Topic Overview
The brain
controls how the body moves by sending out small electrical signals through the
nerves to the muscles. Seizures, or convulsions, occur when abnormal signals
from the brain change the way the body functions.
Seizures are
different from person to person. Some people have only slight shaking of a hand
and do not lose
consciousness. Other people may become
unconscious and have violent shaking of the entire
body.
Shaking of the body, either mild or violent, does not always
occur with seizures. Some people who have seizures have symptoms before the seizure (auras) or briefly lose touch with
their surroundings and appear to stare into space. Although the person is
awake, he or she does not respond normally. Afterwards, the person does not
remember the episode.
Not all body shaking is caused by seizures.
Many medical conditions can cause a type of body shaking that usually affects
the hands and head (tremors).
A small number of
people will have only one seizure during their lifetime. A single seizure
usually lasts less than 3 minutes and is not followed by a second seizure. Any
normally healthy person can have a single seizure under certain conditions. For
instance, a sharp blow to the head may cause a seizure. Having one seizure does
not always mean that a serious health problem exists. But if you have a
first-time seizure, you should be checked by your doctor. It is important to
rule out a serious illness that may have caused the seizure. Fever seizures
(febrile convulsions) are the most common cause of a single seizure, especially
in children. For more information, see the topic
Fever Seizures.
Causes of seizures
Epilepsy is a
nervous system problem that causes seizures. It can develop at any age. For more information, see the topic
Epilepsy.
A seizure can be a symptom of
another health problem, such as:
Eclampsia is pregnancy-related seizure activity that
is usually caused by high blood pressure. It is a life-threatening condition
for both a mother and her baby (fetus) because during a seizure, the fetus's
oxygen supply is drastically reduced. Eclampsia is more likely to occur after
the 20th week of pregnancy. For more information, see the topic
Preeclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy.
Nonepileptic seizure (NES) is a condition that can cause seizure-like activity. NES is
characterized by a loss of or change in physical function without a
central nervous system problem. The loss or change
causes periods of physical activity or inactivity that resemble epileptic
seizures. NES can be related to a mental health problem. The physical
symptoms may be caused by emotional conflicts or stress. The symptoms usually
appear suddenly and at times of extreme emotional stress.
Protect a person during a seizure
No matter what
caused the seizure, you can help the person having a seizure.
A person who has had a seizure should not drive, swim, climb
ladders, or operate machinery until he or she has seen a doctor about the
seizure.
Treatment
Treatment of a seizure depends on what has
caused the seizure.
Check Your Symptoms
Home Treatment
If you witness a
seizure, your account of the seizure will help a
doctor diagnose and treat the person. Try to stay calm. Pay close attention to
what happens during and after the seizure.
- During a seizure:
- Protect the person from injury.
- Keep him or her from falling if you can,
or try to guide the person gently to the floor.
- Try to move
furniture or other objects that might injure the person during the
seizure.
- If the person is having a seizure and is on the ground
when you arrive, put something soft under his or her head.
- Do not force anything, including your fingers,
into the person's mouth. Putting something in the person's mouth may cause
injuries to him or her, such as chipped teeth or a fractured jaw. You could
also get bitten.
- Turn the person onto his or her side, with the
mouth down, unless the person resists being moved.
- Do not try to
hold down or move the person.
- Try to stay calm.
- If the
person vomits, turn the person onto his or her side.
- Pay close
attention to what the person is doing so that you can describe the seizure to
rescue personnel or doctors.
- What kind of body movement
occurred?
- How long did the seizure last?
- How did the
person act immediately after the seizure?
- Are there any injuries
from the seizure?
- Time the length of the seizure, if
possible.
- After a seizure:
- Check the person for injuries.
- If
you could not turn the person onto his or her side during the seizure, do so
when the seizure ends and the person is more relaxed.
- If the person
is having trouble breathing, use your finger to gently clear his or her mouth
of any vomit or saliva.
- Loosen tight clothing around the person's
neck and waist.
- Provide a safe area where the person can
rest.
- Do not give anything to eat or drink until the person is
fully awake and alert.
- Stay with the person until he or she is
awake and familiar with the surroundings. Most people will be sleepy or
confused after a seizure.
A person who has had a seizure should not drive, swim, climb
ladders, or operate machinery until he or she has seen a doctor about the
seizure and the doctor has said that the person is allowed to drive or operate
machinery.
Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home
treatment:
- A second seizure occurs.
- The
pattern of your seizures changes and you have a history of
epilepsy.
- Symptoms become more severe or frequent.
Prevention
Note: If you think
you may have a seizure disorder or are being evaluated for one, do not drive, operate heavy machinery, swim, climb ladders, or
participate in other potentially dangerous activities until you have been
specifically cleared to do these things by your doctor.
Many causes
of
seizures, such as some forms of
epilepsy, cannot be prevented. But head injury is
a common cause of seizures and epilepsy that you may be able to prevent. To
prevent a head injury:
- Wear your seat belt when you are in a motor
vehicle. Use
child car seats.
- Do not use alcohol or
other drugs before or during sports (such as soccer, football, horseback
riding, or bicycling) or when operating an automobile or other
equipment.
- Wear a helmet and other protective clothing whenever you
are bicycling, motorcycling, skating, kayaking, horseback riding, skiing,
snowboarding, or rock climbing.
- Wear a hard hat if you work in an
industrial or construction area.
- Do not dive into shallow or
unfamiliar water.
- Prevent falls at home by removing
hazards that might cause a fall.
If you are being treated for a seizure disorder:
- Be sure to follow your treatment plan. Taking too
little or too much of your medicine, abruptly stopping your medicine, or
changing your medicine schedule can cause seizures.
- Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, swim, climb ladders, or
participate in other potentially dangerous activities until you have been
specifically cleared to do these things by your doctor.
- Avoid
activities that might trigger a seizure, such as playing video games that have
flashing or flickering lights. In rare cases, the flashing lights and geometric
patterns of video games can trigger seizures in children.
Preparing For Your Appointment
You can help your
doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the
following questions:
- How was your health and behavior before the
seizure?
- Did you have any unusual symptoms before the seizure
(aura)?
- What happened during the seizure?
Ask the person who witnessed your seizure to either record this information for
you or come to your doctor's appointment with you.
- What kind of body movement
occurred?
- How long did the seizure last?
- How did the
person act immediately after the seizure?
- Are there any injuries
from the seizure?
- Have you ever had a seizure before? If so, what was
the diagnosis and how were the seizures treated?
- If you have
epilepsy:
- What seizure medicines have been
prescribed?
- Has the dosage of your seizure medicine changed
recently?
- Have you taken your seizure medicine exactly as
prescribed?
- Have you taken other prescription or nonprescription
medicines or consumed alcohol recently?
- Have you used any
alternative medicine products recently?
- When was your last
seizure?
- On the average, how often do you have a seizure?
- Have you had other health problems in the past 3
months?
- Have you ever had a
concussion (traumatic brain injury) in the past?
- How long ago?
- How severe was
it?
- Did you lose consciousness?
- What tests were
used to evaluate your head injury?
- Have you had problems with
headaches?
- Have you recently taken, stopped taking, or changed the
dose of any medicines, including nonprescription medicines or
illegal drugs?
- Have you suddenly reduced
or stopped drinking alcohol?
- Have you recently traveled to a rural
area or an undeveloped country?
- Do you have any
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms?
If possible, ask the person who witnessed your seizure to come
to your doctor's appointment with you. Be sure to ask your doctor what you can
do to prevent another seizure and what to do if you have another
seizure.
Credits
| By |
Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer |
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer |
H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Last Revised |
May 8, 2012 |
