Epilepsy is a dangerous condition that is often characterized by sudden or unexpected seizures that cause the patient to lose complete control of his or her body. Often these seizures can cause problems with muscle movement and other significant issues that can be frightening and painful for the person involved.
Although it's difficult to know what causes epilepsy at the present time, knowing some of the 7 warning signs and symptoms of epilepsy seizures could help you to warn someone that you're with that you might be about to experience an attack. In these instances, you may find that you can get to a safer position and possibly reduce the effects of the seizures.
1. Unusual Experiences
One of the most common of the 7 warning signs and symptoms of epilepsy seizures can be found in the presence of strange or unusual experiences that happen within the body. Often, these feelings are very odd and difficult to describe, but they might include out-of-body sensations, feelings of detachment, or situations wherein people appear to look different or strangely familiar.
2. Nerve Changes in the Body
If you find that you're suddenly beset with strange feelings throughout your body, such as numbness in certain extremities, tingling, or feelings of electricity throughout the body, this could be one of the signs and symptoms associated with epilepsy seizures.
3. Jerky Movements
People who suffer from epilepsy frequently experience a loss of control in their limbs or muscles. Prior to a complete loss of control through a seizure, you may have the warning signs of jerking in certain body parts, such as your arms and legs, or throughout the entire body.
4. Headaches
Headaches are one of the most common in our list of 7 warning signs and symptoms of epilepsy seizures. Although headaches can be caused by a number of different factors, they can also be a sign that you have a seizure approaching, so they should be regarded with caution.
5. Problems with Memory
Because impulses are firing randomly in the brain during a seizure, it's not uncommon for people with epilepsy to experience issues with their cognitive function or memory capabilities. For instance, you might struggle with periods of forgetfulness, or a sudden loss of memory.
6. Daydreaming
Similarly to problems with memory, it can often be difficult for someone who is experiencing the early signs and symptoms of a seizure to focus or concentrate on anything in particular. This might come across as daydreaming to the people around you, or it may involve lots of blank staring from the person who is about to have a seizure.
7. Loss of Control Over Bowel Movements
This is probably one of the most upsetting and embarrassing items in our list of 7 warning signs and symptoms of epilepsy seizures. Sometimes, people who struggle with epilepsy find that one of the signs that they're about to have a seizure is the fact that they can no longer control their urine or bowel movements. This could lead to sudden accidents in public that are difficult for a person struggling with epilepsy to handle alone.