November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month.

Epilepsy, also known as a seizure disorder, is a neurological condition affecting the nervous system. Epileptic seizures are caused by disturbances in the electrical activity of the brain. These seizures may be related to a brain injury or a family tendency, but most of the time the cause is unknown. In fact, in two-thirds of patients diagnosed with epilepsy, the cause is unknown.

Dr. Joseph Sirven, chair of Neurology at Mayo Clinic Arizona, says, "Epilepsy can affect anyone at any age. One out of 26 Americans have a risk of developing epilepsy. Some people are born with it. Some may have a genetic reason for their seizures. Head trauma, infections, strokes, hemorrhages and even Alzheimer's disease can potentially cause seizures or epilepsy."

Watch: Dr. Joseph Sirven discusses epilepsy.

Journalists: Broadcast quality sound bites with Dr. Sirven are in the downloads.

Misinformation and epilepsy stereotypes often prevent people with this seizure disorder from getting needed care. "There's a strong stigma that has existed for many years that only through talking about it that you can find a way to mitigate it and lessen its impact," says Dr. Sirven.

Some forms of epilepsy are curable, says Dr. Sirven. "There are some surgeries, for instance, that are done for epilepsy if you are a candidate and have a discreet location that can be eliminated. And there are other epilepsies that are not curable but may be controllable."

 "Every brain has a potential to have a seizure. It just depends on what the circumstances are, and what the conditions are that may lead to a seizure or epilepsy in some people." - Dr. Sirven

For home management options, Dr. Sirven stresses to avoid alcohol, get plenty of rest and to find ways to manage stress. He says if those options don't work, "Treatment starts out with medication. We have more than 20 of these available in the US. There are surgical options if medication does work. There are implantable devices that act like pacemakers if surgery is not an option. There's also a ketogenic diet and so many options out there. And, importantly, so many more options are being explored for its management."

Dr. Sirven says if you have questions about seizures or epilepsy there are many resources available to help you better understand and manage the chronic condition.

Learn more about Epilepsy research at Mayo Clinic and visit the Epilepsy Foundation.

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According to the Brain Injury Association of America, every 13 seconds, someone in the U.S. sustains a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. The most common type of TBI is a concussion.

Concussions can happen to anyone, but children and athletes are at a particularly high risk.

Dr. Jennifer Roth Maynard says, “There are over 300,000 head injuries reported annually in high school athletics and over 90 percent are concussions.”  Dr. Maynard is a primary care and sports medicine physician at Mayo Clinic's campus in Jacksonville, Florida and chair of the Northeast Florida Regional Sports Concussion Task Force.

Effects of concussion are usually temporary, but can include headaches, blurred vision, nausea, and problems with concentration, memory, balance and coordination. Anxiety and sleep issues can also occur.

Though some injuries can cause a loss of consciousness, most concussions do not. Because of this, Dr. Maynard says some people don't even realize they have a concussion. She adds, "Spreading awareness about concussion, knowing the signs and symptoms and seeking prompt medical attention is essential to helping prevent long-term injuries, especially in young people."

Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Maynard are in the downloads. [TRT 2:07]

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Miss the show?  Here's the podcast:  MayoClinicRadio PODCAST March 21 2015

Myth or Matter-of-Fact: African-Americans are at the same risk as other groups for colon cancer.

To listen to the program at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 21, click here.

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Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

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From returning war veterans to professional athletes or even a patient with what seems like a simple bump on the head, traumatic brain injury is often misunderstood.  On Saturday, Feb. 8, at 9 a.m. CT, Michael Link, M.D., and Allen Brown, M.D., discussed the definition of traumatic brain injury, explained how the injuries are diagnosed and treated, and described how long it can take to recover.

In the video below, Dr. Brown provides background information about traumatic brain injury.

Myth or Matter of Fact:  It's unusual to fully recover from a traumatic brain injury.

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From returning war veterans to professional athletes or even a patient with what seems like a simple bump on the head, traumatic brain injury is often misunderstood.  On Saturday, Feb. 8, at 9 a.m. CT, Michael Link, M.D., and Allen Brown, M.D., will give us the definition of traumatic brain injury, explain how the injuries are diagnosed and treated, and address how long it can take to recover. Join us for the next program when we discuss this and much more.

In the video below, Dr. Brown provides background information about traumatic brain injury.

To listen to the program LIVE, click here.

Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment February 8, 2014  (right click MP3)

Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic. The show is taped for rebroadcast by some affiliates. On Twitter follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions.

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MULTIMEDIA ALERT: Video of Dr. Bergquist is available for download from the Mayo Clinic News Network.

Each year, millions of patients are diagnosed with acquired brain injuries, such as concussion, strokes and brain tumors, many of whom go on to have persistent symptoms. For these patients, brain rehabilitation is an important part of their recovery.

"People should not ignore psychological issues, such as mood swings or ability to communicate with family members," says Thomas Bergquist, Ph.D., of Mayo Clinic's Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Psychiatry and Psychology. "Comprehensive brain rehabilitation can address both physical and personal problems to help improve outcomes for patients, including improved physical function, the ability to live independently and maintain a job."

Dr. Bergquist recommends a holistic approach to brain injury rehabilitation. Focusing solely on physical function, for example, represents, "medical myopia and care givers might miss the biggest problem," he says.

The study examined data on patients who have gone through treatment at Mayo's Brain Rehabilitation Center, receiving therapies from a team of providers which are customized to the specific needs of each individual. Mood was assessed at the beginning and end of treatment, and researchers found that improved mood was associated with improved brain rehabilitations outcomes. The findings were presented during the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference.

"My advice to patients is to get help as soon as they are limited by their symptoms. If you experience a brain injury and are struggling with mood, communicating with family, or performing physical activities, you are likely to benefit from coordinated brain rehabilitation services," says Dr. Bergquist.

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About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit MayoClinic.com or MayoClinic.org/news.

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Media Contact: Bryan Anderson, 507-284-5005 (days), newsbureau@mayo.edu

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ANSWER: Symptoms caused by a concussion often go away within several weeks. But sometimes they may last much longer. In those cases, it can be useful to consult a physician who has expertise in treating concussions. Ongoing care, including rehabilitation therapy, may help your grandson better manage his symptoms and return to a more active lifestyle.

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury, usually caused by a blow to the head. When the head is hit, the brain moves inside the skull. In some situations when, for example, an elbow or shoulder hits against a person’s head, the impact can make the head and brain rotate rapidly at different angles. This movement can cause abnormal function of individual brain cells, along with inflammation and swelling in the brain. It also may disrupt the delicate nerve fibers that connect brain cells to each other. These changes within the brain interfere with its ability to function normally.

A concussion can cause a wide variety of symptoms. They may include physical problems, such as headache, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms often include cognitive complaints, too, such as confusion, amnesia, slowed thinking or mental fogginess. Concussions can have emotional effects. A person with a concussion may be irritable or depressed and show changes in personality. A concussion may lead to sleep problems, as well.

Signs that a physician may see when someone suffers a concussion often include balance problems, slowed visual tracking and impaired memory. Computerized neurologic testing may be used to help assess brain function. Such a test works best when a similar test performed before the injury is available for comparison. Many sports teams — both professional and recreational — now use these tests.

About 80 to 90 percent of concussion symptoms resolve within 7 to ten days. When symptoms persist well beyond the expected time frame, they fall into a category known as post-concussion syndrome.

Immediately after a concussion — for the first 24 to 72 hours — rest is the cornerstone of treatment. Once the initial symptoms go away and, if used, computerized test results are within an acceptable range, a physician determines whether it is safe to begin a step-by-step return to an exercise program. If a patient can go through those steps without symptoms, a return to full activity may be possible.

In the case of your grandson, it seems his initial symptoms never cleared and left him in what is known as a post-concussive state.  He should consider consulting with a neurologist or a sports medicine physician who specializes in concussion management.

Several therapies may be useful. He may benefit from a type of therapy called vestibular rehabilitation, which would help him work on his vision, balance and hearing. A consultation with an expert in psychology, as well as cognitive rehabilitation, may help him manage the mental slowness and emotional impact of his injury. This is particularly significant because some research has shown a correlation between concussions and depression.

Research currently is ongoing regarding the way exercise may be used in treating post-concussion syndrome. But for people in this situation, exercise should always be done under the direction of a physician.

Each person responds differently to a traumatic brain injury such as a concussion. Therefore treatment must be individualized. It is important for your grandson to find a concussion expert who can help him create a treatment plan that fits his unique needs. — Jennifer Maynard, M.D., Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic in Florida.

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