What Causes Seizures?

As a child I had friends who suffered this. Those days and even till date; people stigmatize people who suffer from this.

So let’s shed more light on this. 

Seizures, or convulsions, occur when abnormal signals from the brain change the way the body functions. Body movements  are controlled by the brain by sending out small electrical signals through the nerves to the muscles.

Seizures vary from person to person. Some people have only slight shaking of a hand and do not lose consciousness. Other people may become unconscious and have violent shaking of the entire body.

Some people who have seizures have symptoms before the seizure (sensations) or briefly lose touch with their surroundings and appear to stare into space. Although the person is awake, he or she does not respond normally. Afterwards, the person does not remember the episode.

But not all body shaking, either mild or violent, are caused by seizure. Many medical conditions can cause a type of body shaking that usually affects the hands and head (tremors).

A single seizure usually lasts less than 3 minutes and is not followed by a second seizure. Any normally healthy person can have a single seizure under certain conditions. For instance, a sharp blow to the head, may cause a seizure. Having one seizure does not always mean that a serious health problem exists. 

But if you have a first-time seizure, you should be checked by your doctor. It is important to rule out a serious illness that may have caused the seizure. Fever seizures (febrile convulsions) are the most common cause of a single seizure, especially in children.

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  Seizures can be caused by Epilepsy a nervous system problem. It can develop at any age.

A seizure can be a symptom of another health problem, like an extremely low blood sugar level in a person who has diabetes, or a  rapidly increasing fever (fever seizure), or an infection, such as meningitis or encephalitis, or a brain tumor or structural defect in the brain, such as an aneurysm, or even a congenital problem.

Also withdrawal from alcohol, prescription medicine, or illegal drugs can cause seizures too! 

      

Do you know that Eclampsia is a pregnancy-related seizure activity that is usually caused by high blood pressure. It is a life-threatening condition for both a mother and her baby (fetus) because during a seizure, the fetus's oxygen supply is drastically reduced. Eclampsia is more likely to occur after the 20th week of pregnancy. For more information, see the topic Preeclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy.

Nonepileptic seizure (NES), also called pseudoseizure, is a condition that can cause seizure-like activity. NES is characterized by a loss of or change in physical function without a central nervous system problem. The loss or change causes periods of physical activity or inactivity that resemble epileptic seizures. NES is usually related to a mental health problem. The physical symptoms may be caused by emotional conflicts or stress. The symptoms usually appear suddenly and at times of extreme emotional stress.

Seizures can be managed. Remain calm when managing a seizure patient. Anxiety is contagious, as long as you are calm, other bystanders will follow suit. Call or instruct someone to call the emergency number and communicate details of the incident.

Clear hard or sharp objects away from the vicinity of the victim. Seizures can be violent enough to injure a victim.

Loosen tight clothing around the neck, especially ties or collars. These may restrict breathing by blocking the airway.

Make a pillow and pad under victim’s head, then roll victim over to the left side; this can help sputum or vomit to drain out of the mouth away from the airway. Until medical help arrives, or until you can safely convey victim to the hospital.  Do Not Put Anything in the Victim's mouth! Seizure victims do not swallow their tongues o!

Source:  First Aid