READ THIS NEXT: Doing This Raises Your Stroke Risk 60 Percent Within an Hour, New Study Finds. One feature of an absence seizure is a temporary loss of consciousness, without passing out. This can also be a sign of complex focal seizures, which can occur in people with frontal lobe epilepsy.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb In some people, it is difficult to discern that the person experiencing the seizure is unconscious. “If you are having a typical absence seizure, you will be unconscious for a few seconds. You will suddenly stop doing whatever you were doing before it started, but will not fall,” explains Epilepsy Action, a UK-based charity. “You might appear to be daydreaming or ‘switching off,’ or people around you might not notice your absence,” their experts write. READ THIS NEXT: If You Notice This With Your Toes, Get Checked for Parkinson’s. Though it can be difficult to detect an absence seizure by a subtle lack of consciousness alone, you may learn of your condition if those around you notice some of their more distinct symptoms. These sometimes include “oral automatisms” such as lip smacking or involuntary chewing movements. A 2009 study published in JAMA Archives of Neurology noted that involuntary swallowing and lip licking were among the most common oral symptoms for this type of seizure. If you see someone experiencing this symptom, it’s important not to attempt to stop their movements—especially not by inserting an object between their teeth. “A person may bite down during a seizure if their jaw and face muscles tighten. If something is in their mouth, they could break and swallow the object, or break their teeth,” explains the Epilepsy Foundation. They add that despite folk wisdom suggesting otherwise, “a person can’t swallow their tongue during a seizure.” Eyelid fluttering is another subtle sign that you may be experiencing an absence seizure. Sometimes the eyes will turn upward, and may appear to roll back in the head. These symptoms are shared by other forms of epilepsy, such as epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia, also known as Jeavons syndrome. It is possible to display this symptom without an accompanying absence seizure or loss of consciousness. For more health news sent directly to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. The JAMA study also found that “manual automatisms”—small finger movements such as finger rubbing, fidgeting, hand wringing, scratching, and picking—were also common signs of absence seizures. Some people who have this type of seizure also experience more generalized jerking movement in their hands or limbs. If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms and suspect they may be the result of a seizure, speak with your healthcare provider. READ THIS NEXT: You’re 32 Times More Likely to Develop MS If You’ve Had This, Study Says.
