About 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It can look like shaking, staring spells, confusion, or just a brief loss of awareness. Knowing how to recognize different signs and act fast can keep someone safe.
Not all seizures are dramatic. A few common types you’ll see:
- Generalized tonic-clonic: sudden collapse, full-body jerking, loss of consciousness. This is the one most people picture.
- Focal aware or impaired-awareness: person stays in place but seems confused, may repeat movements or stare off.
- Absence seizures: very brief staring spells, often in children, lasting a few seconds with quick return to normal.
After a seizure the person may be tired, confused, have a headache, or sleep. Time the episode if you can—duration matters.
Stay calm. Check safety first and remove nearby objects that could cause harm. Protect the head with something soft like a folded jacket.
Time the seizure. If it lasts more than 5 minutes, call emergency services. If it’s the person’s first seizure, they’re injured, pregnant, or not breathing normally after it ends, call for help.
Do not put anything in their mouth. Don’t try to hold them down or stop the jerking. After the seizure, gently turn the person onto their side to keep the airway clear and check breathing.
Stay with them until they’re fully alert. Speak calmly and explain what happened. If the person has a known seizure disorder, follow their seizure action plan if one exists.
Common triggers you can often avoid: missed medication doses, poor sleep, heavy alcohol or drug use, strong flashing lights, high fever (especially in kids), and severe stress. Keeping a seizure diary can reveal personal triggers and help doctors tune treatment.
Treatment usually starts with anti-seizure medicines. Common options a neurologist might discuss include levetiracetam, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and valproate—each has benefits and side effects. If meds don’t control seizures, other options include surgery, nerve stimulation, or dietary therapies under medical supervision.
Practical tips: take meds as prescribed, avoid known triggers, get enough sleep, and tell friends or coworkers a simple plan for emergencies. Driving rules and job rules vary—check local laws and ask your doctor.
If you or someone you care for has had a seizure, make an appointment with a doctor or neurologist. Early assessment, a clear plan, and the right treatment lower risks and help people stay active and independent.
I recently came across some interesting research on the potential connection between melatonin and epilepsy. Studies have shown that melatonin, a hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycle, may help in reducing the frequency of seizures in some epilepsy patients. However, the results are not yet conclusive, and further research is needed to fully understand this relationship. Still, it's exciting to think that a natural hormone could play a role in managing epilepsy. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this topic and sharing any new developments with you all.