People aspire to lead a healthy life, but with the current working conditions and the race to acquire all the luxuries in the world, it becomes difficult to stick to the conviction to stay healthy. There are certain health issues that we have brought upon ourselves, and at times, there are certain ailments that we are prone to because of some inherent problems. Seizures is an ailment that is not caused because of some bacteria or virus. Seizures are caused when there’s a sudden surge in the electrical activity in the brain. This can affect the normal functioning of the muscles, vision and speech.

Seizures are of two types- Partial or focal seizures and generalized seizures. The brain is divided into two hemispheres, each with four lobes, namely- frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. When the seizure affects a hemisphere or a part of the lobes, the seizure is known as partial or focal seizure. Usually people diagnosed with epilepsy suffer from partial seizures. Generalized seizures is when the nerve cells on both the sides of the brain go awry. These might cause muscle spasms, complete blackout or the person may fall, when his muscles fail to respond.

Partial seizures are of three types, they are as follows-

• Simple partial seizures – This partial seizure symptoms include getting a strange smell or taste, or twitching of the limbs. Though the person doesn’t lose consciousness, they might sweat profusely or feel nauseated.
• Complex partial seizures – This partial seizure affects the part of the brain that controls the memories and emotions. This partial seizure might result in the loss of consciousness, or the person might gag, laugh or cry, and smack their lips.
• Secondary generalized seizures – Though this seizure begins in one part of the brain, it can spread to the nerve cells on both the sides. This seizure might result in convulsions or slackness of the muscles.

What makes partial seizure more formidable is the fact that since it affects the different lobes of the brain, the partial seizure symptoms would differ depending upon the lobe it has affected. So, here’s a list of partial seizures symptoms depending on the lobe they had affected.

Temporal lobe

• When the partial seizure affects the temporal lobe, the partial seizure’s symptoms last for around 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
• The person experiencing a partial seizure might feel frightened. It might look like they are experiencing a panic attack, when they are actually displaying partial seizure’s symptoms.
• One of the most common partial seizure symptoms which surfaces when the temporal lobe is affected is that the person might start experiencing a sensation of deja-vu.
• The person might experience a rising sensation in his stomach and can smell or taste something that isn’t present at that moment.
• Also, the person might stare into the vacant space and become immobile at times.
• If the person starts smacking his lips continuously, one can conclude that they are showing partial seizure’s symptoms.

Frontal Lobes

• When the seizure affects the frontal lobe of the brain, it may last for around 30 seconds or usually it occurs in the sleep.
• One of the partial seizure’s symptoms that affects the frontal lobes can experience difficulty in moving the head to one side.
• The person experiencing a partial seizure would be completely unaware of his surroundings. Also, he would have trouble speaking.
• When the person starts laughing or screaming uncontrollably during a seizure attack, this can be considered as a partial seizure’s symptom.
• The person might show unusual and uncontrolled body movements like rocking, pelvic thrusting or pedaling.

Parietal Lobes

• A partial seizure affecting the parietal lobes can last from a few seconds to a few minutes, and can cause numbness, a tingling sensation, heat or pressure.
• Also, the partial seizure symptoms include distortions in vision, dizziness, and the seizure moves downwards from the head to the arms, hands and legs.
• One might even experience certain sexual sensations in the body when they experience a partial seizure.
• One of the most prominent partial seizure’s symptoms is difficulty with comprehending whatever’s going on in the surrounding.
• One might also experience detachment from the body, this can be a very surreal experience for the person suffering from a seizure.

Occipital Lobes

• When the occipital lobes are affected by partial seizure, it would last for a few seconds.
• One of the most prominent partial seizure’s symptoms is that it would induce hallucinations. The person would start experiencing vivid hallucinations.
• Also, the person affected by partial seizure would experience distortions in his vision. Even the eyes would start hurting. And, in some cases, there would be uncontrolled eye movements.
• Fluttering eyelids, rapid eye movements, false sensations of eye movements, etc. are some of the partial seizure symptoms.
• The person might also experience constant repetition of images.

Now that you are aware of the partial seizure symptoms, seek medical help once diagnosed with partial seizure.