![]() ![]() (15,20,21) Whole Foods lists aspartame as an unacceptable sweetener. (19,24) NutraSweet is the brand name for aspartame, which has Food and Drug Administration approval and its Generally Recognized As Safe designation. Aspartame's raising of phenylalanine levels increases the threat of seizures. (19) A further breakdown product is formaldehyde (21,22). It also breaks down into aspartic acid, an essential amino acid, and methanol. (19,20) Aspartame breaks down into phenylalanine, which transmits impulses in the brain. (9)Īspartame (α-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine-o-methyl ester), which is used as an artificial sweetener, has been linked to seizures and other neurophysiological problems. (18) Sleep deprivation has been documented to trigger seizures. (13) Brain injuries, such as a concussion with a rapid acceleration and deceleration of the brain, can cause disruption of brain functions. (4,17,18) Febrile seizures in children can occur with a temperature greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit. (13,17) Causes of seizures include illness, stress, high fever, improper brain development, dehydration, birth injury, head injury, drug withdrawal, and stroke. (2,16)Įpilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system and potentially abnormal neuron wiring. The physical experience of having a seizure has been compared to running a marathon. A person also may feel weak or as if he or she were on an elevator and falling.Īfter a seizure, a person may have memory loss, act sleepy, have blurred vision, have difficulty speaking, and experience muscle fatigue or body aches. (15) Some people report that they feel like they are in a tunnel and sounds can be exaggerated and disturbing. ![]() (2) Others may have a prickling sensation and tingling in their legs. Some people experience an aura before having a seizure. A person may or may not experience loss of consciousness. (2, 13) A person may vomit, which can be serious due to risk of aspiration. ![]() A person may have involuntary jerking of the arms and legs, flexing and contracting of the arms and legs, and loss of bladder control. Then, the body will then extend and straighten out. When a person is experiencing a seizure, the body will flex or contract. (2,12) Approximately 8% to 10% of the population will experience a seizure, but only 2% to 3% will develop epilepsy. (2,9) The prevalence is estimated to be 2.2 million people, or 8.4 out of 1,000 people. The incidence of epilepsy in the US is estimated to be 48 out of 100,000 people. (11) Nocturnal epileptic seizures fall under the generalized seizures category. These are referred to as nocturnal epileptic seizures. (5,6,8) However, some types of seizures are restricted to sleep. (1,4) Within these two categories are many subtypes.Īny type of seizure can occur during sleep. Focal seizures, which are also called partial seizures, take place in one or more areas and on one side of the brain. Generalized seizures occur in the cerebral cortex of the brain. There are two main categories of seizures: focal seizures and generalized seizures. (1–6,10) Epilepsy can affect people of any age, gender, or race. (3,5,6) When a person experiences two or more seizures, they are considered to be epileptic. (7) A seizure can occur when the brain receives abnormal electrical signals that interrupt normal neurological activity. The brain sends messages to all parts of the body through electrical activity via nerve cells. Dental professionals can assist patients who are unknowingly experiencing nocturnal epileptic seizures, as well as patients who are experiencing the negative oral side effects of anticonvulsant medications. Nocturnal epileptic seizures occur during sleep and may be experienced unknowingly. Teeth may be fractured, periodontal ligaments damaged, and the temporomandibular joint traumatized. The person may bite the tongue, lips, and cheeks. A person may also inflict damage to the oral cavity. When a person experiences a seizure, the body will flex and extend, and the person may lose consciousness. If a person has had two or more seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy. Figure 1: Bruising of the lateral border of the tongue due to a seizure AbstractĮpilepsy is a neurological condition occurring in the brain. ![]()
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