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Seizures are a neurological disorder that can range from minor to severe, frequent to rare. This wide range of symptoms and frequency can make seizures difficult to treat. Severe seizures

can even cause loss of consciousness. For some types of seizures, there can be a warning. A seizure aura is a phenomenon where your brain signals the approach of an oncoming seizure. Keep

reading to learn more about seizure auras, what they are, and what they mean. What is a seizure aura? An aura is the feeling you may have before the onset of a seizure. Typically, these

occur before a focal seizure. However, research suggests that nearly 65 percent of people with generalized epilepsy may experience auras as well. Auras are actually a type of seizure called

focal aware seizures (FAS). When a FAS happens before another, more severe type of focal seizure, it’s considered an aura. Auras can include many sensations, from sights, sounds, or smells

to pain, numbness, or headaches. What are the symptoms of a seizure aura? While people who’ve had seizure auras sometimes find them hard to describe, what an individual feels during an aura

varies depending on where the focal aware seizure occurs in their brain. Types of seizure auras include: Frontal lobe seizure auras The frontal lobe of the brain is located in your forehead

area. It controls things like emotional expression, your memories, language, judgment, problem-solving skills, and sexual behavior. Your frontal lobe is also responsible for much of your

personality — it makes you who you are. While auras, or focal seizures, in this area may be mild, there are also more severe seizures and seizure disorders that affect the frontal lobe,

causing more significant symptoms. Aura that start in the frontal lobe may include symptoms like: * feeling a wave or ripple that travels through your head * twitching or stiffening in your

arm, hand, or other part of your body * headache or pain Temporal lobe seizure auras The temporal lobe of the brain is located behind your ears, and it controls auditory processing and

making the sounds of spoken language meaningful. Auras that start in the temporal lobe may include symptoms like: * a sensation in your stomach like you’re falling or riding a rollercoaster

* feelings of déjà vu * an odd or unusual taste or smell * hearing unexplained music or a song * a sudden intense emotion like fear, happiness, or anxiety Parietal lobe seizure auras The

parietal lobe is located near the center of the brain behind the frontal lobe. It contains the primary sensory area in which sensations in the skin like warmth, cold, and touch are

processed. The parietal lobe is also responsible for helping you understand written language and mathematics and judge spatial things like size, distance, and shapes. Auras that start in the

parietal lobe may include symptoms like: * tingling or numbness * feeling of something crawling on your skin * feeling as if one arm or leg is bigger or smaller than the other * feeling out

of your body Occipital lobe seizure auras The occipital lobe of the brain is located at the back and base of the skull. It contains your primary visual cortex and receives direct input from

your retina. Your occipital lobe is responsible for your ability to see, read and understand written language, and process all types of visual information, like colors and shapes. Auras

that start in the occipital lobe may include symptoms like: * seeing things that aren’t there, hallucinations * seeing flashing or colored spots or lights Why do people get seizure auras?

Some believe auras are simply a warning sign of a coming seizure, but many consider them small seizures. They can be detected during an electroencephalogram (EEG), a test that measures

electrical signals in the brain. Seizures and auras are both the result of a disruption in electrical signals in the brain. Some experts believe that auras are caused when a seizure creates

a new pathway in the brain that crosses an existing neural pathway for a feeling, sensation, smell, sight, or sound — and forms a permanent connection. Once created, that neural connection

acts as a precursor or warning for any seizure that occurs on that specific pathway. For some people, auras can be unusual things like a song, a color, or even a specific memory. To

understand why seizure auras happen, you also need to understand what causes seizures. There are a number of causes for seizures, including: * neurological conditions or infections *

epilepsy * fever * imbalances with electrolytes * head injuries * abnormal blood sugar levels * alcohol withdrawal * drug use * drug withdrawal What is a seizure? Seizures are the body’s

response to a change in the brain’s electrical system. Sometimes, this response is barely noticeable, and a person may appear to stare out into space. In other cases, the response is more

severe, with violent jerking and shaking or a loss of consciousness. Seizures are classified into types: FOCAL ONSET SEIZURES Focal onset seizures, also called partial onset seizures, occur

in one specific area of the brain. Focal seizures may be broken down to three main types: * SIMPLE FOCAL SEIZURES. These seizures occur in a small area of the brain and last a short period

of time, 1 to 2 minutes. Individuals with simple focal seizures generally remain conscious and aware. They may experience twitching in a specific area of the body, experience a strange taste

or smell, or feel frozen. Auras may be a type of simple focal seizure. * COMPLEX FOCAL SEIZURES. This type of seizure is the most common type to follow an aura. Individuals having a complex

focal seizure may be unresponsive, staring into space. They may also have involuntary actions, called automatisms, like lip smacking, rapid blinking, gulping, or vocalizations like grunting

or shouting. * SECONDARY GENERALIZED SEIZURES. These seizures start in one area of the brain but spread to both sides. Individuals having a secondary generalized seizure will have a focal

seizure followed immediately by a generalized seizure. The initial seizure may be considered an aura. GENERALIZED ONSET SEIZURE Generalized onset seizures affect multiple areas of the brain

at the same time. This type of seizure has subtypes including: * tonic-clonic or grand mal seizures * absence or petit-mal seizures * atonic seizures UNKNOWN ONSET SEIZURES These seizures

occur suddenly and for no known reason. Can you prevent seizure auras? Since auras are a precursor to another seizure, the strategies to prevent auras are similar to those preventing

seizure. There’s no way to stop an aura from happening, but many people are able to identify triggers to seizure activity, like: * stress * sleep deprivation * depression * anxiety PRODROME

VS. AURA Prodromes are an early sign or warning of impending symptoms of an illness or condition. While auras usually occur too close to an impending seizure to stop it, prodromes offer more

time to enact preventive strategies. Prodromes are similar to auras but have symptoms or feelings that occur hours or days before a seizure. With prodromes, or in some cases where auras and

seizures are spaced far enough apart, some people are able to head off seizures with a number of strategies, like: * relaxation * sleep * medications * avoiding alcohol or other triggers *

positive thinking * deep breathing What to do if you have a seizure aura While an aura can be scary, triggering anxiety about an upcoming seizure, it can also be extremely useful in keeping

you safe. Often with seizures, you may fall, lose balance, or become unconscious. Sometimes, this happens suddenly and in places where you may not be able to get help immediately. Aura and

prodromes give you time to sit down, find a safe location, or get help. Typically, people who have auras begin to notice a regular pattern of symptoms and patterns that can help them ensure

their safety during a seizure. How are seizures treated? There are several options for treating seizures, although few options can cure seizures. Roughly a third of people who experience

seizures continue to have them despite using medications. Here are a few of the treatment options that can be used to help control seizures: * MEDICATION. There are many seizure medications

available. Anti-epileptic medications are very helpful for most people with seizure disorders, although you may have to try a few different medications before finding the right solution. You

may also have to switch medications every few years. * SURGERY. If your doctors are able to pinpoint a specific part of your brain that is causing the seizures, they may be able to do

surgery to fix or remove this part of the brain. This treatment often depends on where that area is located and what other functions that area controls. * VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION. This is a

device that can be implanted under the skin in your chest to act as a pacemaker for the brain. Small electrical impulses are sent from the stimulator to the brain and have been found to be

very effective in controlling seizure activity. * DIET AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES. There are certain diets, like the ketogenic diet, that appear to have some impact on seizure control. You may

also need to make lifestyle changes, like refraining from alcohol and drug use. Can you stop having seizure auras? If you get auras as part of your seizure disorder or epilepsy, there isn’t

much data to suggest they can be stopped. You can try to prevent seizure activity in general by avoiding triggers or taking regular medications. However, auras perform a vital role for

people with seizures, as they can help them prepare for the seizure. What’s the outlook for people with seizures? How well your seizures are managed will depend a bit on what is causing

them. If you have seizures because of drug or alcohol use, liver or kidney problems that lead to electrolyte imbalances, or are taking medications that can cause seizures, work with your

doctor to resolve the underlying condition. When your seizures are caused by epilepsy, it can be more difficult to get to the root of the problem. You can be diagnosed with epilepsy at any

age, and while it can be controlled for many, it’s usually a lifelong condition. A number of factors can affect your prognosis with epilepsy including: * age * family history * genetics *

infections * pre-existing conditions * seizure patterns and severity * treatment strategies used * vascular disease People who are diagnosed with epilepsy before age 12 generally have a

better prognosis and may even grow out of the condition in adulthood. Increased age and concurrent health conditions can make a prognosis worse. The takeaway Seizures are a serious

neurological condition caused by an interruption in electrical signals in the brain. This condition can cause you to fall, trip, or lose consciousness when they occur. Auras are a type of

seizure and sometimes your brain’s way to prepare or warn you of another, perhaps more severe seizure. People who experience auras can use the signal to find a safe location, take

medication, or get help. Auras can’t be stopped, but epilepsy and seizure disorders can be managed in many cases with medication or surgery.