Many people associate epilepsy and seizures with violent movements with muscle contractions, but there are actually many types of seizures that one can have. As stated by the Mayo Clinic (2015), “Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system in which nerve activity in the brain becomes disrupted, causing seizures or periods of unusual behaviour, sensations, and sometimes loss of consciousness” (Para. 16). Epileptic seizures are generally caused by abnormalities in the brain that cause numerous nerve cells to become activated at the same time, causing sudden and excessive bursts of electrical energy (University of Maryland Medical Centre, 2013). Epilepsy is characterized by unprovoked, recurrent seizures that can vary from person to person, and it is also the 4th most common type of neurological disorder affecting of all ages (Epilepsy foundation, 2014). Epilepsy also affects as much as 65 million people in the world, with about 3 million being from the United States (Pietrangelo, n.d.).With that being said, epilepsy also has the tendency to affect younger children or older adults more frequently, generally being seen more in males than females(Pietrangelo, n.d.).
…show more content…
A seizure is defined as a sudden rush of electrical captivity in the brain, which can be generalized and affect the whole part of the brain or partial and only affect part of the brain (Pietrangelo, n.d.). Epilepsy Foundation says that “many people who are diagnosed with epilepsy are able to have more than one type of seizure, may also experience other signs and symptoms of neurological problems as well” (Para. 6). When someone experiences a mild seizure, it can be harder to recognize as there are no classic signs and symptoms. This type of seizure can also last up to a few seconds at which they will only lack awareness. When a person experiences a stronger seizure, it can lead to uncontrolled muscle twitches, which can last a few seconds up to a few minutes(Pietrangelo, n.d.). Also during stronger seizures, some people may lose consciousness or get confused, and may have no memory or recollection of it happening (Pietrangelo n.d.). As epilepsy is stated to cause abnormal activity in the brain cells, seizures can affect any processes that are linked to the brain (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2015). Some of the signs and symptoms of seizures can include temporary confusion, a staring spell, loss of consciousness or awareness, psychotic symptoms, and uncontrollable movements of the arms and legs (Mayo clinic Staff, 2015). Epilepsy can be broken down into two categories: they can be focal seizures or generalized seizures. A focal seizure can also be broken down into two categories. A simple partial seizure is characterized with no loss of consciousness during an attack. It can also be accompanied by an alteration to some of the senses like smell, taste, sight, hearing or touch, and may also includes dizziness and tingling to the extremities (Pietrangelo, n.d.) . A complex partial seizure on the other hand, involves some loss of awareness or consciousness (Pietrangelo, n.d.). …show more content…
Some of the signs and symptoms of this type of seizure include a blank stare into space, unconsciousness, and also completing repetitive movements without realizing it (Pietrangelo, n.d.). The other type of seizures one can have are called generalized seizures. These types of seizures include the whole brain, which can be broken up into six different types of categories. The first type of general seizure is referred to as an absence seizure. This type use to be referred to as “petit mal seizures,” which is described to cause a blank stare (Pietrangelo, n.d.). With this type of seizure, there can be a short loss of awareness, as well as sometimes causing a repetitive action such as lip smacking or blinking (Pietrangelo, n.d.). As per Health line, there can also be toxic seizures which cause muscle stiffness, and atomic seizures which can lead to uncontrolled muscle loss resulting in suddenly falling down (Pietrangelo, n.d.). There are also clonic seizures causing repeated or rhythmic, jerking muscle movements that generally affect the neck, face and arms, while myoclonic seizures cause sudden brief jerks of the arms or legs (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). The last type of generalized seizure is referred to as tonic- clonic seizures, or previously called grand mal seizures (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). These seizures can cause an instant loss of consciousness, body stiffening or shaking, as well as loss of bladder
A seizure is defined as a sudden rush of electrical captivity in the brain, which can be generalized and affect the whole part of the brain or partial and only affect part of the brain (Pietrangelo, n.d.). Epilepsy Foundation says that “many people who are diagnosed with epilepsy are able to have more than one type of seizure, may also experience other signs and symptoms of neurological problems as well” (Para. 6). When someone experiences a mild seizure, it can be harder to recognize as there are no classic signs and symptoms. This type of seizure can also last up to a few seconds at which they will only lack awareness. When a person experiences a stronger seizure, it can lead to uncontrolled muscle twitches, which can last a few seconds up to a few minutes(Pietrangelo, n.d.). Also during stronger seizures, some people may lose consciousness or get confused, and may have no memory or recollection of it happening (Pietrangelo n.d.). As epilepsy is stated to cause abnormal activity in the brain cells, seizures can affect any processes that are linked to the brain (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2015). Some of the signs and symptoms of seizures can include temporary confusion, a staring spell, loss of consciousness or awareness, psychotic symptoms, and uncontrollable movements of the arms and legs (Mayo clinic Staff, 2015). Epilepsy can be broken down into two categories: they can be focal seizures or generalized seizures. A focal seizure can also be broken down into two categories. A simple partial seizure is characterized with no loss of consciousness during an attack. It can also be accompanied by an alteration to some of the senses like smell, taste, sight, hearing or touch, and may also includes dizziness and tingling to the extremities (Pietrangelo, n.d.) . A complex partial seizure on the other hand, involves some loss of awareness or consciousness (Pietrangelo, n.d.). …show more content…
Some of the signs and symptoms of this type of seizure include a blank stare into space, unconsciousness, and also completing repetitive movements without realizing it (Pietrangelo, n.d.). The other type of seizures one can have are called generalized seizures. These types of seizures include the whole brain, which can be broken up into six different types of categories. The first type of general seizure is referred to as an absence seizure. This type use to be referred to as “petit mal seizures,” which is described to cause a blank stare (Pietrangelo, n.d.). With this type of seizure, there can be a short loss of awareness, as well as sometimes causing a repetitive action such as lip smacking or blinking (Pietrangelo, n.d.). As per Health line, there can also be toxic seizures which cause muscle stiffness, and atomic seizures which can lead to uncontrolled muscle loss resulting in suddenly falling down (Pietrangelo, n.d.). There are also clonic seizures causing repeated or rhythmic, jerking muscle movements that generally affect the neck, face and arms, while myoclonic seizures cause sudden brief jerks of the arms or legs (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). The last type of generalized seizure is referred to as tonic- clonic seizures, or previously called grand mal seizures (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). These seizures can cause an instant loss of consciousness, body stiffening or shaking, as well as loss of bladder