Symptoms
In a tonic seizure, the tone is greatly increased: the body, arms, or legs become suddenly stiff or tense. A person may be aware or have only a small change in awareness during a tonic seizure. They usually happen during sleep and usually involve all …
Causes
What happens during a tonic seizure? In a tonic seizure, the tone is greatly increased: the body, arms, or legs become suddenly stiff or tense. A person may be aware or have only a small change in awareness during a tonic seizure. They usually happen during sleep and usually involve all or most of the brain, affecting both sides of the body.
Prevention
what happens during a tonic seizure? A tonic seizure causes a sudden stiffness or tension in the muscles of the arms, legs or trunk. The stiffness lasts about 20 seconds and is most likely to happen during sleep. Tonic seizures that occur while the person is standing may cause them to fall. After the seizure, the person may feel tired or confused.
Complications
A tonic seizure causes a sudden stiffness or tension in the muscles of the arms, legs or trunk. The stiffness lasts about 20 seconds and is most likely to happen during sleep. Tonic seizures that occur while the person is standing may cause them to fall. After the seizure, the person may feel tired or confused.
What are some of the symtoms of having a seizure?
During the tonic phase: You lose consciousness, so you won’t be aware of what’s happening All your muscles go stiff, and if you’re standing you fall to the floor Air might push past your voice box, which can make a sound like you’re crying out You may bite down on …
What is the tonic stage of a seizure?
What Happens During a Seizure? Beginning:. Some people are aware of the beginning of a seizure, possibly as much as hours or days before it happens. Middle:. The middle of a seizure is often called the ictal phase. It’s the period of time from the first symptoms... Ending:. As the seizure ends, the ...
What are the 6 types of seizures?
Jan 07, 2020 · A tonic-clonic seizure is what most people think of when they think of a seizure. A tonic-clonic seizure usually begins on both sides of the brain, but can start in one side and spread to the whole brain. A person loses consciousness, muscles stiffen, and jerking movements are seen. Furthermore, can you die from a tonic clonic seizure? Tonic-clonic seizures are a severe …
What does an a tonic clonic seizure feel like?
Feb 02, 2020 · A tonic-clonic seizure is what most people think of when they think of a seizure. A tonic-clonic seizure usually begins on both sides of the brain, but can start in one side and spread to the whole brain. A person loses consciousness, muscles stiffen, and jerking movements are seen. Also, can tonic clonic seizures be fatal? Tonic-clonic seizures can be fatal. Death can …
Can you be conscious during a tonic seizure?
A person may be aware or have only a small change in awareness during a tonic seizure. They usually happen during sleep and usually involve all or most of the brain, affecting both sides of the body.Mar 27, 2017
What happens during a myoclonic seizure?
A myoclonic seizure causes sudden muscle jerking without impaired consciousness. It typically involves muscles on both sides of the body. Generally, these seizures last for 1 or 2 seconds. They often happen multiple times within a day or several days.Jun 4, 2021
Why do tonic seizures happen?
Common triggers for tonic seizures may include stress, lack of sleep, waking up, missed medications, drinking alcohol/alcohol withdrawal, some medications, illegal drug use, menstrual cycle or other hormonal changes, and others.Aug 4, 2021
Can you be awake during a tonic seizure?
You remain awake and aware while this happens. These seizures are sometimes known as "warnings" or "auras" because they can be a sign that another type of seizure is about to happen.
What should you do after a tonic clonic seizure?
What to Do After the SeizureDo not try to restrain the person. ... Try to keep the person in a safe place. ... Don't give water, pills or food to swallow until the person is awake. ... Rescue medicines that are placed inside the cheek can be given if recommended by their health care team.More items...•Jan 3, 2020
What should you not do during a tonic clonic seizure?
Do not hold the person down or try to stop his or her movements.Do not put anything in the person's mouth. This can injure teeth or the jaw. ... Do not try to give mouth-to-mouth breaths (like CPR). ... Do not offer the person water or food until he or she is fully alert.
Are tonic seizures serious?
A tonic-clonic seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes needs immediate medical help. Call 911 for emergency help. A seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes, or three seizures in a row without the person coming to between them, is a dangerous condition.Mar 15, 2017
Do tonic seizures hurt?
After a tonic-clonic seizure, you might have a headache and feel sore, tired and very unwell. You might feel confused, or have memory problems. You might go into a deep sleep. When you wake up, minutes or hours later, you might still have a headache, feel sore and have aching muscles.
What happens after a tonic seizure?
When the tonic-clonic seizure begins, the person loses consciousness and may fall. Strong tonic spasms of the muscles can force air out of the lungs, resulting in a cry or moan, even though the person is not aware of their surroundings. There may be saliva or foam coming from the mouth.
Do people remember seizures?
In focal aware seizures (FAS), previously called simple partial seizures, the person is conscious (aware and alert) and will usually know that something is happening and will remember the seizure afterwards. Some people find their focal aware seizures hard to put into words.Mar 15, 2020
What does a seizure feel like in your head?
You might also feel strange and experience tingling, anxiety, or déjà vu. If you lose consciousness during a seizure, you won't feel anything as it happens. But you might wake up feeling confused, tired, sore, or scared.Jun 23, 2021
Do tonic seizures cause brain damage?
Usually, a seizure does not cause any lasting damage to the brain. However, having many seizures, or having seizures that are particularly severe, may cause a person to become more forgetful or find it difficult to concentrate. People with epilepsy have an increased risk of developing depression.Nov 20, 2020
What is a tonic clonic seizure?
What You Need to Know. Tonic-clonic seizures involve both tonic (stiffening) and clonic (twitching or jerking) phases of muscle activity. Tonic-clonic seizures may start with a simple partial seizure or aura. The person may experience changes in sensation, mood or emotion leading up to the tonic-clonic seizure.
What is the name of the sensation that a person experiences when they have a seizure?
Aura. The seizure may start with a simple or complex partial seizure known as an aura. The person may experience abnormal sensations such as a particular smell, vertigo, nausea, or anxiety. If the person is familiar with having seizures, they may recognize the warning signs of a seizure about to begin.
What is a tonic clonic?
Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal) Seizures. Tonic-clonic seizures, formerly known as grand mal seizures, comprise two stages: a tonic phase and a clonic phase. These intense seizures can be frightening to experience or observe, as extreme muscle spasms may temporarily arrest breathing.
How long does it take for a person to jerk?
Jerking movements affect the face, arms and legs, becoming intense and rapid. After one to three minutes, the jerking movements slow down and the body relaxes, sometimes including the bowel or bladder. The person may let out a deep sigh and return to more normal breathing.
How long does it take for a tonic clonic to resolve?
Witnessing a person having a tonic-clonic seizure can be upsetting, but it’s important to remember that most seizures resolve on their own after one to three minutes. To offer assistance:
What to do after a seizure?
After a person’s first seizure, it is important to consult with a physician. Parents or family members who observe the seizure can note the details and help create a written report that the person can take to the doctor. A video recording of the event (if available) can also aid in diagnosis.
Can you swallow your tongue?
It is physically impossible to swallow one’s tongue, and putting things in the mouth may lead to injury. Time the seizure. A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is an emergency. Call 911. Calm reassurance can be helpful to a person who is recovering from a seizure.
What is a tonic clonic seizure?
A tonic-clonic seizure is the modern term for a grand mal seizure. If someone near you has a seizure: Do not put anything in the person’s mouth. Do not restrain them. Make sure the area around the person is clear of objects that could injure them. Treatment for tonic and clonic seizures may consist of medication, nerve stimulation, dietary therapy, ...
What is it called when you have a seizure in both halves of the brain?
A seizure that originates in both halves (hemispheres) of the brain simultaneously, causing stiffness or twitching throughout the body, is known as a generalized tonic or clonic seizure . A tonic or clonic seizure can also begin in one area of the brain (called a partial or focal seizure), affecting only one part of the body such as an arm or a leg.
What are the different types of seizures?
What You Need to Know 1 Tonic and clonic seizures can start on one side of the brain (partial or focal seizures), or on both sides of the brain simultaneously (generalized). 2 Tonic and clonic seizure activity can happen in the same seizure. A tonic-clonic seizure is the modern term for a grand mal seizure. 3 If someone near you has a seizure:#N#Do not put anything in the person’s mouth.#N#Do not restrain them.#N#Make sure the area around the person is clear of objects that could injure them.
What is a tonic clonic seizure?
Tonic-clonic seizures are the type of epileptic seizure most people recognise. In the past they were called grand-mal seizures. Tonic-clonic seizures can have a generalised onset, meaning they affect both sides of the brain from the start. When this happens, the seizure is called a generalised tonic-clonic or bilateral convulsive seizure.
What happens during the tonic phase?
During the tonic phase: You lose consciousness, so you won’t be aware of what’s happening. All your muscles go stiff, and if you’re standing you fall to the floor. Air might push past your voice box, which can make a sound like you’re crying out. You may bite down on your tongue or inside your mouth.
How long does a tonic clonic last?
Most tonic-clonic seizures last between one and 3 minutes. If a tonic-clonic seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes you may need emergency medical treatment.
How long does it take for a seizure to go away?
Some people feel better after an hour or 2, but for some people it can take several days to feel ‘back to normal’. Some people find they have temporary weakness or can’t move part of their body after they’ve had a seizure. This is called Todd’s paresis or Todd’s paralysis.
What is it called when you have a seizure on both sides?
If the seizure starts on one side of the brain and spreads to affect both sides, it’s called a focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure. If you have this type of seizure, you might get the symptoms of a focal seizure immediately before you lose consciousness. Examples of these symptoms are feeling frightened, having a rising sensation in your stomach or smelling something that’s not there. This can act as a warning that you’re about to have a tonic-clonic seizure. Some people call this warning an aura.
Who is Dr John Paul Leach?
Code: Epilepsy Action would like to thank Dr John Paul Leach, consultant neurologist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, for this contribution to this information. Dr Leach has declared no conflict of interest.
What happens to the brain during a seizure?
Anything that the brain does normally can also occur during a seizure when the brain is activated by seizure discharges. Some people call this activity “electrical storms” in the brain. Seizures have a beginning, middle, and end. Not all parts of a seizure may be visible or easy to separate from each other. Every person with seizures will not have ...
What is the first symptom of a seizure?
Aura: An aura or warning is the first symptom of a seizure and is considered part of the seizure. Often the aura is an indescribable feeling. Other times it’s easy to recognize and may be a change in feeling, sensation, thought, or behavior that is similar each time a seizure occurs.
How long before a seizure can you be aware of it?
Some people are aware of the beginning of a seizure, possibly as much as hours or days before it happens. On the other hand, some people may not be aware of the beginning and therefore have no warning.
What is the middle of a seizure?
The middle of a seizure is often called the ictal phase. It’s the period of time from the first symptoms (including an aura) to the end of the seizure activity, This correlates with the electrical seizure activity in the brain. Sometimes the visible symptoms last longer than the seizure activity on an EEG. This is because some of the visible ...
What does "dejà vu" mean?
Déjà vu (a feeling that a person, place or thing is familiar, but you've never experienced it before) Jamais vu (feeling that a person, place or thing is new or unfamiliar, but it's not) Smells. Sounds. Tastes. Visual loss or blurring. “Strange” feelings. Fear/panic (often negative or scary feelings) Pleasant feelings.
What does it mean when you can't talk?
Difficulty talking (may stop talking, make nonsense or garbled sounds, keep talking or speech may not make sense) Lack of movement or muscle tone (unable to move, loss of tone in neck and head may drop forward, loss of muscle tone in body and person may slump or fall forward)
Can you feel a seizure before it happens?
Prodrome: Some people may experience feelings, sensations, or changes in behavior hours or days before a seizure. These feelings are generally not part of the seizure, but may warn a person that a seizure may come.
