Have you or anyone you know ever experienced a situation where they seemed unconscious for some time? It can be quite scary and confusing and may be caused by a medical condition known as Generalized Seizure Disorder.

Generalized Seizures can be a daunting experience for both the person experiencing them and those around them. They can disrupt one’s daily life and leave one powerless and vulnerable. It is essential to be aware of this condition and seek medical attention if you or someone you know experiences such symptoms.

Here, we will learn about Generalized Seizure Disorder, its types, symptoms and causes. Remember, if you ever need consultation or treatment for Generalized Seizures, contact Bansal Hospital in Bhopal, where experienced professionals stand ready to assist you.

Table Of Content

1. What Is Generalized Seizure Disorder?
2. Understanding The Symptoms Of Generalized Seizure Disorder
3. What Are The Causes Of Generalized Seizures Disorder?
4. Types Of Generalized Seizure Disorder
5. What Are The Causes Of Generalized Epilepsy?
6. What Are The Risk Factors Of Generalized Epilepsy?
7. Things To Do If A Person Hits A Tonic-Clonic Seizure
8. Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy
9. When To See The Doctor?
10. The Final Say
11. FAQ
12. References

What Is Generalized Seizure Disorder?

Generalized Seizures is a brain disorder that occurs due to abnormal electrical impulses of the central nervous system. This condition affects both the brain hemispheres simultaneously, resulting in the loss of self-control and consciousness.

Various factors, like brain injury, genetic predisposition or neurological disorders, are responsible for it. Learning the causes and symptoms of Generalized Seizures is essential to providing proper treatment. Let us learn about the causes and symptoms of Generalized Seizure Disorder.

Understanding the Symptoms Of Generalized Seizure Disorder

The symptoms can vary depending on the type of Generalized Seizure Disorder. Some of the symptoms are:

• Loss of consciousness
• Stiffness in the muscles
• Muscle jerking or twitching
• Convulsions
• Uncontrolled movements
• Staring spells
• Sudden falling
• Brief blackouts or memory gaps
• Tongue-biting or cheek-biting
• Incontinence

The symptoms of Generalized Seizures last a maximum of 3-5 minutes. In severity, there is a need to consult the doctor.

What Are The Causes Of Generalized Seizure Disorder?

Generalized Seizures can be caused by epilepsy, but other conditions can also cause seizures:

• Brain infection
• Stroke
• Head injury
• Hardening of Brain arteries
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Brain tumour
• Less oxygen during birth

There are more chances of having seizures and epilepsy if you have a family history.

Types Of Generalized Seizure Disorder

The types of Generalized Seizures are:

1. Tonic-Clonic Seizures

These are a type of Generalized Seizure that is well-known and dramatic. These types of seizures are also known as grand mal seizures. They can make people fall, cry, be unconscious, and give spasms and muscle jerks. They often start suddenly with a loss of consciousness and may include loud sounds, biting of the tongue, and loss of bladder control.

They involve two main phases: 

• The Tonic Phase: where the muscles stiffen.
• The Clonic Phase: where the muscles rhythmically contract and relax.

2. Absence Seizures

Absence seizures are a type of seizure that causes a brief loss of consciousness or awareness. These seizures typically last only a few seconds and are more common in children. Its symptoms are:

• Staring blankly
• Making subtle facial movements
• Repeating actions such as lip-smacking or blinking.

3. Complex Focal Seizures

A complex focal seizure is a type of seizure that starts in a specific part of the brain and often affects consciousness or awareness. The person becomes confused, unable to answer questions, and stares up for too few minutes. Its symptoms are:

• Repetitive automatisms
• The person may show purposeless behaviour like lip-smacking, chewing, fidgeting, or other automatic movements.

4. Simple Focal Seizures

Simple focal seizures start in a particular region of the brain. During these seizures, individuals remain fully aware and conscious. Simple focal seizures typically last a short period, usually under two minutes. The symptoms of simple focal seizures depend on the part of the brain affected. They can include 

• Sensory changes
• Motor symptoms
• Autonomic (involuntary bodily function) changes

5. Secondary Generalized Seizure

A Secondary Generalized Seizure is an epileptic seizure that starts in one part of the brain and then spreads to the whole brain. When this happens, a person may seem confused or do strange things. As the seizure continues, they may lose consciousness and have body movements such as shaking. 

6. Generalized Epilepsy

Generalized Epilepsy is when a person has seizures that affect their entire brain, causing loss of consciousness and body movements like shaking. These seizures can happen without warning.

The symptoms of epilepsy include: 

• Jaw gets locked
• You start biting your cheek or tongue
• The face starts turning blue
• Uncontrolled bowels or bladder
• You can also see changes in vision, smell, taste, and emotions.
• You may also feel confusion, drowsiness, headache, and partial weakness in one side of the body.

What Are The Causes Of Generalized Epilepsy?

The causes of Generalized Epilepsy are:

• Tuber sclerosis
• Autism
• Brain structure change
• Genetics
• Family history
• Trauma in head
• Brain cell death
• Stroke

What Are The Risk Factors Of Generalized Epilepsy?

 The risk factors of Generalized Epilepsy are:

• Alcohol use or drug use
• Lack of sleep
• Stress
• Infection
• Illness
• Emotional stress
• Supplements or vitamins
• Pregnancy

1. Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure

The tonic-clonic seizures include tentative breath arrest and severe muscle spasms. 

Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure symptoms are

• Unconsciousness
• Muscle spasms
• Moaning and crying
• The feeling of anxiety
• Vertigo
• Sensations of nausea
• Straightforward seizure

Things To Do If A Person Hits A Tonic-Clonic Seizure

You can follow the steps if a person hits a Tonic-Clonic Seizure:

• Keep away the stuff for the person to avoid injury, clear the space, and do not try to hold the person.

• Avoid giving anything to eat or drink as it becomes impossible to eat or drink anything while having seizures and can cause injury.

• If the seizure lasts for more than 5 minutes, consult the doctor.

Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy

Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy can occur without any known cause. It can occur if the person is born with epilepsy or has a heredity of epilepsy. Symptoms of idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy:

• Change in vision, smell, taste and emotions
• Other symptoms are similar to seizures, like unconsciousness, muscle spasms, moaning and crying, anxiety, vertigo, sensations of nausea, or seizures.

When To See The Doctor?

The onset of the seizures should be examined as the symptoms can vary depending on the type of seizure. Epilepsy can cause severe brain disorders if not treated well. Therefore, proper medical treatment is necessary.

A seizure can be fatal if the time exceeds 5 minutes, and the doctor can be 

consulted immediately. Anticonvulsants are medicines that help prevent seizures and should be taken as per the doctor’s advice.

The Final Say

If you experience Generalized Seizures, you must recognise and manage them properly. Symptoms and triggers can vary, but seeking guidance from a healthcare professional or the neurological department at Bansal Hospital Bhopal can help. You don’t have to go through this alone. 

FAQ

1. What is a Generalized Onset Seizure?

A Generalized Onset Seizure is a type of seizure that affects both sides of the brain at the same time, while partial seizures start in a specific part of the brain before possibly spreading.

2. What are secondary Generalized Seizures?

The seizures which spread from one part of the brain to both sides of the brain are secondary Generalized Seizures.

3. Are Generalized Seizures dangerous?

Generalized Seizures, which occur for more than 5 minutes, can be hazardous.

4. What causes Generalized Epilepsy?

Generalized epilepsy can be caused by:

• Tuber sclerosis
• Autism
• Brain structure change
• Genetics
• Family history
• Trauma in head
• Brain cell death
• Stroke

References

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/generalized-seizure 
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554496/ 

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