What are seizures?
A seizure is an uncontrolled disturbance in your brain’s electrical activity. Seizures can cause noticeable changes in your behavior, movement, emotions, and state of consciousness. A severe seizure can cause you to fall to the ground and shake violently. Other seizures may be so mild that you’re not even aware they’re happening.
If you have two or more seizures, you have a condition called epilepsy.
What are the types of seizures?
The two main categories of seizures include:
Focal seizures
A focal seizure involves abnormal electrical activity in one area of your brain. If you know you’re having a seizure, it’s called a focal aware seizure. These seizures may alter the way you feel or change the way things look, feel, smell, or taste.
A focal seizure with impaired awareness involves a change or loss of consciousness. Someone experiencing this type of seizure may stare into space and stop responding, or they may perform repetitive movements like walking in circles.
Generalized seizures
Generalized seizures affect all areas of your brain. There are many types of generalized seizures, including:
- Absence seizures, which involve staring into space or repetitive eye blinking
- Tonic seizures, which cause muscle stiffening that may make you fall to the ground
- Atonic seizures, which cause a sudden loss of muscle control
- Clonic seizures, which cause repeated, jerking movements
- Myoclonic seizures, which cause brief twitches in the arms or legs
The most dramatic type of generalized seizures are tonic-clonic. Previously known as grand mal seizures, this type can cause abrupt loss of consciousness, body stiffening and shaking, and tongue-biting.
How are seizures diagnosed?
First, your Neurological Institute of Los Angeles provider thoroughly reviews your symptoms and medical history and performs a physical and neurological exam. They may order several tests, such as:
- Blood tests
- Lumbar puncture
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
These tests help your neurologist determine the cause of your seizure and develop a personalized treatment plan.
How are seizures treated?
Seizure treatment may not begin until you’ve had more than one episode or you’ve been diagnosed with epilepsy.
The team at the Neurological Institute of Los Angeles offers the most up-to-date seizure treatments, including:
- Seizure medications
- Deep brain stimulation
- Responsive neurostimulation
- Vagus nerve stimulation
- Nutritional therapy
- Surgery
To learn how you can manage seizures and live a happy, healthy life, call the Neurological Institute of Los Angeles, or book an appointment online today.
