seizure symptoms

    Seizures symptoms

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General description

A seizure is a sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbance of the brain. It can cause changes in behavior, movements or feelings, as well as in levels of knowledge. If you have two or more seizures or you tend to have recurrent seizures, you have epilepsy


There are many types of seizures that vary according to their intensity. The types of seizures differ according to where and how they occur in the brain. Most seizures last from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Seizures that last more than five minutes are a medical emergency.

Seizures are more frequent than you think. They can occur after a stroke, a closed head injury, an infection, such as meningitis, or other diseases. Even so, the cause of the seizure is often unknown.

Most seizure disorders can be controlled with medication, but the treatment of seizures can have a significant impact on your daily life. The good news is that you can work with your healthcare professional to balance the control of seizures and the side effects of medications.

Seizure care at Mayo Clinic
symptom

In seizures, the signs and symptoms can range from mild to severe, and vary according to the type of seizure. Some of the signs and symptoms of seizures are:

    Temporary confusion
    Episodes of absences
    Uncontrollable spasmodic movements of arms and legs
    Loss of consciousness or consciousness
    Cognitive or emotional symptoms, such as fear, anxiety or déjà vu

Generally, doctors classify seizures as focal or generalized, depending on how and where abnormal brain activity begins. Seizures can also be classified as of unknown onset if it is not known how they occurred.
Focal seizures

Focal seizures occur because of abnormal electrical activity in one part of the brain. Focal seizures can occur with or without loss of consciousness:

    Focal seizures with altered consciousness These seizures involve a change or loss of consciousness or awareness. You can stare into space and not respond normally to your surroundings or perform repetitive movements, such as rubbing your hands, chewing, swallowing or walking in circles.
    Focal seizures without loss of consciousness. These seizures can alter emotions or change the way you see, smell, feel, taste or listen, but without losing consciousness. They can also cause involuntary spasmodic movements of a part of the body, such as an arm or leg, and spontaneous sensory symptoms, such as tingling, dizziness and blinking lights.

The symptoms of focal seizures can be confused with other neurological disorders, such as migraine, narcolepsy or mental illness.
Generalized seizures

The seizures that apparently occur in all areas of the brain are called "generalized seizures." The different types of generalized seizures include:

    Absence crisis. Absence crises, previously known as "petit mal convulsions" (minor epilepsy), often occur in children and are characterized by episodes of fixed gaze in space or subtle body movements such as flicking or smacking of the lips. They can occur in a group and cause a brief loss of consciousness.
    Tonic crisis. Tonic crises cause muscle rigidity. Generally, they affect the muscles of the back, arms and legs, and can cause falls.
    Atonic crisis. Atonic crises, also known as "falling convulsions," cause the loss of muscle control, which can lead to sudden collapse or falls.
    Clonic crises. Clonic crises are associated with repetitive or rhythmic spasmodic muscle movements. They usually affect the neck, face and arms.
    Myoclonic seizures Myoclonic seizures usually appear as sudden brief spasmodic movements or jerks of arms and legs.
    Tonic-clonic crisis. Tonic-clonic seizures, previously known as "grand mal seizures" (major epilepsy), are the most severe epileptic seizure type and can cause abrupt loss of consciousness, body stiffness and jerking, and sometimes loss of bladder control or bite of the tongue.


 When to see the doctor Seek immediate medical help in the following cases:

    The seizure lasts more than five minutes.

   Breathing or knowledge does not return once the seizure ends.

   A second seizure occurs immediately.

     You have a high fever

   You suffer from heat exhaustion.

   You are pregnant. 

  Do you have diabetes. 

  You suffered an injury during the seizure. If you have a seizure for the first time, seek medical advice. Request a Consultation at Mayo Clinic Causes The nerve cells of the brain (neurons) create, send and receive electrical impulses that allow them to communicate with each other. Any factor that alters these communication channels can cause a seizure. The most frequent cause of seizures is epilepsy. However, not all people who have seizures have epilepsy. Sometimes, seizures are caused by:   

High fever, which may be associated with an infection, such as meningitis 

  Lack of sleep  

 Low blood sodium (hyponatremia) that can occur with diuretic therapy  

 Medications, such as certain painkillers, antidepressants or smoking cessation therapies, that lower the threshold for seizures  

 Cranial trauma that causes bleeding in an area of ​​the brain  

 Stroke  

 Brain tumor 

  Illegal or recreational drugs, such as amphetamines or cocaine   

Excessive alcohol consumption in times of abstinence or extreme intoxication Complications Having seizures at certain times can cause dangerous circumstances for you or for other people. You could take the risk of having: 

  Falls If you suffer a fall during a seizure, you can hurt your head or break a bone.  

 He drowned. If you have a seizure while swimming or taking a bath, you run the risk of drowning by accident. 

  Car accidents. A seizure that causes loss of consciousness or control can be dangerous if you are driving a car or operating machinery. 

  Complications in pregnancy. Seizures during pregnancy can be dangerous for both mother and baby, and certain antiepileptic drugs increase the risk of birth defects. If you have epilepsy and plan to become pregnant, work with your doctor so that you can adjust your medications and control your pregnancy as needed. 

   Emotional health problems. People who have seizures are more likely to have psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety. The problems can be the result of difficulties in dealing with the disease and the side effects of the medications.