Guest Post:
Epileptic seizures are one of the hardest things for doctors to treat. A reason for this is that in order to treat seizures, you have to record them. Typically, someone suffering from seizures has to sit around, completely still, for hours hoping that a seizure will occur. This makes it especially hard on children. But a new technique allows doctors to observe seizures without these constraints.
Patients play Wii video games to provoke seizures.
"They need to have seizures for us to determine where they're coming from," says Dr. Angel Hernandez, the Medical Director of Neurology at the Jane and John Justin Neuroscience Center.
The indication is to play hard.
"The most important purpose is to get them tired. We know that if you're very tired, you're more prone to have seizures," explains Dr. Hernandez.
Video games have warnings about the danger they pose in causing epileptic seizures, so the Wii helps to promote seizures in that way as well.
In order to record seizures, the patients are hooked up to a video EEG. It's a device that monitors brain activity in real time as the seizures happen. With this system, the patients are free to move around and do normal activities.
"They keep themselves busy, and we get the information that we need and it's an enjoyable time for them," says Dr. Hernandez.
Dr. Hernandezalso mentioned that with this wireless technology, his staff has been able to observe seizures in at least 25 percent more patients.
Recording seizures is the first step to treating and hopefully stopping them.
About the Author:
Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, and Babysitting, find a nanny tips etc. If you have quesitons, contact Nancy.
