About Epilepsy

The Hoag Epilepsy Programs’s mission is to improve each patient’s overall quality of life by providing quality care tailored to individual needs. Hoag Epilepsy Program offers comprehensive treatment through a patient centered, integrated approach. Hoag Epilepsy Program’s multidisciplinary team of specialists utilizes the best in evidence based practice, state of the art technology and advanced research.

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological condition which affects the nervous system. Epilepsy causes a person to have repeated seizures (convulsions) over time. Seizures are episodes of disturbed brain activity that cause changes in attention or behavior.

The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a brain injury or a family tendency, but most of the time the cause is unknown. The word “epilepsy” does not indicate anything about the cause of the person’s seizures, what type they are, or how severe they are.

Epilepsy is usually diagnosed after a person has had at least two seizures that were not caused by some known medical condition like alcohol withdrawal or extremely low blood sugar.