Seizures can range from mild to severe and are caused by problems in the nervous system, often due to epilepsy. Seizures can also be caused by high fevers, low blood sugar levels, high blood pressure in pregnant women, brain tumors, and blood clots. Partial seizures affect a discrete area of the brain, while generalized seizures occur in larger areas. Treatment includes medication and avoiding triggers. Bystanders should protect the individual from injury and call emergency services if necessary. Placing objects in the person’s mouth is not advised.
A seizure is a medical event or episode in which the body twitches or jerks uncontrollably, usually due to a problem or spasm in the nervous system. Seizures can range from mild — a brief hand tremor, for example — to very severe, often involving prolonged unconsciousness and temporary paralysis. It all originates from the brain, but can be triggered by a number of different things. A medical condition known as epilepsy is often one of the most common root causes.
Main causes
People who experience regular seizures are usually diagnosed with epilepsy, which is characterized by brain synapse problems. Epileptic seizures are generally classified as “partial” or “generalised” based on their severity. A person who has very severe seizures, even if only rarely, is often considered epileptic.
However, it is not uncommon for a person to experience occasional, usually mild, seizures outside of epilepsy. High fevers are often to blame, particularly in children. Diabetics who suffer from extremely low blood sugar levels can also experience them. Similarly, pregnant women who have extremely high blood pressure may also be at risk; this condition is known as eclampsia and usually requires close medical monitoring. While a seizure may not pose a long-term threat to the mother, the developing fetus is at risk of having its oxygen supply reduced, which can lead to brain damage or even death. Brain tumors and blood clots can also be the cause, although these cases are much rarer.
Partial seizures
Seizures that occur outside of epilepsy are usually considered “partial,” although some epileptics may also experience this type of seizure from time to time. Partial seizures begin in a discrete area of the brain and usually cause no changes in consciousness. The patient may have weakness, numbness, and experience unusual smells or tastes. Sometimes, there are twitching of muscles or limbs, turning of the head from side to side, paralysis, vision changes or dizziness.
Complex partial seizures are often more severe. These occur in the temporal lobe and consciousness is usually affected. The patient often has a change in his or her ability to interact with the environment and may exhibit automatic and unconscious behaviors such as walking in circles, repetitive sitting and standing, or lip smacking.
Generalized seizures
Generalized seizures typically cause the most concern and occur in larger areas of the brain. The most serious are known as grand mal seizures; these include specific movements of the arms and legs or face and can occur with a loss of consciousness, often preceded by screaming or crying. Patients also typically experience an aura, which is an unusual sensation that often serves as a forerunner or warning of what is to come. The patient then drops sharply and begins to jerk and may become incontinent or drool or bite his tongue. This type of seizure usually lasts between 5 and 20 minutes and the patient often wakes up in a dazed state and is likely to suffer from prolonged weakness and disorientation.
Petit mal seizures include a brief loss of consciousness, but usually there is no associated motor dysfunction or aura. Sometimes it seems that the person briefly interrupts what he was doing, staring for a few seconds and then continuing with his activity. The patient usually has no recollection of the event.
Prevention and medical treatment
It can be difficult for people without medical training to diagnose seizures, and people who think they may have experienced such an episode are usually advised to seek immediate medical attention. Most root causes are highly treatable, particularly if the condition is caught early. Epilepsy, for example, is usually very easy to manage with specialized medications. Doctors and other experts may also be able to advise patients on ways to avoid triggers, such as alcohol or sleep deprivation, that can make seizures more likely.
Caring for someone having a seizure
Bystanders are often frightened when they witness someone having a seizure. In most cases, the best thing to do is time the seizure from start to finish. Most medical professionals state that if unconsciousness or other symptoms persist for more than 3 minutes, emergency doctors should be called immediately.
People who see someone having a seizure should also try to protect the individual from injury. They should move sharp or dangerous objects out of the person’s path and help the person down from a chair or standing position if possible. Some sources recommend placing solid objects in the abducting person’s mouth to prevent them from biting their tongue, but this is generally not advisable. Medical experts usually warn that this can actually lead to suffocation or loss of oxygen, which can make the situation worse. It’s usually best to have witnesses wait for the seizure to end, then help comfort or care for the person once things have settled down.
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