How do I know if I had a seizure?
- Suddenly waking up on the floor no recall of a fall (whether at home or in public).
- Waking up either in bed, chair on the floor with a headache.
- Loss of colour vision or seeing everything in “black & white”
- Loss or vision in the context of every thing blurred.
- Concussion (where they have hit something or has they fell to the floor).
What are the early warning signs of a seizure?
- difficulty breathing or stopped breathing
- high fever
- loss of consciousness that continues after the seizure has ended
- traumatic injuries from seizure activity
- seizures last more than 2 minutes
- if you or the person having the seizure has diabetes
- if you or the person having the seizure is pregnant
What are the early signs of seizures?
These types of seizures produce many common seizure symptoms, such as:
- rapid eye movement
- loss of consciousness
- muscle spasms
- crying out
- falling to the ground
What are the symptoms after a seizure?
Symptoms may include:
- Dilated pupils
- Sweating, flushed skin
- Nausea
- Remaining frozen and unable to respond to others
- Unusual, jerking movements involving the face, foot, and arm
- Muscle contractions affecting one side of the body, followed by relaxation
- Problems with hearing
- Hallucinations; a feeling of something crawling on the skin
- Distortion of sense of taste or smell
Can a doctor tell if you've had a seizure?
Electroencephalogram (EEG) – Using electrodes attached to your head, your doctors can measure the electrical activity in your brain. This helps to look for patterns to determine if and when another seizure might occur, and it can also help them rule out other possibilities.
Is there a way to tell if someone has had a seizure?
Seizure signs and symptoms may include: Temporary confusion. A staring spell. Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs.
How long after a seizure can it be detected?
If performed within 24-48 hours of a first seizure, EEG shows substantial abnormalities in about 70% of cases. The yield may be lower with longer delays after the seizure. If the standard EEG is negative, sleep-deprived EEG will detect epileptiform discharges in an additional 13-31% of cases.
What does a mini seizure look like?
Absence seizures involve brief, sudden lapses of consciousness. They're more common in children than in adults. Someone having an absence seizure may look like he or she is staring blankly into space for a few seconds. Then, there is a quick return to a normal level of alertness.
What are the 4 stages of a seizure?
The four phases of seizure are:Prodromal.Early ictal (the “aura”)Ictal.Postictal.
How long do seizures usually last?
Although seizures seem to last a long time, they usually last less than 3 minutes. A seizure can be scary to watch, especially if you've never seen one before. A seizure temporarily interferes with muscle control, movement, speech, vision, or awareness.
How do doctors check for seizures?
An electroencephalogram (EEG). In this test, doctors attach electrodes to your scalp with a paste-like substance. The electrodes record the electrical activity of your brain, which shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording. The EEG may reveal a pattern that tells doctors whether a seizure is likely to occur again.
Should you go to the hospital after a seizure?
Call 911 or seek emergency medical help for seizures if: A seizure lasts more than five minutes. Someone experiences a seizure for the first time. Person remains unconsciousness after a seizure ends.
What triggers a seizure?
Missed medication, lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and menstruation are some of the most common triggers, but there are many more. Flashing lights can cause seizures in some people, but it's much less frequent than you might imagine.
What does a silent seizure look like?
Typical Absence Seizures The person suddenly stops all activity. It may look like he or she is staring off into space or just has a blank look. The eyes may turn upwards and eyelids flutter. The seizures usually last less than 10 seconds.
What happens before a seizure?
Seizure warning signs before the first 'full-blown' seizures These warning signs may include feeling “funny” or dizzy, or having jerking and twitching for several years. Other signs include fainting, headaches, vomiting, losing sensation in a certain parts of the body, daydreaming, and blackouts.
Can you stop a seizure before it happens?
In cases where the aura is a smell, some people are able to fight off seizures by sniffing a strong odor, such as garlic or roses. When the preliminary signs include depression, irritability, or headache, an extra dose of medication (with a doctor's approval) may help prevent an attack.
Can a blood test tell if you had a seizure?
The blood test, which must be used within 10 to 20 minutes after a seizure, can identify the types of seizures called generalized tonic-clonic seizures and complex partial seizures in both adults and older children. The level of prolactin in the blood increases after these types of seizures occur.
Can an EEG detect past seizures?
An EEG can usually show if you are having a seizure at the time of the test, but it can't show what happens to your brain at any other time. So even though your test results might not show any unusual activity it does not rule out having epilepsy.
Can you see a seizure on an MRI?
People sometimes think that imaging tests such as an EEG, CT scan or an MRI will determine that they have had a seizure. However, information from tests alone can't always confirm that a seizure has occurred, or that the person has epilepsy.
Can you tell if you had a seizure in your sleep?
Signs you had a seizure in your sleep Falling out of bed. Waking up with bruises that were not there before. Feeling confused or having a headache the next morning. Wetting the bed.
If you had your first seizure, you should see a doctor immediately
If you think you had a seizure for the first time, what should you do? If you believe you had your first seizure, you should go to the emergency room. Read on for more tips about seizures, what they mean, and what to do.
How do I know if I had a seizure?
Seizures don’t always look the way television and movies show them: a person violently shaking, etc. Although some seizures a person to collapse, have muscle spasms in many parts of the body, and lose consciousness, there are more subtle seizures as well. Sometimes, a person might blink rapidly or stare into space.
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What causes seizures?
Epilepsy can be caused by other conditions that affect the brain such as stroke, brain tumors or head injuries. Many times, the cause is not known. You should always see a doctor as soon as possible after your first seizure.
How are seizures treated?
It depends on what kind of seizures you have, their frequency and whether the cause is known. There are some medicines a doctor might give you. You can also manage epilepsy by:
How many stages of a seizure are there?
Stages of a seizure. Seizures occur in stages for most people. Usually, there are four stages, and they are: prodrome. aura. ictal. post-ictal. The prodrome and the aura typically occur just before or at the start of a seizure, and signs vary from person to person. The middle, or active, part of the seizure is the ictal phase, ...
What is the middle of a seizure called?
The middle, or active, part of the seizure is the ictal phase , and the period immediately following a seizure is called the post-ictal period.
How to prevent seizures?
This may help you take measures to prevent seizures. Be sure you are in a safe place when your seizure begins. Have a seizure action plan. Alert those around you that you are having a seizure.
How long does the prodromal phase last?
The prodromal phase can last anywhere from 10 minutes to several days before the onset of a seizure. Common symptoms include:
How to warn someone of a seizure?
Take the following steps if you have a warning that a seizure is about to begin: Help ease the person to the ground if they are standing. Clear the area of any objects on which they could become injured. Loosen clothing, especially around the neck. Stay with the person for the duration of the seizure.
How long should you stay with a seizure patient?
Stay with the person for the duration of the seizure.
How to stop a seizure from a car?
Avoid driving, ask someone to stay with you, or make sure you are sitting or laying down. If you’re cooking or near open flames, stop. Avoid heights or climbing. If you have children, make sure they’re prepared, or that you have someone with you to care for them during your seizure. Avoid water activities or swimming.
What is the middle phase of a seizure?
The middle phase is also known as the ictal phase. It is during this phase that the seizure actually occurs. The symptoms of phase two include: Vision issues including loss of vision, blurred vision, and seeing flashing lights.
How many phases of a seizure are there?
The signs and symptoms of a having a seizure vary by type of seizure and from individual to individual. There are three phases to a seizure, however, not all individuals will experience all three phases or be able to recognize them for what they are.
What is a generalized seizure?
Primary Generalized Seizures – These seizures occur when the excess electrical activity occurs in both sides of the brain at once. Often, there is a genetic aspect to these types of seizures.
What does it mean when you have a prodome?
Some individuals experience a Prodome – a change in emotions or behavior prior to the seizure. These indications may happen days before the onset of the seizure. When this happens, sufferers can take steps by taking their medication and being in a safe place to avoid injury during the seizure.
Can seizures be the same?
There are a number of factors that can cause seizures, some of which are still unknown. Furthermore, not all seizures are the same. In fact, the specific symptoms of a seizure can help medical professionals to diagnose the type of seizure you experienced. There are two primary types of seizures:
Can you identify a seizure?
Seizures can be terrifying, both for the person who experiences them and for those who witness them. Seizures occur in many different forms and can be difficult to identify. Knowing the common signs of having a seizure can help you to recognize seizure in yourself or friends and family.
What is the name of the condition where you fall down and drop your head?from mayoclinic.org
Atonic seizures. Atonic seizures , also known as drop seizures, cause a loss of muscle control, which may cause you to suddenly collapse, fall down or drop your head. Clonic seizures. Clonic seizures are associated with repeated or rhythmic, jerking muscle movements.
How long does a seizure last?from mayoclinic.org
Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency. Seizures are more common than you might think. Seizures can happen after a stroke, a closed head injury, an infection such as meningitis or another illness.
What does a seizure warning do?from medicalnewstoday.com
They act as a warning that a seizure will happen. Yet the exact symptoms will depend on which part of the brain the seizure starts in.
What are the risks of a seizure while pregnant?from mayoclinic.org
Pregnancy complications. Seizures during pregnancy pose dangers to both mother and baby, and certain anti-epileptic medications increase the risk of birth defects.
Why do we record seizures?from medicalnewstoday.com
If a person notices any of these symptoms, they may want to keep track of them. Recording details of symptoms and when they happen can help a doctor diagnose and treat seizures.
What does "sudden unexpected death" mean?from medicalnewstoday.com
Although very rare, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) does occur. This refers to deaths that have no other cause than the seizure itself.
What is it called when you have seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain?from mayoclinic.org
Seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain are called generalized seizures. Different types of generalized se izures include:
How long does a seizure last?
Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency. Seizures are more common than you might think. Seizures can happen after a stroke, a closed head injury, an infection such as meningitis or another illness.
What is it called when you have seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain?
Seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain are called generalized seizures. Different types of generalized se izures include:
How many hours apart can you have two seizures?
It can cause changes in your behavior, movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness. Having two or more seizures at least 24 hours apart that aren't brought on by an identifiable cause is generally considered to be epilepsy. There are many types of seizures, which range in symptoms and severity. Seizure types vary by where in the brain ...
What is a temporary confusion spell?
Temporary confusion. A staring spell. Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs. Loss of consciousness or awareness. Cognitive or emotional symptoms, such as fear, anxiety or deja vu. Doctors generally classify seizures as either focal or generalized, based on how and where abnormal brain activity begins.
What causes low blood sodium?
Low blood sodium (hyponatremia), which can happen with diuretic therapy. Medications, such as certain pain relievers, antidepressants or smoking cessation therapies, that lower the seizure threshold. Head trauma that causes an area of bleeding in the brain. Abnormalities of the blood vessels in the brain.
What to do if you have a seizure for the first time?
If you experience a seizure for the first time, seek medical advice.
What is a focal seizure?
Focal seizures. Focal seizures result from abnormal electrical activity in one area of your brain. Focal seizures can occur with or without loss of consciousness: Focal seizures with impaired awareness. These seizures involve a change or loss of consciousness or awareness that feels like being in a dream.
What is the first phase of a focal tonic clonic seizure?
It used to be called a secondary generalized seizure. It involves two phases. The first phase is called the tonic phase. It causes muscle stiffening.
How long does a febrile seizure last?
This affects the whole body and lasts less than 15 minutes. Only one seizure occurs in 24 hours. Complex febrile seizure. This seizure is limited to one body part or lasts more than 15 minutes. It may happen multiple times in 24 hours. Febrile seizures tend to run in families.
What causes sudden muscle jerking without impaired consciousness?
A myoclonic seizure causes sudden muscle jerking without impaired consciousness. It typically involves muscles on both sides of the body.
What is a GTC?
Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTC) Generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTC), previously called a grand mal seizure, begins on both sides of the brain. It’s different from a focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure, which starts on one side and then spreads. It consists of two stages.
How do you know if you have a seizure?
They may also involve involuntary laughing, blank staring, or hand motions. If someone is having a seizure, clear the area and guide them slowly to the floor.
How many seizures do you have in your lifetime?
Some people only have one seizure in their lifetime. Recognizing the different symptoms of seizures can help you determine the type. Read on to learn how seizures are classified, which symptoms they cause, and what to do if a seizure occurs.
What is a focal seizure?
Focal seizures. In a focal seizure, the abnormal electrical activity starts in one area of the brain. This used to be called a partial seizure. Focal seizures are common. Approximately 60 percent of people with epilepsy have focal seizures.