Seizures are a scary moment, for anyone experiencing them or witnessing one. A seizure is abnormal electrical activity in the brain, referred to as the “misfiring” of neurons. This temporarily affects how a person moves, feels, behaves, thinks, or experiences consciousness.
Seizures aren’t typically fatal, but they can pose significant health risks. The main dangers are complications around the seizure rather than the activity itself. This is why it is important to be able to recognize a seizure, so you can step in and help as quickly and effectively as possible.
Learn the warning signs of a seizure, what is happening, and how long a seizure typically lasts. The information could save a life.
Are you in need of neurological medical care? Neurological Medicine in Maryland treats epilepsy and other seizure disorders. Call us today for a neurological appointment, consultation, diagnosis, and treatment recommendation.
Note: Content on neuromedpa.com is not doctor’s advice and should not be taken as such. Always contact your primary care doctor for medical services, diagnosis, treatment, lifestyle adjustments, and more.
What Is a Seizure
A seizure is the misfiring of neurons (brain cells) in the brain that affects movement, awareness, emotions, sensations, or behavior, depending on which area of the brain is involved. Seizures vary widely in both type and severity. Some seizures last only a few seconds and cause brief staring spells or confusion, while others may involve loss of consciousness, muscle stiffening, or full-body convulsions.
What most people do not know is that not all seizures look dramatic or involve shaking. While generalized tonic-clonic seizures are often what people picture, many seizures are much more subtle. A person experiencing a seizure may simply appear confused, unresponsive, frozen in place, or unaware of their surroundings. Some people experience unusual sensations such as déjà vu, tingling, strange smells, or sudden emotional changes without any visible convulsions at all.
Types of Seizures
Focal Seizures: Focal seizures begin in one specific area of the brain. Symptoms may include twitching, unusual sensations, confusion, emotional changes, repetitive movements, or impaired awareness. Some focal seizures occur while the person remains fully conscious.
Generalized Seizures: Generalized seizures involve both sides of the brain from the start and often affect consciousness. Common generalized seizures include:
- Absence seizures: Brief staring spells or lapses in awareness
- Tonic-clonic seizures: Muscle stiffening followed by rhythmic jerking movements
- Myoclonic seizures: Sudden muscle jerks or spasms
- Atonic seizures: Sudden loss of muscle tone that may cause falls
What Causes Seizures
A seizure can occur for many reasons, including fever, head injury, low blood sugar, sleep deprivation, infection, or medication reactions. Most people know the seizure disorder, epilepsy, and think all seizures are related to an epilepsy diagnosis. However, epilepsy is a neurological disorder that involves recurrent, unprovoked seizures, whereas a single seizure may be an isolated medical event.
The Stages of a Seizure
Seizures occur in several stages, though not every person experiences every phase. The symptoms and progression of a seizure can vary depending on the type of seizure and the individual affected. Understanding the stages of a seizure may help you recognize warning signs, respond appropriately, and better understand the recovery process.
Note: not everyone experiences a prodrome phase, and symptoms can vary significantly from person to person.
Prodrome Phase (Early Warning Period)
The prodrome phase of a seizure is an early warning period that may occur hours or even days before a seizure. During this stage, you may notice subtle physical, emotional, or behavioral changes that signal a seizure may be approaching.
Common symptoms of a seizure in the prodrome phase can include mood changes such as irritability, anxiety, or restlessness, as well as headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or changes in sleep patterns.
Aura Phase (Immediate Warning Signs)
The aura phase is often considered the first symptom of a seizure and may serve as an immediate warning sign that a seizure is happening. Auras are commonly associated with focal seizures and can involve a wide range of sensory, emotional, or cognitive symptoms.
Individuals may experience déjà vu, sudden fear, confusion, or unusual emotional sensations. Other patients report strange smells, unusual tastes, visual disturbances, tingling sensations, or changes in hearing.
Because auras can occur seconds or minutes before more noticeable seizure activity, they may provide an opportunity for a person to move to a safe place or alert others nearby.
Ictal Phase (The Seizure Itself)
The ictal phase refers to the seizure itself. Symptoms during this phase depend on the type and severity of the seizure.
Some individuals may experience jerking or stiffening movements, muscle spasms, staring spells, repetitive motions, or loss of awareness. More severe seizures may involve loss of consciousness, falling, or full-body convulsions. The ictal phase may last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.
Postictal Phase (After the Seizure)
The postictal phase is the recovery period following a seizure, when the brain and body gradually return to normal function. Many people experience confusion, fatigue, headache, soreness, or difficulty speaking after a seizure. Some individuals may feel disoriented, emotional, or temporarily unable to remember what occurred.
Recovery time varies depending on the type and severity of the seizure, with some people recovering within minutes while others may need several hours to fully return to baseline.
Early Warning Signs of a Seizure
Many people experience warning signs of a seizure, although these may be subtle and can occur before or during the seizure. These symptoms vary greatly depending on the type of seizure and the area of the brain involved.
Emotional or behavioral changes are common and may include sudden anxiety, irritability, fear, or unexplained mood shifts. Some individuals also report physical sensations such as tingling, dizziness, nausea, numbness, or a rising sensation in the stomach.
Cognitive symptoms may involve confusion, difficulty concentrating, trouble speaking, or temporary memory lapses. Seizures can also produce sensory disturbances, including hallucinations or unusual smells, tastes, sounds, or visual changes that are not actually present.
Whether you experience seizures or are looking for warning signs of a seizure in someone else, it is important to be aware of all possible signs of a seizure.
Subtle Symptoms That Are Often Missed
Some seizure symptoms are so subtle that they are frequently overlooked or mistaken for normal behavior. A person may briefly stare into space or appear to “zone out” for several seconds. Others may display repetitive movements such as lip-smacking, blinking, chewing motions, or fidgeting.
Sudden pauses in speech, delayed responses, or moments of unresponsiveness can also occur. Because these symptoms may resemble daydreaming, distraction, fatigue, or absentmindedness, they are often missed or misunderstood, especially in children or individuals with less obvious seizure types.
When you are looking for signs of a seizure, always pay attention to small habits or levels of distraction. Try talking with the person and ask them what they felt, were doing, or thinking of. This can often alert people nearby that the behavior was abnormal and may require medical attention.
When to Seek Medical Attention for a Seizure
You should seek medical attention whenever a person experiences a first-time seizure, as seizures can have many underlying causes that require evaluation. Even if the episode appears mild or brief, a healthcare provider can help determine whether it was truly a seizure and identify any potential medical concerns.
Individuals should also seek medical care if they experience repeated warning signs or seizure auras, such as sudden confusion, unusual sensations, emotional changes, or recurring episodes of staring or unresponsiveness. These symptoms may indicate ongoing seizure activity even in the absence of convulsions.
A seizure lasting longer than five minutes is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate emergency medical assistance. Prolonged seizures can interfere with breathing and increase the risk of serious complications, including brain injury. Emergency care is also necessary if seizures occur back-to-back without the person fully regaining consciousness between episodes.
If seizures begin occurring more frequently, become more severe, or change in pattern over time, it’s best to visit a neurologist. Increasing seizure activity may suggest an underlying neurological condition that requires diagnosis, treatment, or adjustment of medications.
What to Do If You Notice Warning Signs of a Seizure
For Yourself:
Prioritize your safety as quickly as possible. Move to a safe location away from traffic, stairs, sharp objects, water, or other potential hazards. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or engaging in activities that could become dangerous if a seizure occurs suddenly. If possible, alert someone nearby that you may be experiencing a seizure so they can assist you if needed.
For Others:
If you see someone developing the early warning signs of a seizure, prioritize their safety during the seizure by helping them move to a safe area. Encourage them to sit or lie down to reduce the risk of injury from falling. Clear nearby objects or hazards that could cause harm if the impending seizure causes muscle spasms.
More than anything, stay calm and remain with the person throughout the episode and recovery period. After the seizure, help keep them comfortable and oriented while monitoring their breathing and responsiveness. If the seizure lasts longer than five minutes, repeats without recovery, or results in injury or breathing difficulties, seek emergency medical assistance immediately.
How Neurological Medicine Can Help
Neurological specialists help in diagnosing, treating, and managing seizures and seizure-related conditions. Because seizures can vary widely in cause and presentation, an accurate diagnosis often requires a comprehensive neurological evaluation. Diagnostic tools such as electroencephalograms (EEGs), brain imaging studies like MRI or CT scans, and detailed medical assessments help providers identify abnormal brain activity and determine the underlying cause of symptoms.
Treatment plans are tailored to each individual’s condition, symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle needs. Depending on the diagnosis, care may include anti-seizure medications, monitoring of seizure triggers, lifestyle recommendations, or additional neurological testing. Medication management and ongoing follow-up care are often essential for reducing seizure frequency, improving safety, and supporting long-term quality of life.
Get Compassionate Care at Neurological Medicine in Maryland
Equally important to clinical diagnostics and treatment is a compassionate, patient-centered approach to care. Seizures can affect emotional well-being, independence, work, school, and daily activities, making supportive communication and individualized treatment especially important.
Our trusted team of physicians, nurses, and medical professionals understands the complex emotions that come with having a seizure or underlying neurological issue. If you’re looking for a trusted provider who offers compassionate care paired with expert treatment, turn to Neuromed. We’d be happy to schedule a consultation with you for a comprehensive evaluation and personalized care plan.
Neurological Medicine, P.A.
Neurological Medicine, P.A., provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services to patients with conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. We have been serving the Prince George’s and Montgomery County area since 1975, with two offices: Greenbelt and Laurel. We offer complete adult neurological care as well as in-office neurodiagnostic studies.
