Epilepsy and Seizures: Everything You Need to Know

Experiencing a seizure tin can exist intense, confusing, and complicated. If you've experienced ane, then yous know that they can be difficult to accurately draw.

Almost everyone who experiences seizures experiences them in different means, whether through the loss of command of motor skills, consciousness, or perhaps fifty-fifty been struck with sudden uncontrollable emotions such equally fear or feet.

Thoroughly agreement seizures is an important step towards addressing these concerns and protecting the overall quality of your health and wellness.

• What is a seizure?

• Seizure symptoms

• Seizure types

• Triggers and causes of seizures

• When to get to a doctor

• Testing and diagnosis

• Treatment and management

• What to do if someone has a seizure

What is a seizure?

Essentially, a seizure is a disturbance in the electric and chemic activity of the brain. It'southward a temporary feel that can result in uncontrollable changes in movement, sensation, behaviour, and/or feelings.

Any part of the brain could be affected past seizures, which is why their symptoms are so various. Unremarkably, there's a sort of residue between brain cells that fire off regularly in certain areas of the brain. Seizures upset this rest, largely because of surges of electrical activity that causes cells to fire off in unusual means. This causes parts of the brain to function abnormally (non equally they should), causing a temporary state of uncontrollable brain activeness that can lead to a wide range of seizure symptoms.

One important matter to recognise is that having seizures does not necessarily mean you take epilepsy.

Seizures are often a symptom of circuitous chemical changes that can be triggered past various illnesses, injuries, and other events. They vary in severity and type, sometimes relatively harmless and other times severely dangerous.

[Epitome clarification: Hand property a pen that is pointed towards a department of the brain on a brain scan, amid many brain scans.]

Seizure symptoms

No one experiences seizures in quite the same way. Y'all may be aware of them while they happen, or you may non. You may be significantly disabled, or it's possible y'all may hardly notice them. Depending on the type and severity of the seizure, yous may experience some combination of the following:

• Loss of consciousness or awareness

• Muscle contractions

• Blank staring or rapid eye blinking

• Defoliation

• Unusual trunk movements or jerking

• Hallucinatory sights, sounds, or smells

• Uncontrollable fear, rage, or other intense emotions

The length of time these symptoms proceed can exist unpredictable. They may happen rapidly, lasting merely a few seconds earlier vanishing. In other cases, they tin terminal for several minutes. (Seizures lasting over five minutes are considered a medical emergency and an ambulance should be called.)

If you're unconscious, chances are you'll accept no memory of the effect later on. If you're aware, or even partially aware, then there'due south a chance you may or may not retrieve it. Some simply remember the event partially, and others may experience prolonged confusion afterwards. It'due south likewise common to feel prolonged feelings of sadness, anger, worry, or fatigue.

Seizure types

Agreement the different seizure types is of import. A recent alter in seizure classification now ways that seizures are classified based on three (three) primal features.

1. Where the seizure begins in the brain (this is called onset)

2. The level of awareness a person has during a seizure

3. Whether the seizure involves other features, like movement

When these features are identified, doctors tin describe a person's seizures more accurately which helps them make a more authentic diagnosis.

Where a seizure begins

The area of the encephalon in which a seizure begins (onset) is how seizures are categorised.

1. Generalised seizures — Both sides of the encephalon

2. Focal seizures — Ane side of the encephalon

3. Focal to bilateral seizures — Starts on one side and spreads to the other

4. Unknown onset — The area where the seizure began is unknown

Generalised seizures

These types of seizures affect all parts of the brain, with encephalon cells firing abnormally in both cerebral hemispheres (both sides of the brain) at about the aforementioned time evenly. They're generally associated with loss of awareness but can manifest in many different ways. Below are common generalised seizure types:

i. Tonic-clonic seizures

Previously referred to as thou mal seizures. This is the seizure type most people acquaintance with an epileptic seizure. It is nonetheless described as a generalised tonic-clonic seizure and was previously called a yard mal seizure.

During the seizure the person volition become unconscious, their torso stiffens upwards (tonic) and their trunk volition jerk rhythmically (clonic). Once the seizure ends the person may feel tired and confused.

2. Clonic seizures

These are associated with rhythmic or semi-rhythmic muscle contractions. This rhythmic jerking activity can affect the whole body (generalised clonic seizure), 1 side of the body or but one function of the body (focal motor seizures), depending upon where in the brain the seizure starts.

three. Myoclonic seizures

This variety consists of sudden cursory contractions, usually lasting around one (1) 2d. The person experiencing the seizure remains conscious throughout and will feel the seizure as a sudden stupor taking place in a muscle, or in a particular group of muscles.

4. Tonic seizures

Like myoclonic seizures, tonic seizures are cursory, usually lasting less than 30 seconds. They induce muscle stiffness, often resulting in falls. This can occur in the entire body or in just a specific part of the body, depending upon where the seizure occurs in the brain.

You may remain aware or have a pocket-size modify in awareness during a tonic seizure, particularly if it lasts more a few seconds.

five. Atonic seizures

These are sometimes referred to as a "drib attack" because a sudden loss of muscle tone can frequently upshot in falling abruptly on the floor. Consciousness is often lost during the event but is unremarkably recovered quickly later.

Atonic seizures practice non always affect the entire body, if the seizure is taking identify in i part of the encephalon a loss of tone tin can occur to merely one part of the body.

Though more frequent in children, adults are also known to accept atonic seizures, though they are relatively rare.

6. Absenteeism seizures

• Typical absence seizures

Previously referred to equally petit mal seizures. These seizures involve a sudden damage of sensation, which means you volition non respond to the people effectually you or changes in your environment.

The person experiencing the seizure will typically stop all action and stair with a bare expression. Their eyelids may palpitate and eyes plow upwards.

These seizures can be difficult to detect equally they are brief (less than 10 seconds) and may just appear as a pause in typical behaviour and recovery is immediate.

Typical absence seizures are relatively rare, occurring more than oft in children than adults.

• Atypical absence seizures

These differ from typical absence seizures because they terminal longer (around twenty seconds) and include additional symptoms such as automated behaviours similar chewing movements or rubbing fingers together. They can also sometimes event in a loss of musculus tone which increases the risk of falls.

Focal onset seizures

These kinds of seizures occur and remain in one particular region of the brain. Below are two examples of common forms of focal seizures:

ane. Focal enlightened seizures

These were previously referred to as unproblematic partial seizures. During this type of seizure, the person maintains awareness. The person is awake, alarm and able to remember what they experienced during the seizure.

Some people are able to collaborate with their environment while the seizure is taking identify, while some are enlightened of their environment but can't move or respond until the seizure ends.

With focal aware seizures, y'all're likely to feel changes in your five senses. Yous may also experience temporary sensations such equally tingliness, dizziness, or visual flashes of light.

These seizures can last from seconds to around two (2) minutes. Some people depict these types of seizures equally "auras" considering they tin sometimes lead into a different seizure type.

2. Focal impaired sensation seizures

These involve full or partial loss of consciousness or awareness. A variety of involuntary behaviours may accompany them such equally chewing, lip-smacking, screaming, running, gagging, and others. This is usually followed by a postictal menstruum (a catamenia of time subsequently that includes additional symptoms) which can affect your mood and cognitive functions.

Some seizures can start in one part of the brain and spread to other parts of the brain, meaning they begin equally focal seizures and proceed to become generalised seizures. Those are called focal onset to generalised seizures.

Triggers and causes

Triggers of non-epileptic seizures

Many conditions that impact the brain take the potential to trigger seizures. Seizures triggered by these things are not idea to exist epileptic seizures.

Below are some examples of things that affect the brain and could peradventure trigger not-epileptic seizures

• Drug and alcohol abuse

• Metabolic problems

• Ingesting toxins

• Certain medications

Triggers of some types of epilepsy

Some types of epilepsy take seizures that can be triggered. Below are some things that can trigger these types of epilepsy.

• Flashing or flickering lights

• Certain sounds

• Drug or alcohol withdrawal

• Lack of sleep

• Stress or other emotional changes

In addition to the above, it's possible for seizures to occur without alert and with no indication of their cause.

In many of these cases, you lot're likely to experience ane seizure without e'er having some other. In all cases, consulting a doc can aid you decide the best course of action should any treatment be needed.

What causes a seizure?

Caused epilepsy

Epilepsy can be acquired and cause seizures. Below are some examples of things that can actually cause epilepsy (but are not considered triggers to a person's existing epilepsy.)

• Brain injury

• Stroke

• Fever

• Infection

• Brain tumours

• Head trauma

Idiopathic generalised epilepsy

Some types of epilepsy are believed to be rooted in genetics. They could be caused by:

• Genetic atmospheric condition

• Structural abnormalities in the brain

[Paradigm clarification: Physician writing the give-and-take 'Epilepsy' using a black mark.]

Seeking medical help

Generally speaking, if you experience more than one seizure or if you lot experience ane lasting more a few minutes, it'south brash that you seek help from a doctor.

This is also true if you happen to experience whatsoever fever or oestrus exhaustion, prolonged loss of breathing or consciousness, and if you've had whatsoever injuries.

People who are significant or who take been diagnosed with diabetes should seek aid immediately after any seizure activity.

What will your doctor ask yous?

Your dr. volition enquire you to describe what happens to you when you experience a seizure. Since you may not have been conscious, information technology's oft helpful to have anyone who witnessed the event at that place with y'all. They'll also be interested in what you felt just before and merely afterward the seizure.

It'due south e'er a good idea to keep track of your seizures—and information technology'due south especially helpful to have a record of your events when you visit your doctor. This will help them determine the cause of your seizures, and perhaps fifty-fifty identify triggers you may non already exist aware of.

The important things to note when tracking your seizures are:

1. Appointment

2. Time

3. Length of the seizure

4. The weather at the time of the seizure

5. Your mood just before the seizure

6. Anything that may have inverse in your regular environment

Y'all can do this on any piece of paper or notebook, or you tin use a seizure-tracking app on your phone to help you log events and take notes that could be helpful to your doctor.

How seizures are tested and diagnosed

When diagnosing your symptoms, near doctors will begin with a description of the event. Afterward, most doctors will perform a neurological exam, which is a brief check of certain functions that your brain controls. Information technology'south not-invasive and happens right within the doctor'southward office.

Your medico volition then almost probable social club some tests that monitor your center and brain activity, so that they tin can look for anything unusual. Depending on what y'all've described, they may suggest i or more than of the following:

• A CT or MRI

• An electrocardiogram (ECG)

• An electroencephalogram (EEG)

• An ambulatory EEG (AEEG)

• A PET scan

• Claret tests

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI scan)

• Unmarried-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT browse)

To be thorough, many doctors may suggest a combination of these tests, and some might even require video recording to be added to your testing so that they can see how your body reacts when your heart or brain is experiencing unusual action.

Once the cause and type of seizure are understood, your doctor volition determine if whatever handling is needed.

Many seizures are one-fourth dimension events that issue from other conditions unrelated to epilepsy, which your doctor will probable be able to address.

Tin can all doctors diagnose and treat seizures?

Generally speaking, your primary care dr. should be the kickoff pace towards diagnosing and getting treatment. In many cases where the condition is not epilepsy, they're normally capable of diagnosing the problem with their ain handling and expertise.

If, however, they're unable to reach a conclusion or doubtable that y'all have epilepsy, they will most likely refer you to a neurologist.

Neurologists specialise in disorders of the brain and will be much better able to provide handling if your primary doctor cannot. Yous may even exist referred to an epileptologist, a neurologist who specialises in epilepsy, if that'southward what your dr. suspects yous have.

Treatment and management

Once diagnosed with epilepsy, the goal becomes trying to prevent and minimise seizures and their effects as well every bit possible. Epilepsy is a serious condition, but there are constructive methods for treating and managing the condition.

Initially, epilepsy handling begins with medication designed to control the seizures. When successful, these medications tin reduce the frequency of seizures and minimise their effects in about 70% of people.

Diet and therapy may likewise be recommended for additional back up. In severe cases, your neurologist may consider surgery. Together, you'll talk over if it's the right pick based on your medical history and private needs.

Be prepared

If yous're a concerned friend, family fellow member or caregiver of someone who is experiencing seizures, the best affair y'all can practice is to be aware of what to do if they take one almost you.

Here'south what to practice if someone is having a seizure:

• Time the seizure — How long the seizure lasts volition determine whether or not y'all need to call an ambulance
• Cushion their head — Head injuries are common during seizures particularly when at that place are hard floors or objects that tin cause harm
• Roll them onto recovery position — To prevent choking, curl them onto their side if they have something in their mouth or after they stop moving
• Stay with them until the seizure stops — They may be confused or disoriented afterwards. Assistance them remain calm and condom

Learning how to provide seizure starting time assistance is simple and in about cases you will not accept to call an ambulance.

Larn about how nosotros assist doctors and neurologists — visit our website today to learn more than about epilepsy, seizures, and how yous tin can manage them.

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Source: https://seermedical.com/ultimate-guide-to-seizures/

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