The symptoms and treatment of Seizures

Description

A seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain. Can cause changes in your behavior, movements, feelings and levels of consciousness. Epilepsy is defined as two or more seizures within 24 hours of difference that does not have a known cause. But epilepsy is not the one causing all the attacks.

There are many types of seizures. They have a range of symptoms and vary in the degree to which they affect your daily life. Seizure types also vary depending on where in the brain they originate and how far they extend. Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. A seizure that lasts more than five minutes is a medical emergency.

The seizures may occur after a stroke or a head injury. An infection such as meningitis or another disease can also be the cause. But often the cause is not known.

The medicine can handle the majority of seizures, but can have side effects. Work with your health care professional for the balance of the seizure of the management and medication side effects.

Symptoms

The symptoms vary according to the type of seizure. You can also vary from mild to severe. Seizure symptoms can include:

Short-term confusion.
Episodes of spell.
Jerking movements of the arms and legs that can not be stopped.
The loss of consciousness or awareness.
Changes in thinking or emotions. These may include fear, anxiety, or a feeling of already having lived through the time, it is called deja vu.

Most of the attacks are divided into two classes called focal or generalized. The classes are based on how and where the brain activity causing the attack began. If health professionals do not know how the attacks began, it can be said that the seizures are of unknown origin start.

Focal seizures

Focal seizures result of the electrical activity in an area of the brain. This type of attack can occur with or without fainting, called losing consciousness.

Focal seizures with impaired consciousness.These attacks involve a change or loss of consciousness, or the consciousness that feels like being in a dream. During these types of attacks, people may seem to be awake. But it stuck in space and not respond to anything around her. May be repeated movements, such as hand rubbing, and the movements of the mouth, the repetition of certain words, or walking in circles. You may not remember the seizure or even know that it happened.
Focal seizures, without alteration of consciousness.These attacks can change the emotions. You can also change the way you see things, smell, texture, taste or sound. But the people that have a focal seizure not to faint. During these types of seizures, people can feel angry, joyful or sad. Some people have nausea or strange feelings that are difficult to describe. These attacks can cause difficulty in speaking and jerking of a body part, like an arm or a leg. It can also cause sudden symptoms such as tingling, dizziness and see flashing lights.

Focal seizures with impaired consciousness. These attacks involve a change or loss of consciousness, or the consciousness that feels like being in a dream. During these types of attacks, people may seem to be awake. But it stuck in space and not respond to anything around her.

May be repeated movements, such as hand rubbing, and the movements of the mouth, the repetition of certain words, or walking in circles. You may not remember the seizure or even know that it happened.

Focal seizures, without alteration of consciousness. These attacks can change the emotions. You can also change the way you see things, smell, texture, taste or sound. But the people that have a focal seizure not to faint.

During these types of seizures, people can feel angry, joyful or sad. Some people have nausea or strange feelings that are difficult to describe. These attacks can cause difficulty in speaking and jerking of a body part, like an arm or a leg. It can also cause sudden symptoms such as tingling, dizziness and see flashing lights.

Symptoms of focal seizures may seem to those of other conditions of the brain or nervous system. These other conditions include migraine, mental illness or a condition that affects how the brain deals with sleep-wake cycles, called narcolepsy.

Generalized seizures

The seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain, from the moment of start are called generalized seizures. Types of generalized seizures are:

Absence seizures.Absence seizures often happens in children. These attacks once they were called petit mal seizures. People who have absence seizures, most often gaze fixed on the space or make a small body movements such as eye blinking or lip smacking. Seizures most often last for 5 to 10 seconds. Absence seizures can occur hundreds of times a day. They can come in groups. And that can cause a brief loss of consciousness.
Tonic seizures. Tonic seizures cause the muscles to get stiff. These seizures most often affect the muscles of the back, arms and legs. People who have these seizures may faint and fall to the ground.
Atonic seizures. Atonic seizures cause a sudden loss of use of the muscles, most often in the legs. They are also called drop seizures. The people who have this type of attack can collapse.
Clonic seizures. Clonic seizures are linked with jerky muscle movements. These attacks usually affect the face, neck, and arms on both sides of the body.
Myoclonic seizures. Myoclonic seizures more often cause sudden brief jerks or twitches of the arms and legs. People who have these attacks do not happen.
Generalized tonic-clonic seizures.Generalized tonic-clonic seizures are the most common type of generalized seizure. They were once called seizure of great evil. Can cause fainting, body stiffness and shaking. That sometimes cause people to urinate or to bite your tongue. Tonic-clonic seizures last for several minutes. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures from focal seizures that spread to involve most or all of the brain.

Absence seizures. Absence seizures often happens in children. These attacks once they were called petit mal seizures. People who have absence seizures, most often gaze fixed on the space or make a small body movements such as eye blinking or lip smacking. Seizures most often last for 5 to 10 seconds.

Absence seizures can occur hundreds of times a day. They can come in groups. And that can cause a brief loss of consciousness.

Generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures are the most common type of generalized seizure. They were once called seizure of great evil. Can cause fainting, body stiffness and shaking. That sometimes cause people to urinate or to bite your tongue.

Tonic-clonic seizures last for several minutes. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures from focal seizures that spread to involve most or all of the brain.

The seizure stages

The seizures may have an initial phase, a middle phase and final phase. These stages are also called prodromal, ictal and poststroke.

Prodrome.This is the first warning that an attack can happen. During the prodrome, the people may have a hard-to-describe the effect that an attack can happen. There may also be changes in behavior. This can occur in hours or even days before an attack. The prodrome stage may include an aura. The aura is the first symptom of an attack. The symptoms during the aura can include the feeling that a person or a family place, called déjà vu, or a feeling that a person or a place not familiar to you. Or people can just feel strange, feel afraid, or panic, or even have good feelings. Symptoms can also include smells, sounds, tastes, blurred vision, or racing thoughts. Most often, the auras are feelings that are difficult to describe. The prodrome may include headache, numbness, tingling, nausea, or dizziness. Many people with epilepsy have a prodrome or aura. But some people do not.
Ictal phase. The ictal phase lasts from the first symptom, including the aura, at the end of the shot. The symptoms of the phase ictal depend on the type of seizure.
Phase Poststroke.This is the period after an attack during the recovery. The poststroke stage can last for minutes or hours. Some people recover quickly, while others take hours. The duration of the phase poststroke depends on the type of attack and what part of the brain is affected. During this phase, people can be slow to respond, have problems with memory and have trouble talking or writing. You may feel drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, sadness, fear, anxiety, or frustration. They also may have nausea, headache, or weakness. You can feel thirst or urination.

Prodrome. This is the first warning that an attack can happen. During the prodrome, the people may have a hard-to-describe the effect that an attack can happen. There may also be changes in behavior. This can occur in hours or even days before an attack.

The prodrome stage may include an aura. The aura is the first symptom of an attack. The symptoms during the aura can include the feeling that a person or a family place, called déjà vu, or a feeling that a person or a place not familiar to you.

Or people can just feel strange, feel afraid, or panic, or even have good feelings. Symptoms can also include smells, sounds, tastes, blurred vision, or racing thoughts. Most often, the auras are feelings that are difficult to describe. The prodrome may include headache, numbness, tingling, nausea, or dizziness.

Many people with epilepsy have a prodrome or aura. But some people do not.

Phase Poststroke. This is the period after an attack during the recovery. The poststroke stage can last for minutes or hours. Some people recover quickly, while others take hours. The duration of the phase poststroke depends on the type of attack and what part of the brain is affected.

During this phase, people can be slow to respond, have problems with memory and have trouble talking or writing. You may feel drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, sadness, fear, anxiety, or frustration. They also may have nausea, headache, or weakness. You can feel thirst or urination.

When to see a doctor

Seek immediate medical help if you have an attack or if you see someone who is having a seizure, and any of the following cases:

The seizure lasts more than five minutes.
The person is not breathing after the seizure stops.
A second attack follows immediately.
The person has a high fever.
The person's body to overheat, the so-called heat stroke.
The person is pregnant.
The person has diabetes.
The attack causes an injury.
The attack occurs in the water.

The first time that an attack of epilepsy, consult a health care professional.

Causes

The attacks are caused by changes in the shape of the nerve cells in the brain communicate. The nerve cells in the brain to create, send, and receive electrical impulses. The nerve cells called neurons. The pulses allow the cells to communicate. Anything that gets in the way of the means of communication can lead to an attack. The changes in genes cause some types of seizures.

Epilepsy is a common cause of seizures. But not everyone who has an attack of epilepsy. Sometimes, the following can cause seizures:

A high fever. When the fever causes a seizure, it is called a febrile seizure.
An infection of the brain. This can include meningitis or encephalitis.
Serious illness. This includes serious illness with COVID-19.
The lack of sleep.
Low sodium in the blood. This can occur if you take medication that makes you pee.
Certain medications to treat the pain or the depression, or to help people quit smoking.
A new asset of the brain injury, such as trauma to the head. It can cause bleeding in an area of the brain or a stroke.
The use of drugs that are sold on the streets. This includes amphetamines and cocaine.
The misuse of Alcohol. The seizures may occur after abstinence from alcohol or drinking too much alcohol.

Risk factors

The following factors increase the risk of a heart attack:

The head or brain injuries.
Cognitive issues.
Stroke.
Alzheimer's disease.
Brain tumors.
Of Alcohol or illicit drug misuse.
The family history of seizures.

Complications

Having a seizure can sometimes lead to complications that can cause danger to you or others. You could be at risk of:

The fall of. If you fall during a seizure, you can injure your head or break a bone.
Drowning. If you have an attack while swimming or bathing, you are at risk of drowning.
Car accidents. A seizure can cause loss of consciousness or not be able to control a vehicle while driving.
Complications in pregnancy. Seizures during pregnancy pose dangers to pregnant people and their babies. And certain anticonvulsant medications that increase the risk of health conditions that are present at birth. If you have epilepsy and you are planning to become pregnant, talk with your health care professional to check to see if your medications need to be adjusted during pregnancy.
Mental health conditions. People with seizures are more likely to have depression, anxiety or other mental health disorders. This may be due to having to deal with the crisis or the side effects of anticonvulsant drugs.
The sudden, unexpected death. Rarely, a single attack causes death. This is called sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (sudep). Attacks that are not well managed, and other factors play a role in the risk of SUDEP. But experts do not know the risks of general or of the cause. Good treatment of seizures is vital in the prevention of SUDEP.

Prevention

People who have more of an attack should stay away from things that can cause seizures, such as:

Not getting enough sleep.
The use of alcohol or illicit drugs.
Stress.
Being around the flashing lights.

Diagnosis

After a seizure, your health care professional to review your medical history and symptoms and do a physical exam. You may have tests to find the cause of your seizures. The tests can also show how likely it is that you are going to have another attack.

Tests may include:

A neurological exam. This is to look at your behavior, motor abilities, and how the brain works.
Blood tests. A blood sample may show blood sugar levels and look for signs of infection or gene conditions. A health professional can also check the levels of salts in the body to manage fluid balance. These salts are called electrolytes.
A lumbar puncture. This procedure contains a sample of fluid from the spine to the test. Also called a lumbar puncture, spinal tap can show if there is an infection that caused a seizure.
An electroencephalogram (EEG).In this test, electrodes are placed on the scalp to record the electrical activity of the brain. The electrical activity shows up as wavy lines on an EEG. The EEG may show a pattern that indicates whether an attack is likely to happen again. EEG tests can also help rule out other diseases that have symptoms similar to those of epilepsy. This test can be done in a clinical setting, from the night to the morning at home or for a couple of nights in the hospital.

An electroencephalogram (EEG). In this test, electrodes are placed on the scalp to record the electrical activity of the brain. The electrical activity shows up as wavy lines on an EEG. The EEG may show a pattern that indicates whether an attack is likely to happen again.

EEG tests can also help rule out other diseases that have symptoms similar to those of epilepsy. This test can be done in a clinical setting, from the night to the morning at home or for a couple of nights in the hospital.

Imaging tests may include:

The magnetic resonance imaging. An mri uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create a detailed view of the brain. An mri can show changes in the brain that can lead to seizures.
Computed tomography. A ct scan uses X-rays to obtain cross-sectional images of the brain. Ct scans can show changes in the brain that can cause a seizure. These changes can include tumors, bleeding and cysts.
Positron emission tomography (PET). A PET scan uses a small amount of low doses of radioactive material that is put into a vein. The material helps to show the active areas of the brain and the changes in the brain.
Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).A SPECT test uses a small amount of low doses of radioactive material that is put into a vein. The test creates a detailed 3D map of the blood flow in the brain that occurs during a seizure. A health care professional also may do a kind of a SPECT test called the subtraction SPECT ictal coregistered with mri (SISCOM). The test can give results in more detail. This test is usually done in a hospital with an overnight EEG.

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). A SPECT test uses a small amount of low doses of radioactive material that is put into a vein. The test creates a detailed 3D map of the blood flow in the brain that occurs during a seizure.

A health care professional also may do a kind of a SPECT test called the subtraction SPECT ictal coregistered with mri (SISCOM). The test can give results in more detail. This test is usually done in a hospital with an overnight EEG.

Treatment

Not everyone who has a seizure the other. So that your health care professional can not start the treatment, unless you had more than one.

The goal in the treatment of seizures is to find the best therapy which stops the seizures with the least amount of side effects.

Drugs

The treatment of the seizures often involves anti-seizure medications. There are many types of anticonvulsant medication.

Finding the right medication and dosage can be difficult. Some people try several medications before finding the right one at the right dose. Common side effects may include weight changes, dizziness, fatigue, and mood swings. Very rarely, more serious side effects can cause damage to the liver or the bone marrow.

A healthcare professional thinks about his condition, the frequency of seizures, your age and other factors when choosing which medications to prescribe. The health professional also comments of other medications you take to make sure that the anti-seizure medications don't interact with them.

Diet therapy

Following a ketogenic diet may improve seizure management. A ketogenic diet is a high fat and very low in carbohydrates. But it can be difficult to follow because there is a small variety of foods.

Other versions of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet may also be helpful, but do not work as well. These diets include low glycemic index and Atkins diets. Experts are still studying these diets.

Surgery

If the treatment with at least two anti-seizure medications don't work, you could undergo a surgery to stop the seizures. The surgery works best for people who have seizures that start in the same place in the brain. The types of surgery include:

Lobectomy. Surgeons find and remove the area of the brain where seizures begin.
Thermal ablation, also called laser thermal therapy interstitial. This less-invasive procedure that has as its target with highly focused energy at a target in the brain where seizures begin. This destroys the cells in the brain that cause seizures.
Multiple subpial transection. This type of surgery involves making several cuts in the areas of the brain to prevent seizures. Surgeons do this more often when you cannot safely remove the area of the brain where the seizures start.
Corpus Callosotomy. This surgery cuts of the network of links between the neurons of the right and left halves of the brain. This is used to treat the seizures that start in one half of the brain and travel to the other half. But even after the surgery, seizures can happen on the side of the brain where it started.
Hemispherotomy.This surgery is separated from one side of the brain to the rest of the brain and the body. Surgeons use this type of surgery only when the drugs do not achieve seizure and when seizures affect only the half of the brain. This surgery can cause the loss of many daily functional capacity. But children are often able to get those skills with the rehabilitation.

Hemispherotomy. This surgery is separated from one side of the brain to the rest of the brain and the body. Surgeons use this type of surgery only when the drugs do not achieve seizure and when seizures affect only the half of the brain.

This surgery can cause the loss of many daily functional capacity. But children are often able to get those skills with the rehabilitation.

Electrical stimulation

If the surgeons can't remove or separate the area of the brain where the seizures start, devices that provide electrical stimulation can help. They can work with anticonvulsant drugs used to reduce seizures. Stimulation devices that can offer the seizure of relief include:

Stimulation of the vagus nerve. A device that is placed under the skin of the breast stimulates the vagus nerve in the neck. This sends signals to the brain which reduces seizures.
Responsive neurostimulation. Surgeons place this device in the brain or in the brain tissue. The device can tell when the crisis starts the activity. Sends electrical stimulation to stop the attack.
The deep brain stimulation. Surgeons placed thin wires called electrodes in certain areas of the brain to produce electrical impulses. The impulses to help the body to manage the activity in the brain that cause seizures. The electrodes attach to a pacemakerlike device that's placed under the skin of the chest. The device handles the amount of stimulation that happens.

Pregnancy and seizures

People who have had seizures more often can have healthy pregnancies. But some medicines used to treat convulsions sometimes can cause health conditions that are present at birth.

Valproic acid is a drug for generalized seizures has been associated with cognitive problems and neural tube defects, such as spina bifida) in babies. The American Academy of Neurology that discourages the use of valproic acid during pregnancy due to the risks to your baby.

Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of anticonvulsant drugs, including the risk of health conditions that are present at birth. Make a plan with your health care professional before you get pregnant. Pregnancy may change the medicine of the levels.

Some people may need to change the doses of seizure medication before or during pregnancy. The goal is to be at the lowest dose of the safest medication for the seizures that manages the seizures.

Taking folic acid before pregnancy can help prevent some of the complications related to the taking of anti-seizure medications during pregnancy. Folic acid is found in the standard prenatal vitamins. Experts suggest that all the people of childbearing age to take folic acid while you are taking anti-seizure medications.

Birth control and anti-seizure medications

Some anti-seizure medications to maintain control of the birth rate of work as well. Consult with your healthcare professional to see if your medication affects your birth control. You may have to try other forms of birth control.

Potential future treatments

The researchers behind the study of other therapies that could treat seizures. These include therapies to stimulate the brain without the need for surgery.

A research area that shows promise is mri-guided focused ultrasound. The therapy consists in pointing beams, which are sound waves, to an area of the brain that is causing seizures. The beam creates energy to destroy the brain tissue without the need for surgery.

This type of therapy can reach deeper structures of the brain. You can also focus on a target without damaging the surrounding tissue.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Here are some steps you can take to help control seizures:

Take the medication correctly. Do not change the dose without first checking with your health care professional. If you think that your medicine needs a change, always talk with your health care professional.
Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can trigger seizures. Make sure you get enough rest each night.
Wear a medical alert bracelet. This will help emergency personnel know how to treat you if you have a seizure.
Be active. Exercising and staying active can help to keep you healthy and reduce depression. Be sure to drink enough water. And the rest, if you get tired during exercise.
Make healthy life choices. The management of stress, limiting alcohol consumption and not smoking, are all part of a healthy lifestyle.

Personal safety

The seizures do not often result in serious injury. But if you have repeated seizures, you could get hurt. These steps can help you avoid injury during a seizure:

Be careful near the water. Do not swim alone or ride in a boat without someone nearby.
Wear a helmet. Wear a helmet during activities such as riding a bike or playing sports.
Take showers. Do not take a bath, unless someone is close to you.
Soften your home. The pad corners, buy furniture with rounded edges and choose the chairs that have arms to prevent the drop off. Reflect on the carpet with thick padding to protect you if you fall.
Do not work up to the high. And do not use heavy machinery.
Have a list of the seizures first aid tips. Put them in a place where people can see. Include the phone numbers of the people might need if you have a seizure.
Consider the likelihood of a seizure detection device.In the united states, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a watchlike device that can tell when a tonic-clonic seizure is about to happen (EpiMonitor). The device notifies you of loved ones or caregivers so that they can check on you and make sure that it is safe. Other FDA-approved device is connected to a muscle in the arm is called the biceps to observe the seizure activity (Brain Sentinel SPEAC). Talk with your health care professional to see if the use of this type of device could be right for you.

Consider the likelihood of a seizure detection device. In the united states, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a watchlike device that can tell when a tonic-clonic seizure is about to happen (EpiMonitor). The device notifies you of loved ones or caregivers so that they can check on you and make sure that it is safe.

Other FDA-approved device is connected to a muscle in the arm is called the biceps to observe the seizure activity (Brain Sentinel SPEAC). Talk with your health care professional to see if the use of this type of device could be right for you.

Seizure first aid

It is useful to know what to do if you see someone having a seizure. If you are at risk of having a seizure, give this information to the family, friends and coworkers. Then they will know what to do if you have an attack.

To help someone during a seizure, follow these steps:

Carefully roll the person onto one side.
Place something soft under the person's head.
Loosen the tie.
Do not put fingers or other objects into the mouth of the person.
Do not try to restrain the person.
Clear away dangerous objects if the person is in motion.
Stay with the person until medical help arrives.
Look with attention to the person so that you can tell the medical assistants of what happened.
The duration of the attack.
Keep calm.

Coping and support

The stress due to living with a seizure condition can affect your mental health. Talk with your health care professional about your feelings. Look for ways to find help.

Home

The members of your family can provide the support you may need. Tell them what you know about your seizures. Let them know they can ask you questions. Ask them about their concerns. Help the family members to learn about their condition. Sharing materials or other resources that your healthcare provider gives you.

On the job

Talk with your supervisor about your attacks and how they affect you. Discuss what you need your supervisor or co-workers to do if you have a seizure at work. Talk with your coworkers about the seizures. This will help them to understand and give more support.

You are not alone

Reach out to family and friends. Ask your health care professional about local support groups, or join an online support community. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Having a strong support system is vital for living with any medical condition.

Preparing for your appointment

Sometimes seizures need immediate medical help. So that there is not always time to prepare for an appointment.

But you can see your primary healthcare professional or to be sent to a specialist. You can see a specialist trained in brain and nervous system conditions, call a neurologist. Or you could see a neurologist trained in epilepsy, known as an epileptologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Write down what you remember about the attack. Include when and where it happened, the symptoms you had and how long it lasted, if you know. Ask anyone who saw the seizure to help you fill in the details.
Be aware of the restrictions prior to your appointment. When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do ahead of time to be ready for medical tests or exams.
Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that you take, including over-dose.
Have a family member or friend to your appointment. Someone who can help you to remember all information that you get. And the person who goes with you may be able to answer questions about their seizures that cannot be.
Write questions to ask their health professional. Make a list of questions can help you make the most of your time during your visit.

For seizures, some basic questions to ask include:

What do you think caused my seizure?
What tests do I need?
What treatment do you suggest?
How likely is it that I might have another attack?
How can I make sure that I don't hurt myself if I have another attack?
I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
There are restrictions that must be followed?
Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have.

What to expect from your doctor

A health professional is likely to ask you questions, such as:

Can you describe your episode of seizure?
Someone was there to see what happened?
How does it feel just before the crisis? What about right after the seizure?
Have you had a seizure or other neurological condition in the past?
Do you have any family members who have been diagnosed with a seizure condition, or epilepsy?
You have recently traveled out of the country?