Lesson 19
Learn seizure first aid
What are epileptic seizures?
Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures. Electrical activity is happening in our brains all the time, as networks of tiny brain cells send messages to each other.
These messages control all our thoughts, movements, senses and body functions. A seizure happens when there is a sudden, intense burst of electrical activity in the brain. This causes the messages between cells to get mixed up. The result is an epileptic seizure.
How a seizure affects you depends on what area of the brain is involved in this intense electrical activity. You might lose consciousness, or you might stay aware of what’s happening around you. You might have strange sensations, or movements you can’t control. Or you might go stiff, fall to the floor and shake.
Some people only have one type of seizure, and some people have more than one type.
Here we explain some of the most common seizure types. We have more information about how epileptic seizures are diagnosed and treated.
Common Types of Seizures:
- Focal seizures
- Tonic-clonic seizures
- Absence seizures