Epilepsy affects about one person in every 100, and it can start at any age. Seizures may strike often, or almost never. Attacks take many different forms, from violent convulsions and unconsciousness to flickers of 'absence' as brief as a passing thought. What, then, is epilepsy? What does it do to your life, and what are the options to help you to deal with it? "Epilepsy and Seizures" explains what we know about this unpredictable disorder and gives detailed practical advice on living with it. It addresses the following questions: How to recognize different kinds of epilepsy? How and why the brain produces various patterns? What diagnostic tests and procedures are used? How drugs can help - or harm? And when surgery makes sense? It also covers the epilepsy in pregnancy, childhood and old age. Comprehensive and up-to-date, complete with illustrations, case studies and a resource list, this is your guide to managing a complex and often frustrating disorder.