Explaining signs and symptoms of epilepsy
Published on Friday, August 1, 2025
By: Rachel Vanderford, rvanderford@umc.edu
Epilepsy has long been surrounded by fear and misunderstanding, but today, doctors want you to know it’s both common and treatable.
Epilepsy is a brain condition that causes repeated seizures, or sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
“Imagine your brain as a computer,” said Dr. Laveena Singla, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “Epilepsy causes ‘short circuits’ that affect how you think, move or feel.”
Anyone can develop epilepsy. In fact, about 1 in 26 people will develop the condition in their lifetime. In children, it is often linked to genetic conditions or brain development differences. In adults, causes may include head injuries, strokes, brain infections or even brain tumors.
“Sometimes, we don’t find a clear cause,” Singla noted, “and that’s OK, too.”
Despite how common it is, many people don't realize they have epilepsy or that it can be treated. For centuries, there has been a lot of mystery and confusion about the disorder.
Some seizures can look scary, and for a long time, people didn’t talk about epilepsy, Singla said. Epilepsy can look very different from what is often shown on TV. While some seizures involve shaking and falling, many are far subtler. A person might stare blankly, blink a lot or seem confused for a minute. Others may experience jerks in one part, or all, of their body, strange tastes or smells, time lapses or twitching. “Not all seizures are dramatic, but they are still real.”
Because many people don’t realize these are symptoms of epilepsy, diagnosis is often delayed. Stigma can also keep people from asking for help.
“Many people believe epilepsy is a mental illness, or that someone with epilepsy can’t live a normal life,” said Singla. “But that’s not true. About two-thirds of people with epilepsy control seizures well with medication. Most live full, independent lives.
“Another big myth is that it’s contagious or caused by something the person did wrong. In reality, it’s a medical condition, like asthma or diabetes, with many different causes and types.”
Diagnosis typically begins with a conversation with a doctor about what happened during the event, how long it lasted, what the patient felt before and after, and what others may have seen.
Next, patients usually undergo an EEG, a non-invasive test in which sticky electrodes are pasted on the patient’s scalp to check the brain’s electrical activity and detect seizure patterns, followed by brain imaging to look for any physical abnormalities that could be causing seizures. Blood work is also done, especially in patients who have just experienced their first seizure.
“A single seizure can happen due to high fever, low blood sugar, alcohol withdrawal or other temporary issues,” Singla noted. “We diagnose epilepsy if someone has two or more seizures that weren’t caused by a clear trigger. That means their brain is more likely to have seizures again in the future.”
Epilepsy is most commonly treated with medication, which controls seizures in 70% of cases. There are several medications to treat seizures, and finding the right one for each patient may take some trial and error.
There are also surgical options to remove the source of the seizure, or to implant a device that prevents seizures from occurring. There is a range of devices available to suit the needs of individual patients—the vagal nerve stimulator, which is placed in the neck, and the responsive neuro stimulator and deep brain stimulator, which are placed in the brain.
“The epilepsy field has improved dramatically in the last few years, and what has been added is personalization,” Singla said. “We have specific treatments based on seizure type, lifestyle, age and genetics. Many new treatments and testing options are less invasive and more precise.”
If medication isn’t effective or tolerated well, patients can also try a ketogenic diet, which is a special high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that works by shifting the body’s primary fuel source from glucose to ketones, helping brain activity and reduce seizure frequency. This treatment is most often recommended for children.
“We also have a nasal spray available to stop seizures that can be used during an episode,” Singla said. Patients really appreciate being empowered with this medication and being able to help their parents, siblings, friends or even strangers.”
When it comes to managing epilepsy, Singla’s mantra is simple. “Eat well, drink well, sleep well and exercise well.”
She suggests eating balanced meals with plenty of protein, staying hydrated and avoiding alcohol and energy drinks, which can interfere with sleep or medications. Poor sleep, including sleep deprivation and disrupted sleep patterns, can trigger seizures and even make them more severe or last longer.
“Developing a consistent routine for sleep and taking medications can really help,” Singla said. She recommends using a pillbox and setting phone reminders to stay on track. Regular exercise helps to manage stress and maintain bone strength.
If you witness someone having a seizure, it is important to stay calm. If they’re not already down, help them to the ground, turn them on their side and protect their head. Most seizures stop in one or two minutes, Singla said. “Don’t put anything in their mouth. They won’t swallow their tongue. Don’t hold them down. Don’t try to stop their movements.
“If the seizure lasts for more than five minutes, if it is the person’s first seizure, if they are hurt or don’t regain consciousness right away, call 911,” she said.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with the Department of Neurology, call 601-984-5500.
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