If you or someone you care about has had a seizure, you understand how alarming they can be. The uncontrolled shaking, stiffness in the body, and potential loss of consciousness can be distressing, especially in risky situations like swimming or driving.

Despite their frightening nature, seizures occur more often than many people realize. The Epilepsy Foundation reports that one in ten individuals will experience a seizure at some point in their lives.

Let’s delve into what seizures are, how they occur, and what treatment options are available if you have one.

What constitutes a seizure?

A seizure is a sudden surge of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that leads to various bodily responses, depending on the area of the brain involved, as explained by Dr. Jerry Shih, the director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at the UC San Diego School of Medicine in California.

For example, seizures originating in the frontal lobe can affect memory, problem-solving abilities, and speech. In contrast, temporal lobe seizures can alter emotions and auditory perception, while seizures in the parietal lobe can disrupt sensory processing related to touch, sight, and communication, as noted by Dr. Shih. The occipital lobe may also be involved, impacting vision.

Seizures that affect specific brain regions in these ways are referred to as partial seizures, while generalized seizures involve multiple brain regions or affect the entire brain simultaneously.

Physical manifestations of seizures can include sudden jerking movements of the head, arms, or legs; drooling; loss of bladder control; muscle contractions; altered awareness; body stiffness; full-body convulsions; loss of consciousness; or staring spells, known as absence seizures.

While most seizures last between 30 seconds and two minutes, some can extend longer. It is crucial to treat any seizure lasting longer than five minutes as a medical emergency, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Once a seizure concludes, “some individuals may experience lingering effects such as sleepiness, fatigue, or confusion that can last from minutes to hours,” states Dr. Shih.

A diagnosis of epilepsy is typically given if a person experiences two or more seizures within a 24-hour period, with epilepsy being characterized as “a brain disorder marked by recurrent unprovoked seizures,” according to Dr. Shih.

What are the causes of seizures?

Seizures can arise from numerous factors, as “any injury to the brain—including head trauma or metabolic imbalances—can trigger one,” according to Dr. Vladimir Shvarts, a neurologist and head of the epilepsy division at Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona.

Common triggers for seizures include strokes, brain tumors, lesions, and infections like meningitis. Approximately 25% of patients with seizures have genetic factors that lower their seizure threshold, typically starting in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood, he explains.

Both diet and lifestyle can contribute to the occurrence of seizures. “Severe sodium deficiency, extreme lack of sleep, very low blood sugar, or alcohol withdrawal can lead to sporadic seizures,” notes Dr. Shih. In some cases, however, the exact cause of the seizure remains unknown.

How are seizures managed?

If you have a seizure, consulting with a healthcare provider is essential to eliminate concerning issues. Dr. Shvarts indicates that many seizures are harmless and may not require extensive treatment. “Nevertheless, most patients will need anti-seizure medications,” he adds. These medications can be highly effective in controlling the condition for about two-thirds of those with epilepsy, according to Dr. Shih.

For others, these medicines may only lessen the severity and frequency of seizures, “but might not completely stop their occurrence,” says Dr. Shvarts, who mentions that surgical interventions can be an option for such patients. These may involve resective surgeries, laser procedures, or devices like vagal nerve stimulators or deep brain stimulators.

In addition to surgery, Dr. Shih states that electrically stimulating various brain or nervous system regions can prevent or disrupt the excessive electrical activity linked to seizures. Implementing specialized diets, hormonal treatments, managing stress levels, ensuring sufficient sleep, and regular meals can also be beneficial.

“While these aspects do not cause epilepsy,” warns Dr. Shih, being mindful of them “can lower the brain’s threshold for triggering a seizure.”