A seizure is a sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbance that happens within the central nervous system and causes a wide range of totally different behaviors, actions or ranges of consciousness. Seizures can range extensively in severity and period and are brought on by a number of components. Epilepsy is one situation that may set off a seizure.
Epilepsy is a mind dysfunction that’s generally known as a “seizure dysfunction” as a result of the first symptom of epilepsy is seizures. The CDC estimates there are 3 million adults and 470,000 youngsters with epilepsy nationwide.1
Which means there are greater than 3.4 million individuals nationwide who may expertise a seizure, since epilepsy is just one contributing issue. Epilepsy is a power situation, and a few specialists estimate that there are at the very least 1 million individuals within the U.S. who’ve uncontrolled epilepsy, additionally known as drug-resistant epilepsy.2
Based on the U.S. Census Bureau,3 there have been 258.3 million adults dwelling within the U.S. in 2020. These sheer numbers imply that at one level or one other, it’s possible you’ll witness a seizure in public. That can assist you know what to do in that state of affairs, let’s discover ways to acknowledge what a seizure seems like and the best way to assist in the event you’re a bystander. Since epilepsy isn’t the one motive an individual may need a seizure, let’s begin with among the physiological adjustments that may set off a seizure.
What Can Set off a Seizure?
Epilepsy is a blanket time period that refers to a bunch of neurological problems characterised by recurring seizures. Folks might be identified with epilepsy as youngsters or adults, and whereas the precise trigger isn’t solely identified, on the whole, it outcomes from irregular neurological signaling within the mind.4
There are underlying medical situations that may trigger “acquired epilepsy,” which suggests you develop it as an grownup or after a medical situation or harm. Causes of acquired epilepsy embrace head trauma, infectious illness, stroke and tumors. Mind construction abnormalities might also set off recurring seizures.
Based on Remedy Epilepsy,5 as much as 50% of individuals on this planet with epilepsy have idiopathic epilepsy, which suggests the precise trigger can’t be recognized. Yearly, greater than 150,000 persons are identified with epilepsy. Which means it impacts extra individuals than cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s illness, a number of sclerosis and ALS mixed.
Based on the CDC,6 the estimated variety of individuals with lively epilepsy isn’t evenly distributed all through the U.S. The states with the vast majority of people embrace California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Northeastern states together with Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.
Not everybody who has a seizure additionally has epilepsy. Almost something that may disrupt neurological communication can even result in a seizure. For instance, a excessive fever can result in a febrile seizure. Excessive blood sugar,7 lack of sleep, low blood sodium, authorized or unlawful medicine comparable to amphetamines or cocaine, excessive alcohol intoxication or withdrawal from alcohol and medicines can even set off a seizure.8
Totally different Signs for Totally different Varieties of Seizures
The mind is a phenomenally advanced organ and when the neurological connections are disrupted, the signs that consequence can range. The varieties of seizures are categorized into focal seizures and generalized seizures, every of which additionally has subcategories. Usually talking, signs or warning indicators of a seizure can embrace:9,10
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Staring into house |
Stiffening of the physique and extremities |
Jerking actions within the legs and arms |
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Respiration issues |
Lack of consciousness |
Lack of bowel and bladder management |
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Not responding to noise or phrases |
Showing confused |
Rhythmic nodding of the top |
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Durations of staring and fast eye blinking |
Cognitive or emotional adjustments comparable to worry and nervousness |
Focal seizures have an effect on one space of the mind and have been as soon as known as partial seizures.11 An individual can have a focal seizure with or with out lack of consciousness. Throughout a easy focal seizure, the realm of the mind that’s affected by the dysfunctional electrical impulses will exhibit signs. Normally, these have an effect on muscle motion restricted to 1 or two muscle teams in shut proximity.
Throughout advanced focal seizures, an individual loses consciousness, however they seem to look conscious and awake. The particular person might not move out, however they don’t seem to be conscious of what is going on on round them. Folks having a fancy focal seizure will usually have some uncommon behaviors, like lip smacking, crying, laughing or screaming.
Seizures might also seem to contain most areas of the mind, and these are known as generalized seizures.12 There are a number of varieties of generalized seizures, however probably the most well-known are tonic-clonic seizures, which have been as soon as known as grand mal seizures. These are the categories normally proven in films or TV.13
The signs of tonic-clonic seizures are dramatic, however they don’t seem to be the commonest kind of seizure. Tonic-clonic seizures trigger a sudden lack of consciousness with a lack of bladder management and a mixture of muscle stiffening and repeated jerking.
Two different varieties of generalized seizures additionally contain muscle teams. An atonic seizure causes an individual to lose muscle management and drop out of the blue to the bottom. Dropping or falling could cause different important accidents, particularly if the particular person hits their head or strikes one thing sharp or exhausting. Myoclonic seizures set off temporary jerks or twitches within the legs and arms however normally no lack of consciousness.
Lastly, it’s possible you’ll observe absence seizures that have been as soon as known as petit mal seizures. These seizures occur most frequently in youngsters. You would possibly discover that the particular person is staring into house or making delicate physique actions. These kinds of seizures can last as long as 10 seconds and an individual might have a number of hundred every day.
Three Phases of a Seizure
There are three distinct phases of a seizure. The primary is known as the prodromal section, by which you expertise warning indicators {that a} seizure could also be coming. For some, these signs can occur within the hours or days earlier than the seizure happens. Prodromal signs can embrace:14
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A way of impending doom or worry |
A sound or a tone that’s comparable every time earlier than the seizure occurs |
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Issue discovering phrases or forming clear ideas |
A sense of abdomen butterflies |
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Listening to issues like you’re underwater |
Feeling like you’re in Alice in Wonderland, the place you’re feeling small and the whole lot else is huge or vice versa |
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A sense of deja vu the place issues are acquainted or the other — the whole lot is unrecognizable |
The prodromal section is the primary section of a seizure.15 As soon as the seizure begins, the particular person is within the ictal section. The ictal section begins with the primary symptom of the seizure and ends on the finish of seen seizure exercise. The size of time and the signs you see will rely upon the kind of seizure.
The final stage of a seizure is known as the postictal section. This could final for minutes or hours, additionally relying on the kind of seizure, the realm of the mind affected and the size of the seizure. Through the postictal section, persons are usually groggy, have problem with reminiscence, sore muscular tissues and may have hassle speaking or writing. Some really feel nauseated, have a headache or might lose bladder management.
The way to Assist if You Are a Bystander
For those who acknowledge the indicators and signs of somebody having a seizure, your main aim is to maintain the particular person protected. Seizure-related accidents can occur when an individual falls to the bottom or repeatedly jerks, putting their head in opposition to one thing exhausting.16 The most effective factor to do is to assist them to the ground. Don’t attempt to maintain them standing or in a chair.
As soon as they’re mendacity on the ground, place one thing smooth underneath their head so in the event that they expertise jerking motions of their neck, they will not bang their head on the ground. Don’t put something of their mouth as it is not doable to swallow the tongue. It is crucial you don’t restrain their arms or legs, because the muscle contractions could cause harm to bone or muscle if their extremities are restrained.
There may be nothing you are able to do to cease a seizure, so do not yell at them or strive every other methods. It is vital to maintain observe of how lengthy the particular person is having seizure exercise. If it lasts for greater than 5 minutes or they start to have back-to-back seizures, name 911 or the emergency companies quantity in your space. Whereas these conditions are uncommon, they are often life-threatening.
Different conditions that additionally require emergency companies are if the particular person has a seizure within the water, has problem respiration or if they’re pregnant. For those who study that is their first seizure, you must also name emergency companies.
They might breathe intermittently whereas they’re actively convulsing. For those who can roll them safely to their aspect whereas they’re jerking, place them within the restoration place. For those who can not roll them safely, wait until they cease convulsing after which roll them into the restoration place.
The restoration place locations the physique so the airway has the most effective likelihood of staying open and any vomit will drain from the mouth by gravity.17 Start by eradicating eyeglasses if the particular person is carrying them.
Don’t roll them on to their entrance as a result of it places extra physique weight on their lungs and makes it more durable to breathe. Solely transfer an individual into the restoration place by your self in the event you consider there isn’t a spinal harm. Begin by kneeling at their aspect. Transfer the arm that’s closest to you at a proper angle to their physique with the elbow bent and their palm dealing with upward. Deliver the opposite hand throughout their physique and place it on the aspect of the cheek that is subsequent to you.
Whereas holding their hand in opposition to their cheek, pull the far leg up so the foot is flat on the ground. Then, protecting the again of their hand pressed in opposition to their cheek, pull on the far leg in order that their physique rolls in direction of you and on to their aspect. At the moment, you may regulate the leg and arms in order that they’re bent at proper angles and tip the top again barely, lifting the chin, so the airway stays open.
They Are Awake and Alert — Now What?
As soon as the particular person begins progressively recovering and waking up, they’ll keep within the restoration place till they’re prepared to sit down up on the ground in a protected house. They shouldn’t be allowed to depart or eat or drink till they’re totally awake and alert. Stick with them till they’re totally conscious of what is going on on and you’ll inform them what occurred.18
For those who study it was their first seizure, name emergency companies to allow them to be totally evaluated in a hospital. Whereas this can be the primary idiopathic seizure, it could even be the primary symptom of an harm from a minor stroke, mind an infection, irregular development or the results of hitting their head prior to now hours or days.
Witnessing a seizure can initially be overwhelming, however when you already know what to do, you may assist stop additional harm and make sure the particular person is seen by emergency companies when it is wanted.
