Epilepsy: Symptoms, Causes, Complications and What You Can Do

Health & Wellness

Epilepsy: Symptoms, Causes, Complications and What You Can Do

By
Dana Sparks

November 19, 2013

National Epilepsy Awareness Month

Many people think having a seizure involves convulsions, shaking and essentially passing out for a period of time. Others might think if someone has a seizure, they must have epilepsy. Both assumptions are incorrect.

Mayo Clinic Health System neurologist Andrew Reeves, M.D., helps explain epilepsy and seizures.

Symptoms and types of seizures.

Categorized as a spectrum disorder because of the wide range of causes and effects, epilepsy impacts people differently. Some common symptoms of a seizure include:

Uncontrolled jerking movements of the arms and legs
Short-term confusion
Psychological symptoms
Loss of awareness
Becoming unconscious

Though these are general symptoms, physicians typically separate seizures into two categories, focal or generalized. Both result from abnormal brain activity. Read more in the news release.