A tonic-clonic seizure is the most common type of generalized seizure experienced by those with epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Also referred to as a grand mal or gran mal seizure, a tonic-clonic episode has two phases: the tonic,...
Approximately 3 to 5 percent of children may experience a seizure, often before their first birthday, according to Children's Hospital Boston. The tonic-clonic seizure, sometimes called a grand mal seizure, is a generalized type that affects both...
One tonic-clonic seizure does not mean the condition will continue, so your physician may hesitate to medicate you after your first episode. You should, however, seek medical treatment if you've never had a seizure in the past. Your neurologist...
If you've ever had a migraine, a seizure aura is very similar. During an aura, which is actually a simple-partial seizure episode preceding the tonic-clonic phase, you may experience déjà vu, sudden emotional swings, feelings of dizziness...
When a person has a seizure, normal electrical activity in the brain is disrupted. The symptoms of a seizure can range from muscle twitching to a loss of consciousness. A seizure does not last longer than 15 minutes, according to the National...
A grand mal seizure occurs when the electrical activity of the brain is temporarily out of control. Brain cells normally communicate using well-coordinated electrical signals. With a grand mal seizure, an electrical outburst causes disordered,...
Epilepsy refers to a group of disorders characterized by seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain that temporarily disrupts the brain's normal functioning. The frequency and severity and particular symptoms of epileptic seizures...
Epilepsy is a brain disorder where a person experiences chronic recurring seizures characterized by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which can have detrimental physical and mental results, according to the University of Maryland Medical...
Epilepsy is a condition characterized by abnormal electrical behavior in the brain. This can result in seizures, which can range from being barely noticeable to grand mal seizures, which cause convulsions and loss of consciousness. Epilepsy...
A seizure, the production of sudden and strong surges in electrochemical impulses by a group of nerves in the brain, can cause a loss of consciousness, or a blackout. Seizures are classified based on how much of the brain is involved, which part...
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, also known as impulsive petit mal seizures or Janz syndrome, is an inherited epilepsy syndrome. Typically presenting in adolescence, JME is usually a life-long condition. According to the University of Maryland Medical...
Seizures result from electrical signals that misfire in the brain. This may cause abnormal limb jerking, staring spells or even hallucinations. Some people may be unaware of their symptoms, losing consciousness, after which they later awake....
Seizures--a symptom of epilepsy--are characterized by behavioral and physical changes (such as blackouts) caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The presentation of symptoms varies depending upon the type of seizure and part of the...
Children who develop juvenile myoclonic epilepsy will most likely have it for the rest of their lives. About 80 percent will need to take anti-epileptic drugs to prevent the return of seizures, according to Epilepsy Action's website. Some studies...
Epileptic seizures can occur because the brain has wired itself incorrectly during development, or as the result of damage after head injury or stroke. In some cases, epileptic seizures happen for no medically defined reason. The U.S. National...
A grand mal seizure, often referred to as a tonic-clonic seizure, is characterized by violent muscle spasms and a loss of consciousness. A grand mal seizure, like all seizures, occurs due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. A person most...
Petit mal seizures generally last just a couple of seconds according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. They're often defined by the person becoming "absent" for a few seconds--the person's speech or movement may be suddenly interrupted,...
Epilepsy is a seizure disorder that affects nearly 3 million Americans, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. During an epileptic seizure, neurons (nerve cells) that normally send messages to and from the brain misfire and send the wrong signals....
Keppra is a medication used to treat tonic clonic, partial onset and myoclonic seizures, says Drugs.com. Tonic clonic seizures affect your entire brain and cause loss of consciousness and full body convulsions. Myoclonic seizures result in rapid...
Seizures, or convulsions, are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. A seizure can be described as a short circuit of the electrical signals inside the brain. They can be caused by brain damage, trauma, infections or conditions that...
Epileptic seizures have three phases. The preictal phase is the time leading up to the seizure. The ictal phase is the seizure itself. The postictal phase is the period after the seizure. The postictal phase may last from seconds to days,...
Seizures are abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. A variety of seizures exist, from simple partial to tonic-clonic, with each falling into one of two categories---partial or primary generalized. Each type of seizure is unique in the way it...
According to the Merck Manual, approximately 2 percent of people in the United States have a seizure of no clear origin in their lifetime, but two-thirds of those people never have another seizure. A diagnosis of epilepsy requires two such...
Approximately 3 million Americans, children and adults alike, have been diagnosed with some form of epilepsy. There are more than 45 seizure medications currently available to help manage seizure activity in adults and children. In some cases,...
Seizures and epilepsy affect almost 3 million Americans of all ages, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. The difference between seizures and epilepsy is the prevalence, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Seizures due to a...
A seizure occurs when a group of nerves in the brain suddenly produces a strong surge of electrochemical impulses. These impulses interfere with normal processes controlled by the brain. Symptoms of a seizure vary depending on the portion of the...
Gabapentin is a medication used to treat a wide variety of neurologic issues including pain and seizures. Gabapentin is structurally similar to GABA, a neurotransmitter. The mechanism of action of gabapentin is unknown, but may be related to...
Epilepsy, a seizure disorder, is a neurological condition that affects the firing of neurons in the brain. Seizures occur when an abnormal transmission of electrical signals takes place. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 3 million Americans...
Grand mal seizure, also known as tonic-clonic seizure, is a neurological condition caused by abnormal electrical impulses throughout the cells of the brain. According to the Mayo Clinic, it results in symptoms of generalized loss of consciousness...
