Category: Clinician’s Corner

Members of our Professional Advisory Board (PAB) periodically offer in-depth articles on topics relevant and interesting to the epilepsy community

An Essential Vitamin for Women of Childbearing Age: The Folate/Folic Acid Story

- Clinician's Corner

By: Dr. Patricia Penovich, EFMN Professional Advisory Board Chair This story is for all women who have the potential to conceive and bear a child, whether she has epilepsy or not. The special emphasis for women with epilepsy is because these young women are usually taking anti-seizure medications (ASMs) to aid

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Sleep and Seizures

- Clinician's Corner

By Kathleen Rieke, MD – CentraCare, Member of Professional Advisory Board at EFMN Sleep is an essential activity that supports healthy brain functioning and allows one to maintain physical health. During sleep, the electrical and hormonal activity in the brain change. These changes reduce stress, improve concentration, help regulate mood,

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Medical Cannabis in Minnesota

- Clinician's Corner

By Jeannine M. Conway, PharmD, BCPS, FAES The legal landscape of cannabis is changing significantly in Minnesota and throughout the United States. It is helpful to be clear on terminology. Medical cannabis and recreational cannabis can be the same product with the intent of use being what differentiates it. Phytocannabinoids

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doctor and patient

Getting the Most Out of Your Epilepsy Care

- Clinician's Corner

By Douglas Heck, PhD Licensed Psychologist, and Tess Sierzant, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, CNRN Seeking and maintaining effective epilepsy care is a different experience for everyone. For some, it’s a very straightforward process of working with a physician and staying on medication that brings about good seizure control. For others, it’s

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two people connecting puzzle pieces

Clinician’s Corner: A Puzzle to be Solved: What is a Non-Epileptic Seizure?

- Clinician's Corner

By Dr. Patricia Penovich  A non-epileptic seizure is an event that looks to all those who observe it like the person is having an s epileptic seizure. Yet it is not an epileptic seizure. An epileptic seizure is the result of disordered brain cells firing excessively and not being shut

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Clinician’s Corner: Considering the Genetic Epilepsies – the Practitioner’s Challenges, Opportunities, and Rewards

- Clinician's Corner

What have we learned about COVID and epilepsy and its effects on seizures among adults and children? An update with two years of information.

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adult man looking at another adult who is speaking

Clinician’s Corner: What the Devil is a Seizure Action Plan and an Acute Seizure Action Plan?

- Clinician's Corner

What have we learned about COVID and epilepsy and its effects on seizures among adults and children? An update with two years of information.

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digital rendering of covid virus particle

Clinician’s Corner: Impact of COVID on People With Epilepsy, an Update

- Clinician's Corner

What have we learned about COVID and epilepsy and its effects on seizures among adults and children? An update with two years of information.

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One woman talking, another listening

Clinician’s Corner: Caring for the Caregiver

- Clinician's Corner

By: Dr. Kathleen Rieke, CentraCare The last two articles in this series focused on epilepsy self-management. They encompassed topics such as managing medications, maximizing communication with providers, and taking an active role in seizure management. This final topic focuses on an often overlooked but profoundly important element to the health

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Clinician’s Corner: Healthy Lifestyles and the Impact of Wellness on Epilepsy

- Clinician's Corner

By Dr. Jason Doescher, MOBĒ This article is the second in a three-part series highlighting the Epilepsy Foundation’s wellness initiative.  Part 1 featured an outline of a general healthy lifestyle, identified choices made within each element, and reinforced how consistent behavioral habits impact a person’s health. This section, Part 2,

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