Seizures are disruptions in the electrical impulses of the brain’s nerve cells (neurons), impacting muscles, senses, behavior, emotions, or awareness. Symptoms vary based on the type of seizure:
Generalized Seizures
Grand Mal or Generalized Tonic-Clonic:
- Unconsciousness, convulsions, muscle rigidity.
Absence:
- Brief loss of consciousness.
Myoclonic:
- Sporadic jerking movements.
Clonic:
- Repetitive, jerking movements.
Tonic:
- Muscle stiffness, rigidity.
Atonic:
- Loss of muscle tone.
Partial Seizures
Simple (Awareness Retained):
- Simple Motor.
- Simple Sensory.
- Simple Psychological.
Complex (Impairment of Awareness):
- Involuntary coordinated movements.
Partial Seizure with Secondary Generalization:
- Preserved consciousness evolving into loss and convulsions.
Why Do Seizures Happen?
Abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain cause seizures, affecting feelings, behaviors, and awareness. Neurons misfiring simultaneously lead to sudden changes, with symptoms determined by the location and strength of electrical interruptions.
Conditions Causing Seizures
Seizures may indicate serious conditions, including mental health issues, sodium level drops, fluctuating blood sugar, brain tumors, strokes, pregnancy complications, toxin accumulation, or substance use.
Generalized Seizures
These seizures result from abnormal nerve discharges across the entire brain. Types include:
- Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal): Unconsciousness, convulsions.
- Absence (Petit Mal): Brief loss of consciousness.
- Myoclonic: Sporadic jerking movements.
- Clonic: Repetitive, rapid muscle movements.
- Tonic: Sudden muscle stiffness.
- Atonic: Loss of muscle tone.
Partial Seizures
Focal seizures occur in specific brain areas and are linked to injury or trauma. Types include:
- Simple Partial: Restricted to one brain area.
- Subcategories based on symptoms.
- Complex Partial: Impairs consciousness, involves automatisms.
- Partial Seizure with Secondary Generalization: Starts partial, progresses to generalized seizure.
Understanding the symptoms and types of seizures aids in prompt identification and appropriate intervention.