How are seizures diagnosed?
There are many medical reasons why people lose consciousness, experience periods of time when they are ‘not quite with it’ or have unusual sensations. These include panic attacks, migraine, faints (sometimes called ‘syncope’), seizures, stroke and heart disease. A definite diagnosis is important, but because the person often has little or no memory of the event it can take time to come to the right answer. The doctor will begin by taking a thorough medical history and examining the patient. Eyewitness accounts can help a great deal with the diagnosis, so it is useful for a friend or family member who saw the event to accompany the patient to the first appointment. If a stranger witnessed the event, a written description or a phone number for the doctor to call can be helpful. Tests may be arranged, and these will vary depending upon the doctor’s initial assessment. They may include blood tests, an EEG [electroencephalogram], a CT scan [computerized tomography] or an MRI [magnetic reson
