnose epilepsy, your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history. You also may go through a variety of tests to pinpoint the cause of your seizures. These may include:
- Blood tests
- Genetic testing
- Neurological exam
- Brain imaging tests and scans
Discovering your seizure type and location provides the best chance of effective treatment. At WMCHealth, we use the most advanced technology to identify the precise location of the seizure for the most accurate diagnosis and effective care possible.
Causes of Seizure Disorders
Nerves within the brain communicate through electrical impulses. Anything that disrupts this communication can result in a seizure. About half of those with recurrent seizures or epilepsy have no identifiable cause. However, some identifiable causes include:
- Infections
- Head trauma
- Brain tumors
- Brain damage
- Genetic factors
- Developmental conditions such as autism or ADHD
Not everyone who experiences a seizure has epilepsy. Seizures can be triggered by:
- High Fever
- Illegal drugs
- Head trauma
- Medications
- Lack of sleep
- Severe illness
- Alcohol misuse
- Low blood sugar
- Low blood sodium
Treatment of Seizure Disorders
Medication
The most common epilepsy treatment option is medication. Finding the right medication and dosage can be a challenge, and you may need to try a few to find the right fit. At WMCHealth, our goal is to pinpoint the optimal treatment to stop seizures with the fewest side effects possible.
Diet adjustments may help decrease seizures. A high fat and low carb diet seems to work best but can be difficult to follow due to strict limitations.
Surgical Epilepsy Treatments
In some cases, surgery is the best option for epilepsy treatment. Surgery is best for those who have seizures that consistently begin in one area of the brain. WMCHealth offers a range of traditional brain surgeries for epilepsy, including:
- Lesionectomy
- Corpus callosotomy
- Temporal lobe resection
- Frontal, occipital, or parietal resection
Our Innovative Techniques
The neurologists at WMCHealth are experts in the latest advanced treatments in minimally invasive surgery and neuromodulation. These procedures include:
- Laser ablation (LITT)
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
- Responsive neurostimulation (RNS)
Our team has seen remarkable results with patients who, thanks to these advanced technologies, can experience a seizure in the brain while showing virtually no physical or mental symptoms.
Transitioning to Adulthood with Epilepsy
If you have epilepsy, navigating the transition from pediatric to adult care can be overwhelming. At WMCHealth’s Transition Clinic for Pediatric to Adult Epilepsy Care, we bridge the gap with expertise and compassion.
Our team specializes in guiding young adults through this crucial phase. We offer:
- Comprehensive medical evaluations
- Tailored treatment plans
- Practical advice on adult epilepsy management
- Support for complex epilepsy cases
- Strategies for increasing independence in care
Our goal is to empower you with knowledge and resources and address your specific needs and concerns, providing a launch pad for confident, informed epilepsy management in adulthood.
Treatment for Women with Seizure Disorders
At WMCHealth’s Clinic for Women with Epilepsy, we recognize that epilepsy management is as unique as you are. Our specialized team is dedicated to empowering women with epilepsy throughout all life stages.
We offer customized care that goes beyond seizure control:
- Adolescence to Menopause: We address age-specific challenges, including catamenial epilepsy and menopausal transitions
- Family Planning: Our proactive medication adjustments and folic acid guidance help support safe pregnancies
- Pregnancy and Beyond: Partnering with maternal-fetal specialists for high-risk pregnancies, we monitor your medication regimen and provide tailored delivery and postpartum plans
- Comprehensive Women’s Health: We manage birth control interactions, bone health and other epilepsy-related concerns
Our board-certified epileptologists work alongside you, providing sophisticated care, up-to-date resources and continuous support. Whether you’re navigating daily life with epilepsy or planning for major milestones, we’re here to help.
Patient Resources
What to Expect in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit
Adult patients (English | Spanish)
Pediatric patients (English | Spanish)
Online Resources
The following resources can help support individuals with epilepsy and their loved ones.
Websites for Patients:
- Epilepsy Foundation
- Non-epileptic Seizures/Functional Neurologic Disorders:
Epilepsy Coalition of New York State (ECNYS) Provider Agencies
NY State Epilepsy Patient Groups
Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York, Inc.
3 Washington Square
Albany, NY 12205
518.456.7501
Fax: 518.452.1282
Contact: Jeannine Garab, Executive Director
jgarab@epilepsyneny.org
efneny.org
Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island
1500 Hempstead Turnpike
East Meadow, NY 11554
516.739.7733
Contact: Tom Hopkins, President and CEO
thopkins@epicli.org
epicli.org
Epilepsy Association of Western New York
339 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
716.883.5396 ext. 407
716.883.5403 (Fax)
Contact: Jeffrey Irwin, Executive Director
jirwin@epilepsywny.org
epilepsywny.org
Epilepsy Alliance of West Central NY, a part of EPI (Empowering People’s Independence)
1650 South Avenue
Suite 300
Rochester, NY 14620
585.442.4430 ext. 2741
Fax: 585.442.6305
Contact: Michael Radell, Education Coordinator/Camp Director
mradell@epiny.org
epiny.org
Epilepsy Society of Southern NY/Capabilities Partnership, Inc.
450 West Nyack Road
West Nyack NY 10994
845.627.0627 ext. 112
Fax: 845.627.0629
Contacts: Anna Vero, Executive Director of Administration; Kim Egan, Executive Director of Clinical Services
avero@cpiny.org
kegan@cpiny.org
cpiny.org
Epilepsy Foundation of Metropolitan New York
65 Broadway
Suite 505
New York, NY 10006
212.677.8550
Fax: 212.677.5825
Contact: Elinor LaTouche, MPA, Executive Director
elatouche@efmny.org
efmny.org