Understanding Seizures: Symptoms, Causes & Types

An abnormal increase in electrical activity in the brain can result in a seizure. The part of the brain affected determines what happens to the body during the seizure. With over 20 different types of seizure disorders, causes can vary from medications, genetics, and tumors, as well as other factors.

Aura

• An aura can be a pleasant or unpleasant experience and typically involves alterations in sight, smell or taste. Many people who have seizures, experience an aura as part of the seizure or prior to other seizure symptoms.

Headache

• Seizures can involve severe headaches that last the duration of the seizure or for minutes or hours afterward.

Memory Lapse

• Confusion, forgetfulness, feeling 'spaced out' and memory lapses can be signs of a seizure.

Sleepiness

• Feeling excessively tired, a feeling of weakness, and episodes of daydreaming can be signs of seizure activity.

Incontinence

• Some individuals experience a loss of bladder control or loss of bowel control as a symptom of a seizure.