What Are Seizures?

Seizures are temporary states that arise when irregular electrical activity occurs in the brain. They usually pass within minutes and aren't life-threatening, but they sometimes recur and always require medical attention for the affected individual. Although many seizures involve clear external signs, such as twitching, others are less noticeable and may involve only a brief period of staring.

Features

• The symptoms that accompany a seizure depend on which part of the brain has experienced odd electrical activity. However, signs generally include a sudden altered state of consciousness; changed emotions, sensations or vision; involuntary muscle movements or lack of control, such as convulsions and falling; and a metallic or bitter taste in the mouth. A seizure typically lasts from several minutes to approximately 15 minutes, and afterward, the individual usually goes into the postictal period, a deep state of sleep that shouldn't be interrupted.

Causes

• Though the reasons for some seizures are never determined, they're usually an indication of either a temporary situation or a chronic medical condition. The former include drug use, drug withdrawal and very high fevers, while the latter include brain defects, deterioration, infections, injuries and tumors; dementia; and strokes. Epilepsy is a major neurological disorder that leads to recurring seizures. Consequently, individuals who have more than one seizure should seek medical attention to determine if epilepsy is the cause.

Types

• The two categories of seizures are focal and generalized. Focal seizures initially involve a small section of the brain and then expand to other areas. They're further categorized as either complex (producing altered awareness or memory loss) or simple (not producing altered awareness or memory loss).
  Generalized seizures, also called generalized tonic-clonic seizures and grand mal seizures, involve the whole brain and affect the entire body. Lost consciousness, rigid muscles and severe spasms from contracting muscles often accompany this type. Petit mal seizures, alternatively called absence seizures, are short staring intervals caused by abnormal brain activity. They typically last no longer than 15 seconds.

Considerations

• There is no single method that prevents every type of seizure. Nonetheless, people prone to experiencing seizures can take precautions to decrease their likelihood, such as avoiding stress and recreational drugs, eating properly, exercising regularly, following instructions for prescription drugs and getting sufficient sleep. Individuals with uncontrolled seizures should take prescribed medication diligently, never drive a vehicle and avoid solitary activities like biking that could lead to bodily injury during a seizure.

Warnings

• In the event of a seizure, never force an object in the person's mouth to hold the tongue down because the item could harm the teeth or lead to other injuries. Those nearby shouldn't hold the person down to prevent movement. If vomiting begins, turn the individual on his side to keep his stomach contents from flowing backward into the lungs, which could cause choking. Finally, always call emergency services immediately if a person has a seizure for the first time, because seizures can indicate an underlying and potentially fatal medical condition, such as meningitis.