Blank Out or Stare Into Space for a Few Seconds

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Fainting with loss of consciousness
• Seizure attack
• Impossible to walk normally
• Fine tremor of the fingers
• Involuntary movements

Possible Causes

Generally, Blank out or stare into space for a few seconds can be related to:

• Parkinson's Disease

  A progressive nervous system disorder affecting movement. It occurs due to nerve cell damage in the brain. The exact cause for PD is unknown. Risk factors include genetics, male gender, old age, and exposure to certain toxins and environmental factors.

• Breath Holding Spells

  A condition sometimes seen in young children. Spells most commonly occur around one year of age with a range of six months to four years. Up to 15 percent of cases may have an initial episode below the age of six months. The child may stop breathing for up to 1 minute, causing them to lose consciousness and tone. Although alarming to parents, this condition is common and can happen in healthy children, who will grow out of it as they age. Triggers for spells include frustration, pain, or fear.

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Blank out or stare into space for a few seconds may be related to these serious diseases:

• Epilepsy

  Epilepsy is a neurological disorder where brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures of varying durations and severities. It can affect people of any age and may be caused by genetic disorders or brain injuries, such as stroke.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Have you experienced sudden full-body immobility?
• Did your hearing become abnormal when you stopped moving?
• Did you see strange things or have blurred vision when you stopped moving?
• Did you notice any unusual smells when you stopped moving?
• Did you feel sick or have stomach discomfort when you stopped moving?

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