An electrical disturbance in the brain that is sudden and uncontrolled, a seizure can sometimes result in unconsciousness, loss of muscle control, and changes in behavior or movements. Often brought about by underlying health conditions such as epilepsy or diabetes, these episodes can be scary to both the person having the episode and those with them at the time.
To recognize a seizure may be imminent, here are some early warning signs:

1. Staring
Since it’s not uncommon for people to stare, you may not consider this to be an indicator an episode is about to take place. However, when a person gets a distant look in their eye and fails to respond to anything you say to them, this is a sign something is wrong. For some people, they will report having a “funny feeling” just prior to staring, so pay attention to this as well.

2. Jerking of the arms and legs
A clear warning sign an episode is about to take place or has already started, jerking movements of the arms and legs is most common during the aura stage, also known as a focal or partial episode. In most cases, persons having this type of episode will not lose consciousness.

3. Stiffening of the body
In some situations, a person will experience stiffening of their body just prior to an episode. With some, this will quickly be followed by the loss of muscle control, which may or may not happen on only one side of the body. Should you experience this early warning sign, it is vital you try to sit or lie down if possible. Otherwise, you could fall to the ground and injure yourself.

4. Loss of consciousness
Perhaps the most serious consequence of an episode, a loss of consciousness should be taken very seriously. Common in tonic and focal episodes, you may experience a bout of temporary confusion both before losing consciousness and afterwards. Sometimes, people say they feel as if they are in a dream prior to becoming unconscious. When unconsciousness occurs, it is recommended you receive medical attention to ensure no other problems are taking place.

5. Breathing problems or breathing cessation
Needless to say, breathing problems or stopping breathing altogether is a life-threatening situation. Associated with the most serious types of episodes, such as tonic-clonic, immediate medical assistance should be sought when this occurs, especially if breathing does not return to normal immediately after the episode is over. Remember, a person whose brain is deprived of oxygen for only a few minutes could suffer severe brain damage.

6. Loss of bowel or bladder control
Finally, it is not unexpected that some individuals will experience a loss of bowel or bladder control during an episode. Most often, this happens only to those who experience the most serious type of tonic-clonic epileptic episode. Since these episodes can last for several minutes, do all you can to keep the person as safe as possible.

Whether it is you who is experiencing episodes such as these or instead a family member or friend, knowing the early warning signs can be critical in avoiding serious injury. By knowing what to do and when medical help will be needed, you can keep yourself safe or others safe and calm until the episode runs its course.