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EEG's
Thu, 02/10/2005 - 16:47Comments
RE: RE: EEG's
Submitted by mexican_fire on Wed, 2005-02-09 - 14:28
You are correct on the first answer you gave her, but wrong on the second one.
Migraines are a vascular problem, but EEGs to not pick up or make any abnormal looking waves from a headache. They don't detect ANY sort of blood flow, just electrical activity. I am a lisenced EMT/RN who has worked in an EMU for 6 years, and EEGs DO NOT pick up headaches.
They pick up messed up electrical activity, and are rarely used for anything but in the di- agnoses of epilepsy.
Other uses for EEGs are to detect brain activity in comatose patients, usually shows very slow diffuse waves, for classifying and locating the type of seizures a person has, for general surgery, or in some rare cases, can tell something in a dementia patient.
To see whether or not the seizrues are epileptic or non-epileptic.
Nowhere in my schooling and training or in my books does it say ANYTHING about Migraines. It can't detect headaches of any kind, it can't tell what you are feeling, or thinking, it can't tell what your blood flow is doing, etc.
If it were able to pick up the blood flow of everyone, then we'd all have abnormal readings.
The first use for the EEG is to classify the type of seizure one has, and the second use is to locate the origin of the foci.
It will pick up some artifact from the heart and muscles, which then have to be really looked at so there are no mistakes or misdiagnoses made.
Nancy
You are correct on the first answer you gave her, but wrong on the second one.
Migraines are a vascular problem, but EEGs to not pick up or make any abnormal looking waves from a headache. They don't detect ANY sort of blood flow, just electrical activity. I am a lisenced EMT/RN who has worked in an EMU for 6 years, and EEGs DO NOT pick up headaches.
They pick up messed up electrical activity, and are rarely used for anything but in the di- agnoses of epilepsy.
Other uses for EEGs are to detect brain activity in comatose patients, usually shows very slow diffuse waves, for classifying and locating the type of seizures a person has, for general surgery, or in some rare cases, can tell something in a dementia patient.
To see whether or not the seizrues are epileptic or non-epileptic.
Nowhere in my schooling and training or in my books does it say ANYTHING about Migraines. It can't detect headaches of any kind, it can't tell what you are feeling, or thinking, it can't tell what your blood flow is doing, etc.
If it were able to pick up the blood flow of everyone, then we'd all have abnormal readings.
The first use for the EEG is to classify the type of seizure one has, and the second use is to locate the origin of the foci.
It will pick up some artifact from the heart and muscles, which then have to be really looked at so there are no mistakes or misdiagnoses made.
Nancy
RE: EEG's
Submitted by jennamay on Tue, 2005-01-18 - 10:51
Below are a few links you may find useful:
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/testing_eeg.html
http://www.epilepsy.com/articles/ar_1066258237.html
http://www.epilepsy.com/stories/ps_1064008064.html
http://www.epilepsy.com/articles/ar_1063754930.html
Best Wishes,
Epilepsy.com Staff
Below are a few links you may find useful:
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/testing_eeg.html
http://www.epilepsy.com/articles/ar_1066258237.html
http://www.epilepsy.com/stories/ps_1064008064.html
http://www.epilepsy.com/articles/ar_1063754930.html
Best Wishes,
Epilepsy.com Staff
RE: EEG's
Submitted by ellgee on Tue, 2005-01-18 - 09:56
NO. To the first question. There are many types of EEG abnormalities, not all are epilepsy. It depends on the specific findings on the EEG which give the diagnosis of epilepsy. Many times a person with epilepsy CAN have a perfectly normal EEG, this doesn't exclude epilepsy, the entire patient picture needs to be included when making a diagnosis of epilepsy.
Yes, to the second question. Migraines are a vascular problem and this does affect the EEG activity.
NO. To the first question. There are many types of EEG abnormalities, not all are epilepsy. It depends on the specific findings on the EEG which give the diagnosis of epilepsy. Many times a person with epilepsy CAN have a perfectly normal EEG, this doesn't exclude epilepsy, the entire patient picture needs to be included when making a diagnosis of epilepsy.
Yes, to the second question. Migraines are a vascular problem and this does affect the EEG activity.