Contents
In this article, we will take a look at:
- What is a seizure?
- How does a seizure occur?
- Who is prone to the seizure?
- Symptoms of a seizure
- Diagnosis of seizure
- Complications of seizure
- Treatment for seizure
You can click on any of the links above to navigate to the section of your interest.
What is a seizure?
Sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain lead to changed behaviour, body movements, and consciousness. This is known as a seizure. Most seizures last for 30 seconds to 2 minutes. However, if they last longer, that’s a medical emergency.
Patients with a history of head injury, meningitis, and previous seizures are at higher risk. There are two main types of seizures:
Focal seizures: It affects only one part of the brain. it can be accompanied by loss of consciousness sometimes.
Generalized seizures: These involve the whole brain.
If someone gets seizures frequently, it is termed epilepsy.
How does a seizure occur?
Nerve cells or neurons are responsible for the transfer of electrical impulses to and from the brain. all that we see, smell, hear and perceive are communicated through these nerve cells. We can take them as the electrical wiring of the house. When anything disrupts this flow of information, the brain begins to function differently giving rise to seizures.
A seizure happens in 3 phases:
Aura: It is a small partial seizure that alters the sense of smell, vision, perception, hearing and also emotions.
Ictus: It is the phase when the actual seizure happens.
Postictal phase: It is the post-seizure phase. The person feels disoriented and drowsiness.
Who is prone to a seizure?
You are prone to getting seizures if you have
- Meningitis
- Stroke
- Brain tumour
- Head trauma
- Genetic predisposition
- Alzheimer's disease
- Pregnancy
- Alcoholic or drug-addict
What are the Symptoms of a seizure? How is Seizure Diagnosed?
The following are the symptoms of a seizure:
- Staring spell
- Temporary confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Uncontrolled jerking movements of arms and legs
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Repetitive blinking
- Eyes roll up
- Head Bobbing
- Dilated pupils
- Rapid heartbeat
- Excessive salivation
Diagnosis
Doctors go for the neurological examination to assess the mental condition of the patient. They usually test for motor skills and mental functions. They may also suggest a blood test to confirm if the seizures are because of diseases like meningitis. If the doctor detects abnormal brain functions, they may suggest EEG, CT scan, fMRI, PET, SPECT, and various neuropsychological tests. Since seizures can start from any part of the brain, it becomes important to pinpoint the origin. For this, the doctors use analytical tools like SPM, curry analysis, and MEG.
What are the complications of seizure?
Seizures can affect any age group. If left untreated, they can be life-threatening. Some of the complications related to it are:
- Difficulty in learning in kids.
- Permanent brain damage.
- Aspiration pneumonia.
- Psychological issues.
- Pregnancy complications.
- Injuries from fall, disorientation, cuts while doing daily works like walking down stairs or driving. Side effects associated with the medicines most commonly kidney damage.
What is the treatment for seizures?
Doctors avoid treating someone with just a single case of a seizure. In many cases, that is an isolated incident and never again happens in life. However, if you have a recurrent case of seizures, the doctor may opt for medicines or surgery. Seizures are a complex disease. It is hard to determine which part of the brain is involved. So, doctors go for the permutation and combination of the drugs to find the right one for you.
Basically, seizures are treated with
- Medicines
- Surgery: Surgical removal of the part of the brain where seizures originate.
- Responsive neurostimulation: an electrical stimulator implanted in the brain detects the brain activity and stops seizures.
- Deep brain stimulation: Electrodes are implanted in the brain that regulates neural simulations.
- Vagus nerve stimulation: Vagus nerve houses a device that reduces seizures.
- Dietary therapy: Ketogenic diet prevents seizures.
Questions answered by trusted doctors
Did you know?
What causes seizures
A new technique called magnetoencephalography precisely targets the area of the brain that causes seizures.
Seizures in India
About 10 million people in India suffer from some kind of seizures.
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It's one of episodes.
Please don't worry