Understanding Seizure Disorders: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Understanding Seizure Disorders: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Get the help you deserve for your seizure disorder with help from Neurodiagnostics Medical P.C. in New York City. Request a consultation today. 

If you’re experiencing seizures, you’re not alone. The Epilepsy Foundation reports that about 10% of people in the United States have had at least one unprovoked seizure. Yet, only 3% of adults get an epilepsy diagnosis, one of the most common seizure disorders, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Working with a top neurologist in NYC from Neurodiagnostics Medical P.C. is an excellent way to diagnose the root causes of seizures and get personalized treatments. Review our post below for more information about the condition.

What Is a Seizure?

A seizure is a neurological disorder that develops when the brain has uncontrolled electrical activity. People can experience many types of seizures with different symptoms and varying severity. During a seizure, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Uncontrollable movements or convulsions of the arms and legs
  • Loss of awareness
  • Unusual eye movement
  • Emotion or cognitive changes like sudden onset of fear or anxiety
  • Staring spells
  • Momentary confusion
  • Teeth clenching

The unexpected electrical activity in the brain can last for a few seconds up to a couple of minutes. With seizure disorders, it becomes difficult to speak, move, or think for a few moments.

Anything longer than five minutes is a medical emergency call status epilepticus. This condition can result in permanent brain damage or death.

Common Types of Seizure Disorders

Though seizure disorders take multiple forms, they typically fall into one of two categories: provoked and unprovoked. Provoked seizures occur when something triggers the brain’s cells to misfire, like an injury or illness, while unprovoked seizures happen for unknown reasons. 

Epilepsy is an example of a chronic unprovoked seizure disorder due to recurring incidents. According to the CDC, roughly 2.9 million adults in the United States lived with epilepsy in 2021.

Other seizure classifications include the following.

Generalized Seizures

Generalized seizures impact the entire brain from start to finish. They include:

  • Clonic Seizures. Clonic seizures affect the face, arms, and neck, causing noticeable convulsions.
  • Absence seizures. This disorder is common in children. The seizures cause people to stare blankly, blink repeatedly, or smack their lips for five to 10 seconds.
  • Tonic Seizures. These seizures result in muscle stiffing, usually in the back, legs, and arms.

Focal Seizures

If a seizure strikes but only causes electrical activity in one part of the brain, it’s a focal seizure. This type of seizure can cause a loss of or impairment of mental awareness, but not always. Instead, things might look, taste, sound, or smell differently during a focal seizure.

Common Seizure Causes

The root causes behind seizure disorders aren’t always easy to diagnose. The brain’s neurons responsible for making, sending, and receiving electrical impulses to communicate with the body can experience disruptions due to multiple reasons such as:

  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Stroke
  • A high fever
  • General illness
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Brain tumors
  • Low sodium
  • High blood pressure in pregnant women

How To Treat Seizure Disorders in NYC

Seizure treatments require a professional assessment and diagnosis by a neurologist in New York City. Anti-seizure medications are effective treatments, yet they can have severe side effects. Brain surgery, responsive nerve stimulation, and deep brain stimulation are other treatment options. 

Contact Neurodiagnostics Medical P.C. Today for a Consultation in NYC Regarding Seizure Treatment

As a top practice focusing on comprehensive neurologic care throughout New York and New Jersey, Neurodiagnostics Medical P.C. can help with everything from diagnosing ADHD in children to treating various seizure disorders. By creating individualized treatments and providing consistent professional support, we help our patients understand their conditions and assist with improving their quality of life.

Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Call (347) 602-9530 to request an appointment — same-day appointments may be available. Reach out now.

Frequently Asked Questions About Seizure Disorders

Uncover additional details about seizure disorders with our answers to common questions. 

How Long Does It Take To Recovery From a Seizure?

It could take anywhere from an hour to several days for somebody to feel “normal” following a seizure. 

If You Have Epilepsy, What Should You Avoid?

With epilepsy, you should avoid consuming tobacco, drinking alcohol, ignoring your blood sugar, not getting enough sleep, and encountering other triggers.

Do Seizure Disorders Worsen With Age?

Seizure disorders can worsen or get better with age depending on an individual’s condition and circumstances. For instance, the Epilepsy Society states that up to 90% of children with childhood absence seizures no longer have those types of seizures in adulthood.

About The Author

Picture of Ashwin Malhotra, M.D.

Ashwin Malhotra, M.D.

Ashwin Malhotra, M.D. is a highly respected neurologist based in New York City. With over 20 years of experience in the field of neurology, he has earned a reputation as a leading expert in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders and traumatic brain injuries. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Malhotra is also a dedicated educator and researcher. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and has presented his research at national and international conferences.