Head
Seizures or fits
A sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause shaking, stiffening, collapse or a brief loss of awareness, which always needs assessment and can occasionally be a medical emergency.
Education and reference only. This explains the common causes of seizures or fits and the warning signs that need urgent help, in plain language — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a clinician. If you feel very unwell or are worried, seek medical help.
Quick answer
What is seizures or fits?
A seizure, or fit, happens when there is a sudden, excessive burst of electrical activity in the brain. Seizures vary widely: some cause the whole body to stiffen and jerk with loss of consciousness, while others cause only a brief blank stare, a strange sensation, twitching of one part of the body, or a few moments of altered awareness.
- Get urgent help: Call 999 if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if one seizure follows another without the person recovering in between, if it is a first-ever seizure, or if the person is injured or does not wake up afterwards. Call 999 if a person stops breathing or turns blue during or after a seizure.
- Self-care: If you witness someone having a seizure with shaking or collapse, the priority is to keep them safe rather than to stop the seizure.
About seizures or fits
A seizure, or fit, happens when there is a sudden, excessive burst of electrical activity in the brain. Seizures vary widely: some cause the whole body to stiffen and jerk with loss of consciousness, while others cause only a brief blank stare, a strange sensation, twitching of one part of the body, or a few moments of altered awareness. After a seizure a person is often drowsy, confused or has a headache for a while. Recurrent unprovoked seizures are the hallmark of epilepsy, but a single seizure can also be provoked by other things, such as a very high temperature in a young child, a head injury, low blood sugar, withdrawal from alcohol in someone with alcohol-dependence, or a stroke. Anyone who has a first-ever seizure should be assessed to find the cause. While many seizures stop on their own within a couple of minutes, a prolonged seizure or one that follows another without recovery is an emergency.
When to get help
Call 999 or go to A&E if seizures or fits comes with any of these warning signs:
- Call 999 if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if one seizure follows another without the person recovering in between, if it is a first-ever seizure, or if the person is injured or does not wake up afterwards.
- Call 999 if a person stops breathing or turns blue during or after a seizure.
- Call 999 if a seizure happens in water, or follows a head injury.
- Seek urgent help for a seizure in pregnancy, or in someone with diabetes who may have low blood sugar.
- Seek urgent help if seizures become more frequent or severe than usual, or change in their pattern.
When to see a doctor
Anyone who has a first-ever seizure should be assessed promptly to find out why it happened, even if they have fully recovered. Call 999 during a seizure if it lasts more than five minutes, if one follows another without recovery, if it is a first seizure, or if the person is injured, does not wake up, or has trouble breathing. If you already have epilepsy, seek advice if your seizures become more frequent, last longer, or change in character, and seek urgent help for the emergency situations above. Keeping a record of when seizures happen and any triggers helps your clinician adjust your care.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
What can cause it
Common causes of seizures or fits
Seizures or fits has many possible causes. Each links to a full, plain-language guide to that condition — what it is, how it's treated and when to seek help.
What helps
Self-care and what you can do
If you witness someone having a seizure with shaking or collapse, the priority is to keep them safe rather than to stop the seizure. Stay calm, note the time it starts, cushion their head, and move away anything they could hurt themselves on. Do not hold them down or put anything in their mouth. Once the jerking stops, gently roll them onto their side into the recovery position to keep the airway clear, and stay with them and reassure them as they come round, as they may be confused. Call 999 if the seizure is prolonged, repeats, is a first-ever seizure, or the person is injured or does not wake up. If you have diagnosed epilepsy, getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol, managing stress and following your agreed plan all help reduce seizures.
Answers
Seizures or fits: frequently asked questions
What should I do if someone is having a seizure?
Keep them safe: note the time, cushion their head, and clear away anything they could hurt themselves on. Do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth. When the jerking stops, roll them onto their side and stay with them. Call 999 if it lasts over 5 minutes, repeats, is a first seizure, or they are injured or do not wake.
Does one seizure mean I have epilepsy?
Not necessarily. A single seizure can be provoked by things such as a head injury, low blood sugar, alcohol withdrawal or illness. Epilepsy means a tendency to recurrent, unprovoked seizures. A first-ever seizure should always be assessed to find the cause.
When is a seizure an emergency?
Call 999 if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, one follows another without recovery, it is a first-ever seizure, the person is injured, does not wake up, or has trouble breathing. Seizures in water, pregnancy or after a head injury also need emergency help.
Can I reduce my chance of seizures with epilepsy?
Often yes. Getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol, managing stress, and following the plan agreed with your clinician all help. Keeping a diary of seizures and triggers can guide adjustments to your care.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Epilepsy.
- Epilepsy Action
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