Mercy Neurologist Dr. Mark Fehr Explains Symptoms, Treatment For Epilepsy

Seizures can be scary to witness and they are more common than you may think.

One in 10 people will have a seizure sometime in their lifetime, medical experts said.

According to Mercy Medical Center’s Dr. Mark Fehr, Neurology, if you have more than one seizure you may have the neurological disorder known as epilepsy.

The condition affects three million people in the United States. There are numerous causes and it can develop at any age.

“A lot of people think of epilepsy as a children's illness, you get it when you're young, and then you have it throughout your life,” Dr. Fehr said.

“But there are a lot of reasons that you can get it, anywhere from an infection, a stroke, head injuries, too much alcohol, things like that can all provoke a seizure.”

Epilepsy is diagnosed with an MRI scan of the brain as well as an electroencephalogram, commonly known as an EEG, which measures electrical activity in the brain.

Doctors can prescribe medications to prevent seizures. However, some drugs have the potential to cause birth defects, so women of child bearing years should discuss options with their doctor.

To view Mercy Medical Center neurologist Dr. Mark Fehr’s interview regarding epilepsy, click here.