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Seizures occur as a result of bursts of uncontrolled electrical activities in the brain. They can temporarily affect how the brain works and lead to unconsciousness or your body shaking uncontrollably. Having a seizure does not mean you have epilepsy. Up to 10% of people worldwide have one seizure during their lifetime. Read to find out more about the meaning, types, causes and management of seizures.
Seizures are episodes of abnormal electrical activities in the brain that happen quickly. Different parts of the brain can be the site of such episodes. Seizures can vary in frequency, from less than one per year to several episodes per day. Seizures can also vary from the briefest lapses of muscle jerks to severe and prolonged uncontrollable shaking of the body (convulsions). One seizure does not signify epilepsy, though epilepsy is the most common cause of seizure characterized by recurrent unpredictable seizures.
The types of seizures are classified based on a few key factors, including where the seizures begin, the level of awareness during a seizure and other features of seizures.
Focal seizures describe abnormal electrical activity in one area of the brain, it can occur with or without the loss of consciousness:
Seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain are referred to as generalized seizures. The common subtypes of generalized seizures include:
Seizures can have different symptoms depending on the type of seizure, possible symptoms may include:
Seizures occur as a result of the sudden burst of electrical signals in the brain, anything that disturbs the brain can lead to seizures. In most cases, it is not clear why this happens. Some examples include:
Diagnosing the underlying cause of seizures is difficult because some other more common conditions such as migraine or panic attacks can lead to similar symptoms. The causes of seizures often cannot be confirmed until patients have had more than one episode of seizure.
Doctors will review the medical history thoroughly and perform a comprehensive neurological examination. Some tests may be recommended to determine the cause and evaluate how likely it is that a recurrence of the seizure will happen.
Tests used to aid the diagnosis of seizures include:
Depending on the type and causes of seizures, management options will be different. Some people will have treatment for life, but some might be able to stop if the symptoms of seizures disappear over time.
Management of seizures includes:
If you know someone who is at risk of having seizures, it would be helpful to know what to do if you witness someone having a seizure.
To help someone during a seizure, do the following measures:
Having a seizure can lead to circumstances that are dangerous, complications include:
The most common cause of seizures is epilepsy, but seizure does not signify epilepsy. Other causes of seizures include alcohol withdrawal, electrolytes imbalance, high fever which can be associated with infection such as encephalitis and meningitis, brain tumour, drug abuse, low blood glucose level and a stroke.
There is no absolute cure for seizures. However, depending on the type and underlying cause of seizures, management options such as anti-epileptic drugs, surgery or electrical stimulation therapy can reduce the frequency of seizures. In some cases, people can grow out epilepsy altogether.
The best way to prevent seizures is to identify and avoid the triggers. For example to avoid substance misuse, protect yourself from head injuries, reduce alcohol consumption and take the antiepileptic medications as prescribed.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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