What is the medical definition of a seizure?

Medically, a seizure occurs when the brain’s normal electrical activity becomes disrupted, leading to a surge of abnormal signals. This can result in:

Unusual movements: Such as jerking, twitching, or stiffness. Sensory changes: Like seeing flashing lights, hearing strange sounds, or feeling tingling. Altered awareness: Ranging from brief staring spells to complete loss of consciousness. Behavioral changes: Including confusion, repetitive movements, or unresponsiveness.

Seizures can be triggered by many factors, such as epilepsy, high fever, low blood sugar, or head injury. A single seizure doesn’t always mean epilepsy—diagnosis depends on the cause and recurrence.