What is a seizure?

A seizure is one of the ways the brain can communicate with itself. It is characterized by a change in electrical activity that affects the body. The body can jerk, shake, or contract during a seizure. Most seizures last very briefly and most people who have a seizure do not have another one soon after. Seizures can cause injury, but most injuries happen because someone falls or thrashes during a seizure or because someone tries to hold them down or stop the seizure.

A seizure is sometimes referred to as a convulsion, though this term can be misleading as it implies a contraction rather than an abnormal over-activity (as in epilepsy). There are many different types of seizures, but they all involve the sudden onset of some degree of loss of consciousness, and often include repetitive stereotyped movements, called automatisms, sensory changes, emotional changes, altered consciousness and autonomic dysfunction.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a group of disorders characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Seizures are symptoms that may be caused by epilepsy or other conditions. A “seizure” refers to an involuntary change in behavior due to a surge of electrical activity in the brain. During a seizure the person may experience confusion, lose awareness, feel emotions, see lights, or have uncontrollable movements of the arms and legs.

A brief description of epilepsy: Epilepsy is a group of disorders characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Seizures are symptoms that may be caused by epilepsy or other conditions. A “seizure” refers to an involuntary change in behavior due to a surge of electrical activity in the brain. During a seizure the person may experience confusion, lose awareness, feel emotions, see lights, or have uncontrollable movements of the arms and legs.

In more detail: There are different forms of epilepsy that last for brief periods or continue over time (known as chronic or persistent). They can occur at any age and vary widely in severity and frequency. The causes of epilepsy are also varied and include genetic factors and structural problems in the brain. Epilepsy can’t be cured, but it can usually be controlled with medication or surgery.

Different types of epilepsy and seizures

There are three main categories of epilepsy: partial seizures, generalized seizures and unclassified seizures. Partial seizures occur when there is a limited part of the brain involved and include simple and complex partial seizures. Generalized seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in both hemispheres of the brain and include absence (petit mal) seizures, grand mal (major) seizures and infantile spasms.

Partial seizures: These are characterized by abnormal electrical activity in only part of one hemisphere of the brain. They’re sometimes also called focal seizures or focal onset seizures. In partial seizures, consciousness remains intact, although sensory function may be altered, and the same side of the body might become limp or tense.

Generalized tonic-clonic seizures: These are also called grand mal seizures and are characterized by loss of consciousness along with involuntary contractions of muscles on both sides of the body, which can result in falls or collisions with nearby objects. The person may also foam at the mouth, have red eyes and dilated pupils, and exhibit incontinence or other changes in bladder control during this event.

Absence seizures: Also called petit mal seizures and myoclonic seizures, these are characterized by brief lapses of awareness during which a person may appear to stare off into space or act as if they’ve just “checked out.

What causes epilepsy?

In order to understand what causes epilepsy, you need to first understand how the brain works. The brain is composed of billions of cells called neurons that communicate information by sending electrical impulses back and forth across synapses—the gaps between neurons. This electrical activity involves the transfer of chemicals called neurotransmitters into a receiving neuron at specialized junctions called synapses. If there is a disruption in this process, brain activity becomes disrupted and out-of-control signaling can lead to a seizure.

This disruption can be caused by a number of factors, including genetic variations, head trauma, infections, metabolic imbalances, exposure to toxins, lack of oxygen at birth (hypoxia), stroke and tumors. As you can see from this list, there are many ways that seizures can develop—and just as many ways that they can be prevented or controlled.

The causes of epilepsy range from genetic to traumatic to infectious, and include some you might never have thought of before. While there are many possible causes for epileptic seizures, the exact cause for any given case of epilepsy is often unknown, though many types have identifiable risk factors.

A genetic predisposition to epilepsy may be inherited from a parent with the condition or may be due to spontaneous genetic mutations in early fetal development. Some cases are associated with other medical conditions such as hydrocephalus (water on the brain), cerebral palsy, tuberous sclerosis (a genetic condition causing non-cancerous tumors in the brain), stroke, or encephalitis (a condition where a virus attacks brain tissue). Additionally, abuse of alcohol or drugs during pregnancy has been shown to contribute to a higher risk of developing epilepsy in children.

What triggers a seizure?

A seizure is an involuntary reaction that involves the sudden, rapid onset of brain activity. What triggers a seizure varies from person to person. Some people experience seizures after a high fever, while others may have a seizure due to lack of sleep. Still other people may have a seizure in response to specific sounds or lights that they’re sensitive to. Whatever the trigger, it will cause a person’s brain to dramatically change its activity level. Seizures are generally controlled through medications and lifestyle changes, but there is no universal way to prevent them in every case.

Seizures can be triggered by environmental factors or emotional issues. Though there is no clear-cut answer as to what causes a seizure, scientists have discovered a few triggers that may make someone more susceptible to having one. For example, stress, lack of sleep, skipping meals, and drug abuse (legal or otherwise) are all factors that may make seizures more likely for some people. Certain places, like swimming pools and movie theaters, may also trigger seizures if those environments contain flashing lights or flickering screens.

How is epilepsy diagnosed?

Epilepsy can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms vary greatly from person to person. For example, some of the most common symptoms of epilepsy include:

• Fits or seizures
• Dizziness or loss of consciousness
• Abnormal movements or behavior (automatic behavior)
• Convulsion (muscle contraction causing violent movements)
• Temporary confusion or lack of awareness

In addition, the symptoms can vary in severity and frequency. Some people might only experience one fit every few months, while others may experience them several times a day. Those who suffer from more frequent fits might also have non-epileptic seizures (NESs), which are caused by something other than epilepsy. NESs are not as serious as epileptic fits but they can be just as distressing and frightening.

For a diagnosis of epilepsy, two or more of these symptoms must be experienced on two separate occasions with no other possible explanation for their cause. The first fit could have been triggered by stress, fever, infection, or stroke—but if it returns again when none of these factors is present, then a diagnosis of epilepsy would be made.

What are the treatments for epilepsy?

About 30% of patients with IE respond favorably to treatment with medications such as anticonvulsants (ACs) and valproate. However, ACs are not effective in about 20% of patients with IE.

There are other types of treatments available for individuals with refractory epilepsy including vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), responsive neurostimulation (RNS), and brain surgery. VNS has been FDA-approved for use in patients who do not respond to ACs. RNS has been FDA-approved for use in patients who have failed at least two different ACs. Brain surgery may be used to remove damaged brain tissue or treat abnormalities within the brain.

One common treatment regimen for those with seizure disorders includes taking anticonvulsants to reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures. Anticonvulsants are used alongside behavioral treatments such as diet control and sleep scheduling. In some situations, surgery can also be used to treat epilepsy by removing parts of the brain that are causing seizures. Much like anticonvulsants, the effectiveness of this surgery varies from one person to another.

What is the outlook for people with epilepsy?

Epilepsy affects more than 2 million people in the United States and 65 million worldwide. Though it’s been around for thousands of years, people with epilepsy still face a considerable amount of misunderstanding. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the condition, and finding the right treatment is a process of trial and error.

The outlook varies depending on the type or types of seizures that are present, but here are some general facts about epilepsy:

-Epilepsy is not something that you can “catch” from someone else.

-Epilepsy does not mean that you’re going to fall down and start seizing at any moment. It’s an umbrella term for a wide range of conditions and experiences that may or may not always be obvious to others.

-There are many different types of seizures. Some stop happening naturally once they start, while others persist until they’re treated. Some can be controlled with medication, while others are severe enough that surgery is necessary to remove the area of the brain in which seizures occur. -People with epilepsy can live happy and healthy lives, but it’s important to have a good support system in place.