More than 2 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with epilepsy, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). But as common as epilepsy is, stigmas about the condition have only recently begun to be dispelled.


A brain disorder in which the normal pattern of neuron activity becomes disturbed, epilepsy can result in seizures, with symptoms ranging from unusual sensations and emotions to severe convulsions or loss of consciousness. Some people with epilepsy may experience several seizures a day, while others may go months, or even years, without one. And not all types of epilepsy are lifelong either; some forms are even confined to particular stages of childhood.

Types of Epileptic Seizures


Neurologists have divided seizures into two major categories-focal seizures and generalized seizures:

Focal Seizures

. These types of seizures occur in just one part of the brain. Focal seizures can range from simple, in which the person remains conscious but experiences unusual feelings, sensations, or emotions, to complex focal, which can result in repetitious behaviors such as blinks or twitches, or even loss of consciousness. About 60 percent of people with epilepsy have focal seizures, according to the NINDS.

Generalized Seizures

. The result of abnormal neuronal activity on both sides of the brain, generalized seizures can take many forms. In absence seizures, for example, the person may have twitching muscles and may appear to be staring into space. Tonic seizures cause stiffening of the muscles, generally in the back, legs, and arms. Other types of generalized seizures include clonic seizures (repeated jerking movements on both sides of the body), atonic seizures (a temporary loss of normal muscle tone and strength), and tonic-clonic seizures (a mix of symptoms including stiffening of the body and repeated jerks of limbs as well as loss of consciousness)

Helping a Loved One During an Epileptic Seizure


Watching someone have a seizure can be a frightening experience. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help ensure his or her safety. Here are some tips to follow:

  • Do your best to keep the person from falling, by guiding him gently to the floor.
  • If there are any obstructions in the way, such as furniture or other objects, remove them immediately.
  • Try to position the person on his side so that any fluid or saliva can safely leave his mouth and the tongue can fall away to the side of the mouth for a clearer airway. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, it's physically impossible for someone to swallow his tongue.
  • Do not force anything into the person's mouth, as this could result in injuries such as a fractured jaw.
  • Do not try to restrain the person, as this could result in injuries such as a dislocated shoulder.

Treatments for Epileptic Seizures


According to the NINDS, about 80 percent of patients treated with seizure medications such as Lyrica, Gabitril, and Klonopin do not suffer an attack for at least two years, if not longer. And many children with epilepsy will remain seizure-free once they reach their twenties.

For those with intractable or drug-resistant forms of epilepsy, two main options exist: They can have the seizure-producing area of their brain removed through surgery, or they can have a vagus nerve stimulator implanted in their chest wall. Wires from the device are wrapped around the vagus nerve in the neck, allowing it to send electric pulses to the brain to prevent a seizure.

Currently, researchers are focusing on the neurotransmitter GABA and the membrane that surrounds the neuron so that the people who suffer from this disorder, a group that numbers fewer than 2 in every 100 people, can lead happier, seizure-less, if not seizure-free, lives.