By: Priyal Sakhuja

Symptoms and signs could be seen as clues
used to determine the likely diagnosis for a present illness. Once one learns
and becomes familiar with the clues, the mysteries behind the illnesses become
a little easier to unravel. Such clues are present for all illnesses, including
epilepsy. Learning about which symptoms an epilepsy seizure could produce and
how one could assist the person could be very beneficial. Although some
seizures come with no warning, early seizure symptoms include visual loss or
blurring, dizziness, headache, nausea or numbness. Some signs to look for that
indicate one is having an epilepsy seizure include (Mayo Clinic, 2013):

• Staring spells

• Temporary confusion

• Uncontrollable jerking arm and leg movements

• Loss of awareness

These symptoms could vary from person to
person, but they tend to be the general trend. In most cases, a person
afflicted with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time so
the symptoms would also be similar. Symptoms also tend to differ between the
two types of seizures: partial and generalized (Senelick, 2012).

Partial seizures-

In a partial seizure, which affects one
part of the brain, the person would experience the twitching of a finger or
fingers, hand, arm, leg, foot, or facial muscles. Speech might also become
slurred or incomprehensible and vision might be temporarily impaired. Tingling
on one side of the body might also occur.

Generalized seizures-

This type of seizure occurs over all
areas of the brain and could cause the person to stare into space or pass out.
The muscles could stiffen and the person could be afflicted with jerking leg
and arm movements.

Although these symptoms and signs may seem
frightening, it is important to know when and how people with epilepsy react
while having a seizure. Along with regular dosage of treatment drugs, one can help
someone afflicted with epilepsy by offering a strong support system. It is
important to ensure that medication is taken on time and the person gets enough
sleep since lack of sleep could trigger seizures. It is also beneficial to
remain physically active and make healthy life choices. Just piecing the clues
together could be life altering for someone afflicted with epilepsy.

Sources:  

1. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/epilepsy/DS00342

2.http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/epilepsy-seizure-symptoms.