Epilepsy Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore

Physical Sensations

Body Sensation Warnings often include tingling, numbness, or a complete loss of sensation in certain areas of the body. These unusual feelings may occur moments before a seizure begins and can serve as an early alert for the individual.

Visual Changes

Visual Warnings may involve seeing flashing lights, dots, rings, sparks, or even colorful or monochrome shapes that aren't actually present. These disturbances in vision can affect one or both eyes and typically last for a short duration before the seizure starts.

Unusual Sounds

Auditory Warnings can include hearing ringing, buzzing, humming, or other sounds such as birds chirping, insects, machinery, singing, or voices. These auditory hallucinations are not connected to the surrounding environment and may disorient the person.

Strange Smells or Tastes

Olfactory Warnings involve experiencing unusual smells like burnt rubber, rotten eggs, chemical odors, or even pleasant scents like oranges. Similarly, gustatory warnings can cause unpleasant tastes such as bitter, sour, salty, or overly sweet sensations in the mouth.

Mental and Emotional Changes

Psychological Warnings might include illusions or hallucinations, where individuals see, hear, or feel things that aren't there. These experiences can be confusing and sometimes frightening, signaling an oncoming seizure.

Other Common Symptoms

In addition to the above, some people may experience dizziness, nausea, headaches, or a general sense of unease in the moments leading up to a seizure. Recognizing these signs can help both patients and caregivers prepare and respond effectively.