Seizures are a complex and often misunderstood medical condition. Understanding the basics is crucial whether you’re newly diagnosed or caring for someone with seizures. In this article, we’ll answer five of the most frequently asked questions about seizures and provide additional resources to help you know them better
What happens during a seizure?
During a seizure, the brain experiences sudden abnormal electrical activity, leading to symptoms such as convulsions, loss of consciousness, or unusual sensations. This electrical disturbance can affect various body parts, depending on which area of the brain is involved. In some cases, a person may experience an “aura” before the seizure, which can serve as a warning sign.
Seizures can manifest in different ways:
- Generalized seizures: These affect both sides of the brain and can cause loss of consciousness, muscle stiffening (tonic phase), and jerking movements (clonic phase).
- Focal seizures: These start in one area of the brain and can cause various symptoms depending on the affected region, such as unusual sensations, involuntary movements, or changes in behavior.
Learn more about what happens during a seizure
How severe are seizures?
Some seizures may be mild and not cause lasting harm, while others can lead to injuries or complications if they last too long or occur repeatedly.
Depending on the level, some potential risks and complications from seizures include:
- Physical injuries from falls or uncontrolled movements
- Status epilepticus: A prolonged seizure or series of seizures without complete recovery between them, which can be life-threatening
- Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP): A rare but serious risk for people with epilepsy
While many seizures resolve on their own without lasting effects, it’s crucial to seek medical attention, especially for first-time seizures or those lasting longer than 5 minutes.
What are the risk factors of seizures?
Risk factors for seizures include:
- Genetic factors: Some forms of epilepsy run in families.
- Brain injuries: Trauma from accidents, strokes, or oxygen deprivation can increase seizure risk.
- Developmental disorders: Conditions like autism can be associated with a higher likelihood of seizures.
- Infections: Meningitis and other infections affecting the brain can trigger seizures.
- Prenatal injury: Brain damage before birth can lead to seizures in infants.
- Certain medical conditions: Brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurological disorders can increase seizure risk.
Environmental factors can also play a role. For instance, a study in the National Library of Medicine found that daily exposure to elevated CO concentrations might increase the risk of seizures in some individuals with epilepsy.
Will you always have seizures after a diagnosis of epilepsy?
While epilepsy is a chronic condition and may involve ongoing seizures, some individuals, particularly children, may experience a reduction or resolution of seizures over time.
The concept of “outgrowing” epilepsy is known as epilepsy remission.
According to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), epilepsy is resolved for individuals who:
- Had an age-dependent epilepsy syndrome but are now past the applicable age
- Have been seizure-free for at least 10 years, with no seizure medicines for the last 5 years
A long-term study by Berg et al. published in the National Library of Medicine followed children with epilepsy for over 20 years and found that about 60% achieved remission.
However, it’s important to note that even after a long period of seizure freedom, there’s still a risk of recurrence. Hence, you should always discuss proper management plans with a healthcare provider.
Can surgery help reduce seizures?
Surgery may help reduce or stop seizures for some individuals. However, it carries risks and should be considered carefully with consultation from a healthcare provider. Surgical interventions are typically considered when medications fail to control seizures adequately, a condition known as drug-resistant epilepsy.
Types of epilepsy surgery include:
- Resective surgery: Removing the part of the brain causing seizures
- Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT): Using laser technology to destroy seizure-causing tissue
- Corpus callosotomy: Cutting the connection between brain hemispheres to prevent seizures from spreading
- Responsive neurostimulation: Implanting a device to detect and stop seizures.
Learn more about surgical options for managing seizures.
However, surgery is not suitable for everyone with epilepsy. Factors such as the type and location of seizures, overall health, and potential risks versus benefits must be carefully evaluated.
Individuals with epilepsy must work closely with their healthcare team to determine the most appropriate treatment plan, which may or may not include surgical options.
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If you or a loved one are experiencing seizures or have concerns about neurological health, you should seek professional care. Our community health care center offers primary and preventive medical care that can help you maintain healthier living. Book an appointment to see a doctor today
