Epilepsy: Symptoms and what you should know about the disease

2024-11-18

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the brain’s electrical activity and can cause recurring seizures. It is a common condition that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Understanding the symptoms of epilepsy is essential for providing the right support and treatment. Here we cover the most common symptoms, what triggers seizures, and how to respond if you see someone having a seizure.

Common symptoms of epilepsy

Epilepsy symptoms vary depending on which part of the brain is affected. Here are some of the most common signs:

1. Generalised seizures

  • Tonic-clonic seizures: The person loses consciousness, the body stiffens (tonic phase) followed by rhythmic jerking (clonic phase).
  • Absence seizures: Brief episodes of lost awareness where the person stares blankly and does not respond.

2. Focal seizures

  • With retained awareness: The person may experience involuntary movements, sensory disturbances, or sudden changes in sensory experiences such as sight or smell.
  • With impaired awareness: The person may appear confused, perform repetitive movements such as lip-smacking, and may not remember the episode.

3. Auras

Many people with epilepsy experience a warning or “aura” before a seizure. This may feel like a strange smell, a sensation of déjà vu, or a sudden rush of emotion.

Triggers that can cause seizures

Certain factors can increase the risk of seizures in people with epilepsy. Common triggers include:

  • Stress and sleep deprivation – insufficient sleep is a common factor.
  • Flashing lights – photosensitive epilepsy is often triggered by rapidly flashing lights.
  • Alcohol and drugs – these substances can negatively affect the brain’s electrical activity.
  • Missed medication – not taking anti-epileptic medication as prescribed can trigger seizures.

How to help someone during a seizure

If you see someone having a seizure, it is important to stay calm and act correctly:

  1. Move away any dangerous objects the person could be injured on.
  2. Gently place the person on their side to help keep their airway clear.
  3. Do not put anything in their mouth – it is a myth that they can “swallow their tongue”.
  4. Stay with the person until the seizure has passed, and call 999 if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or if multiple seizures occur in a row.

A personal alarm to call for help at any time

Sensorem’s personal alarm can automatically trigger an alert in the event of a fall and then call relatives using the watch’s built-in speakerphone with two-way communication. The user can also raise an alert manually by pressing the physical alarm button. The alarm works outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning so that relatives can see the user’s position on a map in the Sensorem app.

 

READ ABOUT HOW SENSOREM’S PERSONAL ALARM CAN INCREASE SAFETY FOR SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM EPILEPSY

References