Epilepsy is a neurological condition or seizure disorder that affects the nervous system. Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder that can affect people of all ages. However, in many cases, the cause of the disorder is unknown. In other cases, epilepsy can be the result of a brain injury, stroke, brain tumor, or a central nervous system infection.
Unpredictable seizure activity, epilepsy can cause other health problems once it is detected and where in the brain seizures begin. There is a broad spectrum of conditions with a wide range of seizure types that can be controlled, varying from person to person. Epilepsy has many different effects on a person, based on the type of seizures, and any other medical conditions that they have. Many people with epilepsy are more than likely to have more than one type of seizure, and other symptoms of neurological problems, therefore making it more difficult to control.
Unpredictable seizure activity, epilepsy can cause other health problems once it is detected and where in the brain seizures begin. There is a broad spectrum of conditions with a wide range of seizure types that can be controlled, varying from person to person. Epilepsy has many different effects on a person, based on the type of seizures, and any other medical conditions that they have. Many people with epilepsy are more than likely to have more than one type of seizure, and other symptoms of neurological problems, therefore making it more difficult to control.
What's a Seizure?
A seizure is identified as a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain. Not labeled as a disease but a disorder that affects a person’s actions or appearance. In many cases, during a seizure, the person is staring. Based on the type of seizure, movement, and presentations can include shakiness, collapsing, or become unaware of what is going on around them. Varying on the type, seizures may go unnoticed while others can be disabling.
During a seizure, the brain has complex chemical changes in the nerve cells, caused by the surge of electrical activity. Brain cells will either continue or stop sending messages to and from other brain cells. Usually, there’s a balance of cells that excite and those that can prevent these messages. During a seizure, there can be either too much or too little activity. This causes an imbalance between exciting and stopping the action of the cells. The chemical activities can then create a surge of electrical activity, resulting in a seizure.
During a seizure, the brain has complex chemical changes in the nerve cells, caused by the surge of electrical activity. Brain cells will either continue or stop sending messages to and from other brain cells. Usually, there’s a balance of cells that excite and those that can prevent these messages. During a seizure, there can be either too much or too little activity. This causes an imbalance between exciting and stopping the action of the cells. The chemical activities can then create a surge of electrical activity, resulting in a seizure.
Type of Epileptic Seizures
Generalized Seizures: Seizures which a sudden surge of electrical activity occurs in the brain, everywhere at once. These types of seizures include:
Partial Seizures: Seizures which a sudden surge of electrical activity occurs in the brain, beginning in one location spot of the brain. These types of seizures include:
Identifying the Difference
Epileptic Seizure: Seizures caused by a sudden change of electrical activity in the brain.
Non-Epileptic (Pseudo-Seizures): Seizures that are caused by stress, anxiety, depression, or an emotional outburst from outside activities.
Generalized Seizures: Seizures which a sudden surge of electrical activity occurs in the brain, everywhere at once. These types of seizures include:
- Absence Seizures (Formally known as: Petit Mal Seizures): An uncommon type of seizure triggered without any warning. The patient looks as if they are daydreaming and return to their regular activity without knowing the seizure had even occurred.
- Atonic Seizures: Beginning in the same place as a myoclonic seizure, patients experience a sudden change in muscle tone and often suffer from either atonic, myoclonic or both types of seizures. Only differences is an atonic seizure can cause the muscles to go limps, where the patient’s body may fall to the ground causing other injuries.
- Clonic Seizures: During a clonic seizure, the patient’s elbow, head and legs will flex, then relax rapidly at first, but the frequency of the spasms will gradually subside until they cease altogether.
- Myoclonic Seizures: “Myo” Meaning to muscle, “clonic” meaning to jerk, occurs in the area of the brain where the stem responsible for increasing and decreasing muscle movement are close together. Patients experiencing sudden dramatic changes in muscle tone will often suffer from either atonic, myoclonic or from both, reacting from a single jolt of electricity.
- Tonic Seizures: Seizures which the patient will encounter sudden stiffness and loses consciousness.
- Tonic-Clonic Seizures (Formally known as: Grand Mal Seizures): The combination of a clonic and tonic seizure, both occurring at the same time. The frightening of all seizures where the patient encounters sudden stiffness and loses consciousness, causing them to fall to the ground. It then follows the signs a person will have during a clonic seizure of flexing elbows, head and legs, then relax rapidly at first.
Partial Seizures: Seizures which a sudden surge of electrical activity occurs in the brain, beginning in one location spot of the brain. These types of seizures include:
- Complex Partial Seizures: seizures which begin in any lobe of the brain, but cause alteration of awareness due to spreading of seizure activity. They often occur after a simple partial seizure, which is an aura or warning signing, that the seizure is to follow. Patients may stare blankly into space, or experience automatisms (non-purposeful, repetitive movements).
- Partial Seizures that Secondarily Generalize: Seizures which occur in more than one area on one side of the brain. They begin in one area and spread to other areas of the brain on the same side, there for, affecting other parts of the body.
- Simple Partial Seizures: Seizures which occur from just one side and part of the brain which the patient does not lose consciousness.
Identifying the Difference
Epileptic Seizure: Seizures caused by a sudden change of electrical activity in the brain.
Non-Epileptic (Pseudo-Seizures): Seizures that are caused by stress, anxiety, depression, or an emotional outburst from outside activities.
Seizure First-Aid
It is important for the public to know how to respond to all seizures. The first line of response when a person has a seizure is to provide general care and comfort and keep the person safe. Also try checking to see if the person has a medical alert identification, (such as a medical ID necklace or bracelet). For the majority of seizures, basic seizure first aid is all that may be needed. This will include the following:
Different type of first aid may need to be taken into consideration depending on the type of seizure the person is having. During a seizure, do not put anything in the person’s mouth. The muscles in the jaw and face will begin to tighten and the person might bite down. This can cause the person to break and swallow the object or break their teeth. It is not true that a person having a seizure can swallow their tongue. Efforts to hold the tongue down can cause injury. Also, don’t give the person any food, water or pills until that person is fully aware and alert. If given during a seizure, this can cause the person to swallow incorrectly and choke.
During a GENERALIZED SEIZURE, the person may fall. If the person falls during a seizure, gently lay them on their side to keep a clear airway. Avoid holding the person down to prevent any injuries. Place something soft, (such as a folded up jacket), under the head and loosen any tight clothing.
During a PARTIAL SEIZURE, speak calmly to the person. They still might be alert but unresponsive during a seizure. They may be confused and react differently to emotional or physical stimulation. The behavior of the person may change. This can include screaming, kicking, ripping up papers, disrobing, sexual-like movements, and, rarely, masturbation. Stay with the person to prevent any future injuries.
Call for Emergency Medical Help
•A seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer.
•One seizure occurs right after another without the person regaining consciousness or coming to between seizures.
•Seizures occur closer together than usual for that person.
•Breathing becomes difficult or the person appears to be choking.
•The seizure occurs in water.
•Injury may have occurred.
•The person asks for medical help.
Aftermath
A series of non-stop epileptic seizures can lead to depression and emotional pain for the patient. It is essential to respect and give the patient their space during recovery while monitoring them in the distance. Ideally, the patient will need some time to rest in a quiet area and, someone who knows the patient well can check to see how they are feeling. A person with epilepsy should have a particular person to talk to and open up freely about what they had gone through. This is especially important for those who begin to have epileptic seizures immediately one after another.
- STAY WITH THE PERSON: When a person goes into a seizure, stay with that person and monitor the situation until seizure passes and the person is fully alert. Move away any hard or sharp objects from the person. Seizures are unpredictable and can cause other injuries to occur.
- THE LENGTH OF THE SEIZURE: Have someone around with a watch time the length of the seizure. Seizures usually last for a few minutes but if it last longer than 5 minutes, contact emergency help.
- KEEP OTHERS AWAY: Explain to others around you to stay away and to give the person their space and a clear airway during a seizure. Avoid grabbing or holding the person down during a seizure to prevent any injuries.
- KEEP NOISE LEVEL DOWN: Loud noise during a seizure can cause sensitivity to hearing. If loud noise begins to erupt during or towards the ending of an epileptic seizure, the seizure can immediately transition into a non-epileptic (also known as a pseudo-seizure). The signs of a non-epileptic seizure can include falling and uncontrollable shaking, screaming, crying, and body movements. If an epileptic seizure transitions to a non-epileptic seizure, it will become challenging to help control the person without hurting them. If someone attempts to put something into the person's ear, it can cause injuries to the caregiver.
- BE SENSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE: Seizures can be frightening especially if being witnessed for the first time. The person may be embarrassed or confused once alerted. Let the person know that everything is okay and offer to stay with the person until they are ready to go about their daily activity.
Different type of first aid may need to be taken into consideration depending on the type of seizure the person is having. During a seizure, do not put anything in the person’s mouth. The muscles in the jaw and face will begin to tighten and the person might bite down. This can cause the person to break and swallow the object or break their teeth. It is not true that a person having a seizure can swallow their tongue. Efforts to hold the tongue down can cause injury. Also, don’t give the person any food, water or pills until that person is fully aware and alert. If given during a seizure, this can cause the person to swallow incorrectly and choke.
During a GENERALIZED SEIZURE, the person may fall. If the person falls during a seizure, gently lay them on their side to keep a clear airway. Avoid holding the person down to prevent any injuries. Place something soft, (such as a folded up jacket), under the head and loosen any tight clothing.
During a PARTIAL SEIZURE, speak calmly to the person. They still might be alert but unresponsive during a seizure. They may be confused and react differently to emotional or physical stimulation. The behavior of the person may change. This can include screaming, kicking, ripping up papers, disrobing, sexual-like movements, and, rarely, masturbation. Stay with the person to prevent any future injuries.
Call for Emergency Medical Help
•A seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer.
•One seizure occurs right after another without the person regaining consciousness or coming to between seizures.
•Seizures occur closer together than usual for that person.
•Breathing becomes difficult or the person appears to be choking.
•The seizure occurs in water.
•Injury may have occurred.
•The person asks for medical help.
Aftermath
A series of non-stop epileptic seizures can lead to depression and emotional pain for the patient. It is essential to respect and give the patient their space during recovery while monitoring them in the distance. Ideally, the patient will need some time to rest in a quiet area and, someone who knows the patient well can check to see how they are feeling. A person with epilepsy should have a particular person to talk to and open up freely about what they had gone through. This is especially important for those who begin to have epileptic seizures immediately one after another.
