health

In a normal brain, millions of tiny electrical charges pass between nerve
cells and to all parts of the body. Those cells “fire” in an orderly and
controlled manner. This is not the case with epilepsy. In the brain of
a person with epilepsy, nerve cells in parts of the brain fire simultaneously
and repeatedly, sending out powerful, rapid electrical charges that
disrupt the brain’s normal function. During a seizure such as the one
experienced by Erin, brain cells can fire at up to four times their normal
rate, temporarily affecting how a person behaves, moves, thinks,
or feels.
Many people with epilepsy can sense that they are about to have a
seizure by something called an aura. An aura is a strange feeling—often
of unease, anxiety, or discomfort—that may be accompanied by sensing
or seeing flickering lights. Despite these warning signals, people with epilepsy
still cannot stop the oncoming seizure.