Epilepsy is like no other medical condition. It hits about one person in 100, and it can start at any age, sometimes for no apparent reason. Seizures may strike often, or almost never. Attacks take many different forms, from violent convulsions and unconsciousness, to flickers of "absence" as brief as a passing thought. What, then, is epilepsy? What does it do to your life, and what options do you have? This authoritative new addition to the "Your Personal Health" series explains what we know today about this unpredictable disorder and gives detailed, practical advice on living with it, in yourself or a loved one. Topics include: how to recognize different kinds of epilepsy how and why the brain produces these various patterns what tests and procedures are used to diagnose epilepsy how drugs can help-or harm when surgery makes sense epilepsy in pregnancy, childhood and old age The author includes frank discussions of lifestyle issues such as family relationships, school and work, sports, driving, drinking and drug use, and hands-on advice for managing a seizure. Comprehensive and up-to-date, complete with illustrations, case studies and a resource list, Epilepsy and Seizures is your guide to managing a complex and often frustrating disorder. "A complete and very well written book covering the topics of interest to persons with epilepsy and their families." Thomas R. Browne, MD Medical Information Directory, The Brain Center Professor of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine