Epilepsy Talk
2021 Top-Ranked Pediatric Hospitals for Neurology & Neurosurgery
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The U.S. News & World Report’s annual survey of hospitals is considered the pre-eminent source for excellence.
For the 2021 evaluations, fifty pediatric centers were ranked for their ability to deal with serious neurological problems. Included were epilepsy, head trauma and brain tumors.
2021 Top-Rated Hospitals for Neurology & Neurosurgery
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Every year, patients and potential patients alike, look forward to the U.S. News & World Report’s list of top-ranking hospitals.
Attached is a link to their most current list for Neurology and Neurosurgery.
Forecasts of Epilepsy Seizures Could Become a Reality
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For people with epilepsy, not knowing when their next seizure will hit can be psychologically debilitating. Clinicians have no way of telling people with epilepsy whether a seizure will likely happen five minutes from now, five weeks from now or five months from now, says Vikram Rao, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco. “That leaves people in a state of looming uncertainty.”
Doctors Distracted by Electronic Devices…
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Do you know what happens during surgery? Cut…open…correct…sew. Maybe some background music. Hip if the doctor likes that. Or classical.
Well, not exactly.
You might be surprised. Or horrified to learn the truth.
How about your technician who’s running the bypass machine texting during the procedure…
Or the nurse checking airfares…
And your neurosurgeon chatting away on a personal phone call?
Tags: critical, dangers, death, distracted doctoring, electronic devices, errors, trust
Seizures won’t wait — even during COVID-19
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COVID-19 seems to be knocking on everybody’s door. Along with the peril and the terror.
And the possibility of seeing your doctor during these dangerous times seems risky, at best.
So, you can’t see the doctor and they can’t see you.
Except in a hospital setting, critical care or a clinic.
That could means more exposure. More jeopardy. Is it really worth the exposure?
Tags: COVID-19, Epilepsy, follow-up care, improved access, neurological assessment, pandemic, saved time and money, seizures, technology, telemedicine
Gaslighting — What to Do When It Happens To You
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Is your doctor making you feel crazy? Like it’s all in your head? Could you be a hypochondriac?
You must be imagining your symptoms. Of maybe you’re just in a panic.
“Go home and take two Advil. Or maybe two Xanax. You’ll feel fine when this blows over. I assure you.”
Maybe you should have gone to Google first.
Hope for Drug Resistant Epilepsy
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Drug-resistant epilepsy with uncontrolled severe seizures — despite state-of-the-art medical treatment — continues to be a major problem for up to 30% of patients with epilepsy.
Although drug resistance may fluctuate in the course of treatment, for most patients, drug resistance seems to be continuous.
Unfortunately, traditional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) don’t seem to prevent or reverse drug resistance in most patients.
However, some new add-on AED therapies have shown as much as 50% in seizure reduction.
This research concerns the structural brain lesions that have been associated with drug resistance in epilepsy.
Tags: brain, chemical, connections, drug, electrical, faulty, lesions, resistance, structural, wiring
An Earbud to Predict Seizures?
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Imagine a tiny, unobtrusive brain monitor — like an earbud or a hearing aid — that could read brainwaves through the ear.
Amazing as it sounds, this tiny device could help predict seizures and track daily seizures in people with uncontrolled epilepsy, according to a small pilot study.
Engineers at Imperial College in London have developed exactly that.
An EEG device that can be worn inside the ear, like a hearing aid.
Tags: brainwaves, earbud, EEG readings, PC, recurring seizures, smartphone, tablet
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