Seizures are sudden, uncontrollable electrical disturbances in the brain.
Seizures can cause changes in:
What Are Seizures?
From case to case, symptoms of seizures vary.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Some symptoms include:
Often, the cause of seizures is unknown.
Seizures may arise during serious health issues, such asstrokesor infections like meningoencephalitis.
This condition can last over 30 minutes and is considered a medical emergency.
About 200,000 cases of status epilepticus occur annually in the United States.
An even more serious throw in of status epilepticus is refractory status epilepticus (RSE).
This pops up if the seizures last longer than 60 minutes despite treatment with a standard anticonvulsant.
RSE is common among elderly patients and leads to death in approximately 76% of reported cases.
About one-third of patients experiencing withdrawal seizures may progress todelirium tremens(DT).
SUDEP is diagnosed after a complete autopsy and toxicology report.
Unfortunately, in most cases, SUDEP occurs unwitnessed.
Tonic-clonic seizures and nocturnal (nighttime) seizures are clinical risk factors that may be associated with SUDEP.
It may also be beneficial to begin documenting nocturnal seizures.
Risks Associated With Seizures
Having uncontrollable seizures may put you at risk for injuries.
People with epilepsyby definition, having two or more unprovoked seizuresare at greater risk for a seizure-related injury.
They also tend to have a higher incidence of accidents outside of a seizure.
Notably, most such injuries are not fatal.
The punch in of injuries associated with seizures depends on the punch in of seizure and severity.
Broken Bones
Fractures are a common injury in people with epilepsy.
Fractures can occur due to the inability to activate protective reflexes during seizures, resulting in falls.
The muscle contractions of seizures themselves can also pose a great load on the skeleton.
Additionally, some anti-epileptic medications are known to reduce bone mass density.
Burns
Burns are more common among people with epilepsy than the general population.
Most reported burns happen during daily activities like cooking or ironing.
Shoulder Dislocations
Posterior shoulder dislocations are described as seizure-related injuries but are fairly rare events.
After the seizure, the person can be turned to their side to help avoid aspiration.
Other activities such as swimming or taking baths alone, climbing ladders.
and operating heavy machinery, for example also have relevant safety restrictions regarding which you will need medical advice.
Legislation regardinglicensing people dealing with epilepsy to drivevaries from state to state and country to country.
Aspiration
Aspiration is the inhalation of a substance or object.
Aspiration is rare but normal and even happens in healthy individuals during sleep.
The bodys reflexes usually keep the substances out.
Activating these reflexes during and after a seizure is difficult.
In some cases, aspiration can lead to respiratory disease, such asaspiration pneumonia.
During the middle of a seizure (the ictal phase), there is a low risk of aspiration.
After a seizure (the postictal phase), the risk of oral secretions accidentally entering the airways increases.
It is recommended that a person be turned to their side after a seizure to make it avoid aspiration.
Treatment for Seizures
In the case that potentially dangerous seizures arise, emergency evaluation is necessary.
These include first time, withdrawal-based, unexplained and/or increased seizures.
Contact your local emergency service via telephone and summon an ambulance.
It is important to ensure that vital functions, especially normal breathing and heart function, are preserved.
If someone is experiencing an ongoing seizure, providing respiratory support and monitoring their airway is most important.
After the seizure, you’re free to turn the person to their side to avoid aspiration.
Medical help should be sought during or immediately after a dangerous episode of persistent seizures.
In an emergency, abenzodiazepine medicationcan be administered rectally for fast-acting effects.
Summary
Many individuals live with seizure disorders that cause events regularly despite optimal treatment.
However, new/unexplained or changing seizure patterns can result in severe health consequences and even death.
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