Most people understand that there are multiple types of epileptic seizures. The best known variety–and certainly the most spectacular–is often termed “grand mal,” which is French for “major illness.” In these attacks the patients lose consciousness, fall to the ground and experience convulsive jerking of their bodies that lasts for 1-2 minutes before subsiding. These attacks are more properly termed tonic-clonic seizures.

A less dramatic form of epilepsy also involves loss of consciousness, but without a fall to the ground or convulsive movements. These attacks are aptly called “staring spells” because the patients stop what they’re doing, lose eye-contact with other people, and appear to stare into space. If spoken to during attacks, the patients do not respond.

What is often under-appreciated is that more than one kind of epileptic attack can take the form of a staring spell. And the differences between them can be crucial in understanding the underlying causes as well as the best treatments.

Staring-spell seizures are often lumped together in public awareness under the heading of “petit mal” epilepsy. Petit mal is French for “minor illness,” reflecting their more subtle appearance. However, using current terminology, there are two main kinds of staring-spell attacks–absence seizures and partial-complex seizures. Absence attacks correspond to the original “petit mal” designation, while partial-complex seizures were once called “psychomotor seizures” and “temporal lobe epilepsy.” The “temporal lobe” label reflects the fact that most seizures of this kind emanate from one of the two temporal lobes, the portions of the brain nearest the tops of the ears.

Although both absence and partial-complex seizures involve staring and unresponsiveness, that’s where the similarities end. The attacks differ in the following ways: usual ages of onset duration symptoms recalled by the patients movements or behaviors during the attacks after-effects electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns underlying causes most effective treatments

Absence seizures begin in childhood, and often in the pre-school years. They usually disappear by the time the individuals who have them reach their twenties. Partial complex seizures can begin in either childhood or adulthood, including late in life. So if a middle-aged person has staring-spell seizures, they are almost always of the partial-complex type.

The duration of the attacks also separates the two kinds of seizures. Absence seizures are shorter. Most of them end within 10 seconds, and they almost never continue for 30 seconds. In contrast, partial-complex seizures are longer than 30 seconds, and typically last 2-3 minutes.

Most children with absence seizures are unaware of having them, though might notice a loss of time. The relative lack of symptoms in absence seizures, along with their brevity, can cause them to be overlooked. Teachers, noticing episodic loss of eye-contact, are often the first to detect them. But children and adults experiencing partial-complex seizures often recognize them due to specific, recurrent–and often complex–symptoms. One person with partial-complex seizures might notice a sudden, particular odor that no one else can smell. Another patient might experience a sudden sense of familiarity with their surroundings, a perception that they had been there before (also known as “d

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system. It is also known as a seizure disorder, because a person suffering from epilepsy has seizures. It is diagnosed when a person has two or more seizures that were not caused by some known medical condition such as alcohol withdrawal or extremely low blood sugar. There has been extensive research done on the causes and symptoms of epilepsy in order to formulate treatment methods.

In epilepsy patients, the normal working pattern of the neuron is disturbed. This makes the patients behave in a strange way. Sometimes, patients suffer from convulsions, muscle spasms and loss of consciousness, and the frequency of epileptic attacks may vary from one patient to another.

It is estimated that over two million people in the U.S have been diagnosed with epilepsy. In the majority of patients, epilepsy can be controlled with modern medicines and surgical techniques. However, about twenty percent of the patients experience seizures even after treatment. These cases are called “Intractable epilepsy.”

Seizures are sometimes known to cause brain damage. Research indicates that in these cases, a patient has suffered severe seizures. However, most seizures do not cause harm to the brain, and any changes that arise are usually mild.

Conclusive medical research indicates that epilepsy is not contagious. It is not caused by mental illness or retardation. Most people suffering from epilepsy have a normal or above average intelligence. A majority of patients are able to lead normal lives. Epilepsy cannot be completely cured. However, there have been cases where it eventually goes away through protracted treatment.

The likelihood of becoming free from seizure is not very high for adults or for children with severe epilepsy syndromes. However, it is possible that seizures may decrease or even stop over time. This is more likely if the epilepsy has been controlled by medication, or if the patient has had epilepsy surgery. Researchers in the US and the rest of the developed world continue to study epilepsy in an attempt to develop a permanent cure.

Hypotension results from decreased arterial pressure subsequent to each beat of the heart. There are two essential aspects to blood pressure; arterial resistance to blood flow through the blood vessels and the force with which the heart ejects and circulates blood. There are also other factors which might alter blood pressure, such as emotional or physical stress, medications, alcohol consumption and whether or not the patient has recently eaten.

While most people are aware of the hazards of high blood pressure it is important to recognize that low blood pressure carries its own risks and consequences. Symptoms of low blood pressure may include light-headedness, blurring of vision, nausea, sleepiness, weakness or loss of consciousness. Sudden onset of symptoms might be an indication of serious health conditions such as heart attack, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes, dehydration or anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction.)

Dehydration may ensue following a lengthy attack of diarrhea and/or vomiting due to an illness such as the bacterial food poisoning or influenza. Still other possible causes of excess fluid loss include excess perspiration due to physical exertion or exposure to extreme heat over an extended period of time, and the use of diuretics. Exposure to substances, or ingestion of food to which one is hypersensitive or to which one has an allergy, may precipitate an anaphylactic reaction which may trigger a hypotensive episode. Severe or prolonged hemorrhaging and various viral or bacterial infections are also capable of sending blood pressure into a rapid and perilous downward spiral.

Extreme or prolonged blood loss or poor cause low red blood cell counts. The common term for a low red blood cell count is anemia. Poor diet might also be responsible for insufficient intake of other vital nutrients, resulting in hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is weakness or dizziness that occurs when quickly changing from a reclining to an upright body position. Symptoms which occur after a meal might signal postprandial hypotension. Many pharmaceuticals used for the treatment of anxiety or depression and alcohol may also negatively impact blood pressure.

Asymptomatic hypotension in a generally healthy individual rarely requires treatment. However, it is essential to keep your physician informed of any symptoms you might be experiencing so he or she can investigate their cause and initiate any necessary treatments. If you are currently taking a prescription medication consult your health care provider for possible changes in dose or a different medication. Anemia and hypoglycemia can be detected with a simple laboratory test. Cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure and heart attack are diagnosed with more sophisticated exams and monitoring devices. Your physician may advise you to increase your salt intake. Simple dietary changes, herbal supplements, meditation and deep breathing exercises, and potassium drinks are all effective in normalizing hypotension. Ask your health care provider which ones he or she recommends. Though low blood pressure is not to be taken too lightly it should be some consolation to know that most physicians concur that patients with hypotension have a longer life expectancy than those with hypertension.