FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2006
Contact: Cyndi Alvarado (936) 760-7860
At The Woodlands Mall on July 8, 2006
The Woodlands, TX -- On Saturday, July 8, at 10 a.m., Sadler Clinic will sponsor a presentation entitled “Advances in Epilepsy” given by neurologist Dr. Benny S. Wang. The program will concentrate on three main treatment options: anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), vagal nerve stimulation, and surgery. It will take place in Future Court at The Woodlands Mall (first level across from JC Penney).
Epilepsy and seizures affect 2.7 million Americans of all ages, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Approximately 200,000 new cases of seizures and epilepsy occur each year, while fully 10 percent of the U.S. population will experience a seizure at some point in their lifetime. Treatment options for epilepsy have expanded and improved greatly over the past 20 years. Today, 70 percent of those diagnosed with epilepsy can expect to enter remission, defined as five or more years seizure-free on medication.
AEDs are used to prevent seizures, but do not keep seizures from occurring. The type of AED prescribed will depend on the type of seizures a person has. “Your neurologist will determine which AED to try first,” Dr. Wang explains, “after extensive discussion and examination. In some instances, a combination of first-line and second-line AEDs will work when a single medication does not prevent seizures entirely.”
Vagal nerve stimulation was approved by the FDA in 1997 for use in patients whose epilepsy has not responded to previous treatment. This outpatient procedure involves surgical implantation of a stimulating electrode on the vagus nerve in the neck and a programmable pulse generator and battery pack in the chest wall.
When a patient’s epilepsy is severe and does not respond to medication, surgery is an option. Although surgery carries some risk, the risk is usually less than those risks imposed by uncontrolled seizures, which can cause injuries such as burns, fractures, and head injuries, psychological impairment, and even death.
“Epilepsy is a highly individual condition, one that often changes over time,” commented Dr. Wang. “Different patients respond very differently to treatment. That’s why it’s important to have regular reviews with a specialist to be sure that an individual’s epilepsy condition is being managed appropriately.”
Dr. Wang earned his MD degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and his BA degree from Harvard University. He completed his neurology residency at Emory University and a fellowship in epilepsy and neurophysiology at University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
For more information, contact Cyndi Alvarado at 936.760.7860 or calvarado@sadler.com.