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Epilepsy

Finding the Clues

Priyal Sakhuja

By: Priyal Sakhuja

Symptoms and signs could be seen as clues used to determine the likely diagnosis for a present illness. Once one learns and becomes familiar with the clues, the mysteries behind the illnesses become a little easier to unravel. Such clues are present for all illnesses, including epilepsy. Learning about which symptoms an epilepsy seizure could produce and how one could assist the person could be very beneficial. Although some seizures come with no warning, early seizure symptoms include visual loss or blurring, dizziness, headache, nausea or numbness. Some signs to look for that indicate one is having an epilepsy seizure include (Mayo Clinic, 2013):

• Staring spells

• Temporary confusion

• Uncontrollable jerking arm and leg movements

• Loss of awareness

These symptoms could vary from person to person, but they tend to be the general trend. In most cases, a person afflicted with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time so the symptoms would also be similar. Symptoms also tend to differ between the two types of seizures: partial and generalized (Senelick, 2012).

Partial seizures-

In a partial seizure, which affects one part of the brain, the person would experience the twitching of a finger or fingers, hand, arm, leg, foot, or facial muscles. Speech might also become slurred or incomprehensible and vision might be temporarily impaired. Tingling on one side of the body might also occur.

Generalized seizures-

This type of seizure occurs over all areas of the brain and could cause the person to stare into space or pass out. The muscles could stiffen and the person could be afflicted with jerking leg and arm movements.

Although these symptoms and signs may seem frightening, it is important to know when and how people with epilepsy react while having a seizure. Along with regular dosage of treatment drugs, one can help someone afflicted with epilepsy by offering a strong support system. It is important to ensure that medication is taken on time and the person gets enough sleep since lack of sleep could trigger seizures. It is also beneficial to remain physically active and make healthy life choices. Just piecing the clues together could be life altering for someone afflicted with epilepsy.

Sources:  

1. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/epilepsy/DS00342

2.http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/epilepsy-seizure-symptoms.