A seizure is a sudden and uncontrolled electrical disturbance that happens within the central nervous system and causes quite a lot of totally different behaviors, actions or ranges of consciousness. Seizures can fluctuate broadly in severity and length and are brought on by a number of elements. Epilepsy is one situation that may set off a seizure.
Epilepsy is a mind dysfunction that’s typically 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 that there are greater than 3.4 million folks nationwide who may expertise a seizure, since epilepsy is just one contributing issue. Epilepsy is a continual situation, and a few consultants estimate that there are a minimum of 1 million folks within the U.S. who’ve uncontrolled epilepsy, additionally known as drug-resistant epilepsy.2
In response to 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 learn to acknowledge what a seizure seems to be like and learn how to assist in case you’re a bystander. Since epilepsy isn’t the one cause an individual might 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 gaggle of neurological issues characterised by recurring seizures. Folks may be identified with epilepsy as youngsters or adults, and whereas the precise trigger isn’t solely identified, typically, 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.
In response to 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 that it impacts extra folks than cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s illness, a number of sclerosis and ALS mixed.
In response to the CDC,6 the estimated variety of folks with energetic 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. Practically something that may disrupt neurological communication may 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 resembling amphetamines or cocaine, excessive alcohol intoxication or withdrawal from alcohol and medicines may set off a seizure.8
Totally different Signs for Totally different Kinds of Seizures
The mind is a phenomenally advanced organ and when the neurological connections are disrupted, the signs that outcome can fluctuate. 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
|
Staring into house |
Stiffening of the physique and extremities |
Jerking actions within the legs and arms |
|
Respiration issues |
Lack of consciousness |
Lack of bowel and bladder management |
|
Not responding to noise or phrases |
Showing confused |
Rhythmic nodding of the top |
|
Durations of staring and fast eye blinking |
Cognitive or emotional adjustments resembling concern and nervousness |
Focal seizures have an effect on one space of the mind and had 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 at least one or two muscle teams in shut proximity.
Throughout advanced focal seizures, an individual loses consciousness, however they seem to look conscious and awake. The individual could not go out, however they aren’t conscious of what is going on on round them. Folks having a fancy focal seizure will typically 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 had 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 aren’t the most typical sort of seizure. Tonic-clonic seizures trigger a sudden lack of consciousness with a lack of bladder management and a mix 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 abruptly to the bottom. Dropping or falling may cause different important accidents, particularly if the individual hits their head or strikes one thing sharp or onerous. Myoclonic seizures set off transient jerks or twitches within the legs and arms however normally no lack of consciousness.
Lastly, it’s possible you’ll observe absence seizures that had been as soon as known as petit mal seizures. These seizures occur most frequently in youngsters. You may discover that the individual is staring into house or making delicate physique actions. Some of these seizures can last as long as 10 seconds and an individual could have a number of hundred every day.
Three Phases of a Seizure
There are three distinct phases of a seizure. The primary is named the prodromal section, through 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
|
A way of impending doom or concern |
A sound or a tone that’s comparable every time earlier than the seizure occurs |
|
Problem discovering phrases or forming clear ideas |
A sense of abdomen butterflies |
|
Listening to issues like you’re underwater |
Feeling like you’re in Alice in Wonderland, the place you’re feeling small and every thing else is massive or vice versa |
|
A sense of deja vu the place issues are acquainted or the alternative — every thing is unrecognizable |
The prodromal section is the primary section of a seizure.15 As soon as the seizure begins, the individual 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 depend upon the kind of seizure.
The final stage of a seizure is named the postictal section. This may final for minutes or hours, additionally relying on the kind of seizure, the realm of the mind affected and the size of the seizure. Throughout the postictal section, persons are typically groggy, have issue with reminiscence, sore muscle groups and might have hassle speaking or writing. Some really feel nauseated, have a headache or could lose bladder management.
The right way to Assist if You Are a Bystander
When you acknowledge the indicators and signs of somebody having a seizure, your main aim is to maintain the individual protected. Seizure-related accidents can occur when an individual falls to the bottom or repeatedly jerks, putting their head towards one thing onerous.16 One of the best factor to do is to assist them to the ground. Don’t attempt to hold them standing or in a chair.
As soon as they’re mendacity on the ground, place one thing delicate 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 necessary you don’t restrain their arms or legs, because the muscle contractions may 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 attempt some other methods. It is vital to maintain monitor of how lengthy the individual 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 individual has a seizure within the water, has issue respiratory or if they’re pregnant. When you be taught that is their first seizure, you must also name emergency companies.
They might breathe intermittently whereas they’re actively convulsing. When you can roll them safely to their facet whereas they’re jerking, place them within the restoration place. When you 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 probability of staying open and any vomit will drain from the mouth by gravity.17 Start by eradicating eyeglasses if the individual 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 case you consider there isn’t any spinal harm. Begin by kneeling at their facet. Transfer the arm that’s closest to you at a proper angle to their physique with the elbow bent and their palm going through upward. Convey the opposite hand throughout their physique and place it on the facet of the cheek that is subsequent to you.
Whereas holding their hand towards their cheek, pull the far leg up so the foot is flat on the ground. Then, protecting the again of their hand pressed towards their cheek, pull on the far leg in order that their physique rolls in direction of you and on to their facet. Presently, you possibly can 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 individual begins progressively recovering and waking up, they will 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 go away or eat or drink till they’re absolutely awake and alert. Stick with them till they’re absolutely conscious of what is going on on and you’ll inform them what occurred.18
When you be taught it was their first seizure, name emergency companies to allow them to be absolutely 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 realize what to do, you possibly can assist stop additional harm and make sure the individual is seen by emergency companies when it is wanted.
