You can also reach us by email helpline epilepsysociety. There are many different types of epileptic seizure. Any of us could potentially have a single epileptic seizure at some point in our lives. This is not the same as having epilepsy, which is a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain.
Epilepsy is not just one condition, but a group of many different 'epilepsies' with one thing in common: a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain. Did you know that the Greek philosopher Hippocrates BC was the first person to think that epilepsy starts in the brain? Find out more interesting facts and debunked myths around epilepsy and seizures. A seizure occurs when one or more parts of the brain has a burst of abnormal electrical signals that interrupt normal brain signals.
Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. This includes a high fever, high or low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a brain concussion. But when a person has 2 or more seizures with no known cause, this is diagnosed as epilepsy. There are different types of seizures.
The type of seizure depends on which part and how much of the brain is affected and what happens during the seizure. The 2 main categories of epileptic seizures are focal partial seizure and generalized seizure.
Focal seizures take place when abnormal electrical brain function occurs in one or more areas of one side of the brain. Before a focal seizure, you may have an aura, or signs that a seizure is about to occur. This is more common with a complex focal seizure.
The most common aura involves feelings, such as deja vu, impending doom, fear, or euphoria. Or you may have visual changes, hearing abnormalities, or changes in your sense of smell. The 2 types of focal seizures include:. The symptoms depend on which area of the brain is affected. If the abnormal electrical brain function is in the part of the brain involved with vision occipital lobe , your sight may be altered.
More often, muscles are affected. The seizure activity is limited to an isolated muscle group. For example, it may only include the fingers, or larger muscles in the arms and legs. You may also have sweating, nausea, or become pale.
This type of seizure often occurs in the area of the brain that controls emotion and memory function temporal lobe. You will likely lose consciousness. This may not mean you pass out. You may just stop being aware of what's going on around you.
You may look awake, but have a variety of unusual behaviors. These may range from gagging, lip smacking, running, screaming, crying, or laughing. You may be tired or sleepy after the seizure. This is called the postictal period. A generalized seizure occurs in both sides of the brain. You will lose consciousness and be tired after the seizure postictal state. Types of generalized seizures include:. This is also called petit mal seizure. This seizure causes a brief changed state of consciousness and staring.
You will likely maintain your posture. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.
You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. You will receive the first epilepsy email message in your inbox shortly. This message will include the latest treatment options, innovations and other information from our epilepsy experts. Nerve cells neurons in the brain create, send and receive electrical impulses, which allow the brain's nerve cells to communicate.
Anything that disrupts these communication pathways can lead to a seizure. Some types of seizure disorders may be caused by genetic mutations. The most common cause of seizures is epilepsy.
But not every person who has a seizure has epilepsy. Sometimes seizures may be caused or triggered by:. Having a seizure can sometimes lead to circumstances that are dangerous for you or others. You might be at risk of:. Seizures care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Overview A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. Latest on newly diagnosed epilepsy care Advice for the management of epilepsy Error Select a topic.
Thanks for Subscribing You will receive the first epilepsy email message in your inbox shortly. You may opt out of these emails any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the email. Fits can happen just one time or repeatedly.
If they come back, they have epilepsy or an epileptic disorder. Less than one out of ten people who have fits is epilepsy. Article Context: What are Fits? Fits are sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain. It can cause changes in your behavior, movements or feelings, and levels of consciousness. If you have two or more fits or a tendency to have recurrent fits, you have epilepsy. There are many types of fits, which range in severity.
Fits types vary by where and how they begin in the brain. Most fits last from 30 seconds to two minutes. Fits that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency.
Fits are more common than you might think. Fits can happen after a stroke, a closed head injury, an infection such as meningitis, or another illness.
Many times, though, the cause of fits is unknown. Most fits disorders can be controlled with medication, but the management of fits can still have a significant impact on your daily life.
The good news is you can work with your health care professional to balance fits control and medication side effects. The two major types called focal onset fits and generalized onset fits. Focal onset fits: Focal fits result from abnormal electrical activity in one area of your brain. Focal fits can occur with or without loss of consciousness: Focal fits with impaired awareness: These fits involve a change or loss of consciousness or awareness.
You may stare into space and not respond normally to your environment or perform repetitive movements, such as hand rubbing, chewing, swallowing, or walking in circles.
Focal fits without loss of consciousness: These fits may alter emotions or change the way things look, smell, feel, taste, or sound, but you don't lose consciousness. These fits may also result in the involuntary jerking of a body part, such as an arm or leg, and spontaneous sensory symptoms such as tingling, dizziness, and flashing lights. Signs of focal fits may confuse with other neurological disorders, such as migraine, narcolepsy, or mental illness. Generalized onset fits: These fits start on both sides of the brain simultaneously.
Among the more common types of generalized onset, fits are tonic-clonic, absence, and atonic. Tonic-clonic: These are also known as grand mal fits. You will probably lose consciousness during these fits that can last for a few minutes. Absence: Also called petit-mal fits, these last for only a few seconds. They can cause you to blink repeatedly or stare into space. Atonic: During these fits, also known as drop attacks, your muscles suddenly go limp.
Your head may nod or your entire body could fall to the ground.
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