Strokes and seizures are often difficult to distinguish, since both can have a few similar symptoms including confusion, falling to the side and being unresponsive. While a stroke more often than not happens suddenly, a seizure is likely to broadcast some warning signs. Both are serious medical emergencies, linked to significant changes in brain activity. Nonetheless, the causes and effect on brain health are different.

A stroke is precipitated by a disruption in blood flow in the brain and requires immediate emergency medical care. A seizure is caused by a surge of electrical activity in the brain. If it’s the first seizure for the individual affected, she/he might need immediate medical attention.

While a stroke can irreversibly damage your cognitive ability and muscle control, the effects of a seizure are usually temporary.

Symptoms common to both a stroke and a seizure:

# Confusion

# Difficulty speaking or comprehending words

# Losing balance and falling

# Unable to control movements voluntarily

# Lack of awareness and inability to respond

# Patient might lose consciousness

When you are unsure, call emergency services immediately, since a stroke can be life-threatening.

Common symptoms of a stroke

# Weakness or numbness on one side of the body

# Drooping of the face

# Difficulty walking

# A sudden lack of coordination

# Speech incoherence

# Difficulty understanding words

# Headache

Early treatment can save a life or prevent permanent disability.

Common symptoms of a seizure

Seizures actually come in three stages – beginning, middle and end.

Symptoms during the beginning could include:

# A change in vision or other senses, seeing strange colours and lights

# Sensitivity to light

# Dizziness

# Anxiety

Middle stage symptoms:

# Zoning out or losing consciousness for a few minutes

# Excessive blinking

# Drooling

# Losing muscle control

# Muscle jerk, twitching or freezing

# Biting tongue

# Excessive sweating

# Repeating actions like walking, getting dressed and undressed, etc

# Experiencing temporary incontinence

# Trouble hearing or seeing

# Hallucinating

End-stage symptoms:

# Drowsiness

# Confusion

# Memory loss

# Fear

# Temporary paralysis

What are the causes of stroke?

Strokes are mainly of two types:

# Ischemic stroke: The more common form of stroke, this occurs when an artery supplying blood inside the brain is blocked. The blockage could be caused by a blood clot forming within the artery or from a clot travelling to the brain from one of the carotid arteries which carry blood up the sides of the neck to the brain.

# Haemorrhagic stroke: This type of stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. This results in leakage of blood into the surrounding tissue, while the torn artery can’t supply sufficient blood to the nearby tissue. Chronic, untreated hypertension is one of the leading causes of haemorrhagic stroke, since high blood pressure weakens an artery, making it vulnerable.

What are the causes of seizure?

# Epilepsy

# Being overheated

# Withdrawal syndrome after quitting alcohol

# A few medications

# Snake bites

# Brain tumour

# Meningitis

Risk factors for seizures:

# Epilepsy

# Family history of seizure disorders

# Head injury

# A stroke

Risk factors for stroke:

# Cardiovascular disease

# Hypertension

# Arrythmias or abnormal heart rhythms

# Diabetes

# Carotid artery disease

# Atherosclerosis

# Smoking

# Old age

# Family history of stroke or cardiovascular disease