About Epilepsy & Seizures

Epilepsy just means that someone has seizures. Sounds simple right? Well, not exactly.

There are more than 20 types of seizures. Some cause a person to lose consciousness and shake, while others make a person act confused or stare off into space. Some people with epilepsy have lots of seizures, while others have very few or none at all. Because there are so many different kinds of seizures, it can be confusing, But if you watch the videos on this site, you'll find answers to your questions.

More Epilepsy Basics:

• Epilepsy is also called a seizure disorder.
• About 1 in 100 people have epilepsy.
• It affects people of all races and ethnic backgrounds.
• It can be caused by anything that injures the brain (head injuries, poisoning, problems before birth and severe infections that involve the brain.)
• In most cases, however, doctors don’t know why a person develops epilepsy.

What is a seizure?
Brain cells constantly send millions of tiny electrical signals to your body to tell you to move, think and do things. A seizure happens when these cells misfire and start sending out uncontrolled electrical impulses, causing a change in awareness, movement or sensation.

There are many different types of seizures. The type of seizure a person has depends on where in the brain the uncontrolled electrical impulses are happening and how much of the brain is involved. Some seizures cause convulsions or shaking, while others make a person stare into space or act confused. Seizures typically don’t hurt the brain, and a person having a seizure doesn’t feel any pain while it’s occurring.

Generalized seizures
Generalized seizures involve uncontrolled electrical activity throughout the whole brain. The most common types are:

Absence Seizures (previously called petit mal seizures)
Absence seizures cause a brief loss of consciousness, lasting only a few seconds. They are often confused with daydreaming or lack of attention. They can happen many times a day and may result in learning difficulties if not recognized and treated.

Tonic-Clonic Seizures (previously call grand mal)
Tonic-clonic seizures cause a person to lose consciousness, fall and shake or convulse. They usually lasts a couple of minutes. There may be some confusion and/or tiredness after the seizure. This is the type of seizure most people associate with epilepsy.

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