Updated: 10/2/23
Are you living with the fear of when your next seizure might strike? If you’ve ever had a seizure, or you know someone that has, it can be a frightening experience and cause for serious concern. Nearly three million people in the United States suffer from seizures, making it an all-too familiar occurrence in our society today. But although many are affected by this neurological disorder, there is still much to be learned about seizures and their treatment. So if you want to understand more about this mysterious condition – its causes, symptoms, and available treatments – then read on!
What is a Seizure?
Seizures are sudden, uncontrollable and abnormal changes in the brain’s electrical activity. These changes may go unnoticed and show no symptoms. But in other cases, it may cause dramatic and noticeable symptoms and behavior changes like convulsions, loss of consciousness and uncontrolled movement. When a seizure occurs, brain cell activity speeds up uncontrollably to about four times its normal rate, causing temporary changes in thinking, movement and behavior.
They typically last anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes. Medical professionals categorize seizures that last for more than five minutes as a medical emergency. They can happen to an individual just once or they can recur. If they are recurrent, physicians refer to it as as epilepsy.
Causes of Seizures
The brain relies on organized, coordinating electrical impulses that communicate with the rest of the body—the nerves, spinal cord and muscles—in order to function properly. When something disrupts this electrical activity, it can cause a seizure, a period of increased electrical activity in the brain. There are many different factors that can trigger a seizure, but most of the time they are idiopathic. However, the triggers and risk factors vary depending on the patient’s age.
Newborns may experience seizures because developmental complications, lack of oxygen during birth, low electrolyte levels and maternal drug use. Infants and older children may experience them from high fever, infections or even a brain tumor. Congenital conditions like Down’s syndrome or Angelmen’s syndrome may cause them in children or adults, as well as head trauma. Genetic factors may also play a role. Elderly patients may have them as a complication from a stroke, Alzheimer’s disease or trauma.
Triggers
Sometimes a patient may have seizures in patterns or in certain situations. It’s important to keep track of the pattern in order to recognize the warning signs and be prepared for the episode as much as possible. Lack of sleep, electrolyte imbalance or very low blood sugar may trigger a seizure. Drug or alcohol use or withdrawal can also trigger symptoms in combination with other factors. Sometimes they may be associated with hormonal changes, such as menstruation, stress or certain medications.
Can Seizures Kill You?
While seizures are usually not life-threatening, there are some risks associated with this condition, including the potential for injuries and accidents. During a seizure, a person may lose control of their movements, which can lead to falls and other types of accidents. In rare cases, seizures can also lead to sudden death, although this is less common in people who do not have any pre-existing medical conditions.
Can Seizures be Caused by Stress?
Stress can be a trigger for seizures in individuals with epilepsy. The stress response involves the release of certain chemicals that can disrupt normal brain activity, potentially leading to a seizure. While not all individuals with epilepsy will experience seizures due to stress, those who do may benefit from stress management techniques and lifestyle changes to reduce the likelihood of seizures. By better understanding the connection between stress and seizures, we can work towards better management and prevention of seizures in those with epilepsy.
Are Seizures Curable?
Unfortunately, seizures are not curable in the traditional sense of the word. The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms of seizures, reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures, and improve the patient’s quality of life. While medication can sometimes reduce the severity and frequency of seizures, it generally cannot eliminate them entirely. For some people, seizures may go into remission or become more manageable over time.
Types of Seizures
Seizures are relatively common but researchers are not sure what causes them. They may be triggered by an illness, infection, head injury, high fever (in children), genetic conditions or stroke. Some seizures may signal an underlying condition and some can cause further injury. There are two categories, based on where the abnormal brain activity begins—generalized seizures and partial (focal) seizures.
Generalized Seizures
Generalized seizures affect both parts of the brain—the entire cerebral cortex and the outer part of the brain that contains the majority of its cells. In a generalized seizure, brain cells on both sides of the brain fire simultaneously and uncontrollably. Within this category, there are different types of generalized seizures: absence, myoclonic, clonic, tonic, tonic-clonic and atonic seizures.
Clonic Seizures
In a clonic seizure, the patient’s muscles go through rhythmic spasmodic episodes, in which the muscles stiffen and relax very quickly over and over. They may last for a few seconds up to a minute. But sometimes these movements are a part of a tonic-clonic seizure and they can last for one to two minutes. Clonic seizures are more common in infants.
Tonic Seizures
Muscle tone is the muscle’s tension in a resting state. This type causes an increase in muscle tone, so the muscles in the back, arms or legs contract, tense and stiffen. Usually a tonic seizure affects both sides of the body and most areas in the brain. It can cause a loss of balance if the patient is standing, but usually last less than 20 seconds and usually occur when the patient is asleep.
Tonic-Clonic Seizures
Tonic-clonic are known as Grand Mal Seizure. These are the most common type of seizure and follow pattern, beginning with the tonic phase and transitioning into the clonic phase. In the tonic phase, the limbs stiffen and the patient may have difficulties breathing. Then the patient’s breathing returns in the next phase and the muscles begin to jerk.
Atonic Seizures
While tonic seizures increase muscle tone, atonic seizures reduce muscle tone. They are also called drop seizures because it may cause the patient to collapse, as the muscles suddenly become limp. It may affect the entire body or just parts of it, particularly the arms and legs. The head may drop and the eyelids may droop. Usually this type of seizure lasts for about fifteen seconds. However, some patients may experience several episodes in a row.
Myoclonic Seizures
In a myoclonic seizure, the patient exhibits sudden muscle jerks or contractions, usually on both sides of the body. The muscles contract, jerk or twitch and then relax very quickly. It may affect one muscle or a group of muscles. Patients may experience a single episode or several in a short amount of time. However, even patients without epilepsy may experience this feeling. For example, someone may experience a sudden jerk or shock in the body that wakes them from sleep. This is normal and does not necessarily qualify as epilepsy.
Absence Seizures
An absence seizure is also called a petit-mal seizure. These are very short episodes that cause lapses in awareness. For example, the patient may have a blank stare or make subtle body movements like rapid blinking, lip smacking or eyes rolling back into the head. People who experience this disconnected from the environment around them. They are usually very brief, only a few seconds and sometimes others may think the patient is simply daydreaming. Absence seizures are more common in children.
Focal (Partial) Seizures
A focal seizure results from abnormal electrical activities in one particular part of the brain, as opposed to a generalized seizure that affects both sides of the brain. However, a focal seizure can spread to other parts of the brain. Unlike a generalized seizure, the patient may show signs before it occurs, such as deja vu, fear, euphoria or changes in vision, hearing or smell. There are two categories depending on whether or not the patient loses consciousness.
Focal Aware (Simple Partial) Seizures
Afocal aware (simple partial) seizure occurs in one side of the brain. The patient does not lose consciousness or awareness of their surroundings. However, the patient may be unable to speak or move until the episode is over even though they are awake and aware. Other patients can speak normally throughout the episode and remember what happened. It may affect movement, sensations and emotions, as well as memory. Patients may feel sudden nausea, stomach pain, excess sweating or chills. Some patients even report distortions in time or out of body experiences.
Focal Impaired Awareness (Complex Partial) Seizures
Unlike a focal aware seizure, focal impaired awareness seizures affect consciousness. They affect larger areas in the brain than focal aware seizures. The patient cannot control their speech or movements and loses all awareness of their surroundings. Although the patient may be able to speak or move, they do not interact normally and their speech may not make sense. The patient can stand or move, but they appear to be in a trance.
Symptoms of Seizures
The symptoms of a seizure range from mild to severe, depending on the type. Typically there are three parts to a seizure—a beginning, a middle and an end. The symptoms affect each patient differently and they may not notice each stage’s symptoms.
Beginning Symptoms
Sometimes the patient is aware that a seizure is coming, but some patients may not have any warning at all. They may have behavioral or sensational changes, but they are not actually part of the episode. However, an aura—the first symptom—is part of it.
Middle Symptoms
The middle period begins from the first aura until the end of the episode. Similar to the beginning stage, the symptoms may affect the patient’s awareness, senses and emotions, as well as physical movement:
- Confusion or forgetfulness
- Out of body sensations
- Blurred vision
- Ongoing fear or anxiety
- Inability to speak or move
- Tremors, muscle tension, repetitive uncontrollable movements
- Stiff jaw and clenched teeth
End Symptoms
The end of a seizure triggers the postictal phase, the recovery period. Some patients recover quickly, but others may take longer depending on the type of seizure and area of the brain it affects. Just like the beginning and middle stages, the symptoms manifest as sensory, awareness and emotional changes, along with physical changes.
- Exhaustion
- Confusion or anxiety
- Difficulty speaking and remembering
- Physical injuries
- Upset stomach or headache
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
Diagnosing Seizures
To diagnose a seizure, a physician asks about the patient’s symptoms and medical history, since there are several factors that may trigger them. Then the doctor may perform tests or scans to try to determine an accurate diagnosis, since the symptoms may be similar to other health conditions.
The doctor may take blood tests to check for chemical imbalances, genetic conditions, infections or low blood sugar. A spinal tap aims to measure pressure in the brain and check for infection in the cerebrospinal fluid. If the doctor suspects an issue with the brain or central nervous system, they may carry out a neurological exam to analyze brain activity. For example, they may use an electroencephalogram (EEG) to check for abnormalities in brain activity. Imaging scans can also create a clear image of brain activity. For example, MRI, CT, PET or SPECT are all common examples of imaging tests.
Depending on the results of these tests, doctors may be able to determine the underlying cause of the seizures and develop an appropriate treatment plan. It’s important to keep in mind that not all seizures are epilepsy, and that not all patients may require medication or other forms of treatment.
Will Seizures Go Away?
Whether seizures go away depends on the underlying cause and type of seizure. Acute seizures may be a one-time event that resolves on their own, while chronic seizures may require ongoing management to prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of seizures. Fortunately, effective treatment options are available, including medication, surgery, implantable devices, lifestyle changes, and therapy. If you or someone you know experiences a seizure, seek medical attention promptly and work with your doctor to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your needs and goals.
Treatment for Seizures
Treatment aims to prevent seizures or control how often the patient has them. Some patients need treatment for their entire lives and some may be able to refrain if their seizures stop over time. Treatment includes medication, surgery or even dietary changes.
Medications
This is the most common form of treatment. There are various medications available to help control seizures and individual patients may have different needs. It may take time to find the right medication and some of them may cause side effects. But most of the time, medication is an effective treatment and management tool. However, they do not fix the underlying problem.
For example, anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) change the chemicals in the brain to stop seizures, but they do not cure epilepsy. Common types of AEDs include topiramate, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine and sodium valproate. Sometimes patients may express concern with these medications because they can cause side effects—hair loss, hair growth, rashes, tremors and agitation.
Dietary Therapy
Dietary changes may also help control seizures, in combination with medication. Research states that the ketogenic diet—high in fat, low in carbs—may help control seizures, as well as the similar modified Atkins diet.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy involves an implantable device surgically inserted under the skin to send electrical signals to the brain via the vagus nerve. The stimulator is usually placed in the chest, and the electrical signals are transferred to the brain using a lead. VNS therapy is one of the non-medical approaches for seizure control; it can help reduce the severity and frequency of seizures. VNS therapy usually carries minimal risks, but it may cause unwanted side effects, and it is vital to consider the possible impact of this therapy before deciding to proceed with this approach.
Surgery
In cases where neither anti-seizure medications or dietary changes are effective, a doctor may recommend surgery. The ability to use surgery as a treatment option will depend on the type of seizure and what part of the brain it affects. Specifically, surgery is more effective for patients whose seizures always start from one particular point in the brain. Before surgery, physicians perform tests to determine where the seizures start and then remove that focus point from the brain.
Avoiding Triggers
Patients may find that there are certain factors that can trigger their seizures. Identifying and avoiding triggers may go a long way in preventing seizures. Common triggers include stress, anxiety, fatigue or anxiety. Bright lights and hormonal imbalances may also increase the risk.
Supplements for Neurological Health
Resveratrol
Studies state that resveratrol may be able to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, which can trigger seizures. The protein may interfere with plaque formation that causes Alzheimer’s. It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help protect the brain. With a doctor’s permission, take one resveratrol capsule per day as a dietary supplement.
5-HTP
5-HTP comes from another amino acid, L-tryptophan and it’s a precursor to serotonin, the neurotransmitter that relates to mood. Research states that supplementing with 5-HTP help balance chemicals in the brain and potentially reduce seizure severity. The recommended dosage for 5-HTP (griffonia seed extract) powder is 50 to 200 mg daily, with a doctor’s permission.
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Acetyl L-carnitine HCL is well-known for its potential to benefit cognitive health. Studies have concluded that it can help improve age-related cognitive function, including memory and response to stress. As a dietary supplement, take 500 mg of acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR) powder one to three times a day after consulting a physician.
Magnesium
One of the most important minerals for neurological health is magnesium. Studies have shown that low magnesium levels can be a contributing factor to seizures, and taking magnesium supplements can help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain health, and studies have shown that they can help improve neurological health in people with epilepsy. You can find Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil supplements, and they’re also found in fatty fish like salmon and mackerel.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep, and it’s been shown to be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of seizures. For the most part, melatonin supplements can be beneficial for people with epilepsy who have trouble sleeping or who experience seizures during sleep.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is important for neurological health, and studies have shown that it can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in people with epilepsy. It can be found in fortified cereals, bananas, and chicken breast, but Vitamin B6 can also be taken as a supplement.
GABA
Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter that’s important for regulating brain activity. Studies have shown that GABA supplements can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures, and they can also help improve sleep quality.
The Bottom Line
A seizure is a neurological condition that occurs as a result of a disruption in the brain’s electrical communication signals. Seizures can be generalized or focal depending on what area of the brain that it affects. Symptoms of seizures include loss of awareness, confusion, detachment, memory loss and loss of control over bodily movement. There are a number of health conditions and factors that can trigger seizures, including lack of sleep, low blood sugar, electrolyte imbalance, birth defects and head trauma. Because they may be situational, identifying and avoiding triggers may help patients prevent them. Medication is the most common treatment, but dietary changes and surgery may also help.
Supplements for neurological health can be really helpful for people with epilepsy who are looking to manage their seizures. Magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, melatonin, vitamin B6, and GABA are all effective supplements for reducing the frequency and severity of seizures. As with any supplement, it’s important to talk to your doctor before starting a new regimen, but adding these supplements to your routine can be a great way to improve your neurological health and manage your seizures. Supplements may also be a natural way to protect neurological function and promote brain health. They are not a cure, but research states that they may be effective. Consult a doctor before starting a supplement regimen.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease