Understanding Seizure Symptoms: What To Watch Out For

Brain electrical disturbances that happen quickly and can’t be stopped are called seizures. They can lead to a lot of different physical and behavioral complaints. If you know what to do in case of a seizure, you can get medical help and support right away.

Having a seizure means that your brain has a rapid surge of electrical activity. This behavior can mess up the brain’s regular function, which can cause a number of symptoms that can show up in different body parts. Epilepsy, brain damage, infections, and metabolic problems are just some of the things that can cause seizures. While seizures are commonly associated with epilepsy, not all seizures indicate epilepsy. It’s important to differentiate between the two, as the approach to treatment and management can vary significantly.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Seizures

Here’s a breakdown of seizures symptoms:

1. Generalized Seizures

From the start, generalized seizures affect both parts of the brain. These seizures can be divided into several types, each with its own set of symptoms:

• Tonic-clonic seizures (Grand Mal Seizures): These are the most recognizable type of seizures. Symptoms include a sudden loss of consciousness and stiffening of the body (tonic phase), followed by rhythmic jerking of the limbs (clonic phase). The person may also experience biting of the tongue, loss of bladder control, and confusion or fatigue after the seizure (postictal state).
• Absence Seizures (Petit Mal Seizures): Absence seizures are characterized by brief lapses in awareness. The person may stare blankly into space for a few seconds, often without any muscle convulsions. These seizures are more common in children and may go unnoticed.
• Myoclonic Seizures: Myoclonic seizures cause sudden, brief muscle jerks or twitches, usually affecting the arms or legs. These seizures are often very brief, lasting only a second or two, but can occur in clusters.
• Atonic Seizures: Atonic seizures, which are also called “drop attacks,” cause a quick loss of muscle tone, which makes the person fall or collapse. These seizures can result in injury due to the sudden loss of muscle control.
• Tonic Seizures: Tonic seizures cause the muscles to suddenly become stiff, often resulting in the person falling to the ground if standing.
• Clonic Seizures: Clonic seizures involve rhythmic, jerking muscle movements, usually affecting the arms, neck, and face.

2. Focal Seizures (Partial Seizures)

When focal seizures happen in one part of the brain, they can lead to a number of different symptoms, which rely on which part of the brain is affected:

• Focal Onset Aware Seizures (Simple Partial Seizures): The person is still aware during this type of seizure, but they may feel or move in strange ways. Symptoms can include tingling, visual disturbances, dizziness, or a sense of déjà vu.
• Focal Onset Impaired Awareness Seizures (Complex Partial Seizures): People who have these seizures may lose consciousness and start doing the same things over and over, like smacking their lips, chewing, or squeezing their hands. During the seizure, the person may look confused and not talk or move.
• Focal to Bilateral Tonic-Clonic Seizures: When one type of seizure moves to both sides of the brain, tonic-clonic seizures can happen all over the brain. It’s possible for this development to cause a mix of symptoms from both focal and generalized seizures.

Diagnosing Seizures

Diagnosing seizures typically involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. Some of the key steps in diagnosing seizures include:

• Medical History: Your neurologist will ask about your symptoms, the frequency and duration of your seizures, and any potential triggers. It’s important to provide as much detail as possible to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.
• Neurological Examination: A neurological examination assesses your reflexes, muscle strength, coordination, and sensory function to determine if there are any neurological abnormalities.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG): An EEG measures the electrical activity in your brain and can help identify abnormal patterns that may indicate a seizure disorder.
• Imaging Tests: Imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans can help identify structural abnormalities in the brain that may be causing seizures.
• Blood Tests: Blood tests may be conducted to rule out other conditions that could be causing seizures, such as infections, metabolic imbalances, or genetic disorders.

Treatment Options for Seizures

The treatment for seizures depends on the underlying cause and the type of seizures a person experiences.

• Medications: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are often given to people who have seizures to help control them. The type of seizures, the patient’s age, their general health, and any possible side effects all affect the choice of medicine. It may take some time to find the right medication and dosage that works best for the individual.

• Lifestyle Modifications: Making some changes to your living can help lower the number of seizures you have. These may include managing stress, getting enough sleep, avoiding known seizure triggers (such as flashing lights or specific foods), and following a balanced diet.
• Surgical Options: In some cases, surgery may be needed if medicine isn’t enough to control seizures. Surgical options may involve removing the part of the brain responsible for seizures or implanting a device that helps regulate brain activity.
• Education and Support: Living with seizures can be challenging, but education and support are key components of managing the condition.

When to Seek Emergency Care?

While many seizures are self-limiting and do not require emergency medical attention, there are situations where immediate care is necessary. Seek emergency help if:

• The seizure lasts longer than five minutes.
• The person does not regain consciousness after the seizure.
• The person has multiple seizures in a short period without regaining consciousness in between.
• The seizure occurs in water, leading to the risk of drowning.

It’s also important to monitor for any changes in seizure patterns or the development of new symptoms, as these may indicate a need for adjustments in treatment.

Conclusion

Seizures are complicated brain events that can show up in different ways based on the type of seizure and the part of the brain that is affected. Recognizing the signs of seizures and getting medical help right away can make a big difference in how well the condition is managed and how good life is overall. At South Valley Neurology, we are dedicated to giving complete care to people who are having seizures, empowering them to handle their situation with confidence and support.