A seizure is an excess of nerve impulses in the brain and is normally identified through symptoms such as suddenly stopping responding, shaking or shaking in the body and mental confusion.
Typically, seizures are caused by infections, sleep deprivation or alcohol or drug intoxication, but they can also have more serious causes such as brain malformations or tumors in some cases. Furthermore, when episodes recur, they may indicate epilepsy.
Read too: Epilepsy: what it is, symptoms, causes, types and treatment
tuasaude.com/epilepsia
In case of a seizure, it is recommended to consult a neurologist. However, if the crisis lasts more than 5 minutes or returns quickly, it is recommended to go to an emergency room for an evaluation and start the most appropriate treatment.
How to identify
The main symptoms of a seizure are:
- Suddenly stopping responding;
- Vague and fixed gaze, disorientation or mental confusion;
- Repetitive movements, tremors or tremors in one part or the entire body;
- Sudden muscle stiffness or flaccidity;
- Muscle spasms.
Although the symptoms usually vary according to the type of crisis, a convulsive crisis is more easily identified when the person suddenly stops responding, becomes rigid, falls and has repeated tremors, which is known as a seizure. Check out what a seizure is and the symptoms.
Furthermore, in some cases, before the seizure the person may also have changes in vision, notice odors without an apparent cause, feel strong emotions or tingling, for example.
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Possible causes
The most common causes of seizures are:
- Sleep a bit;
- Hypoglycemia and/or imbalance of minerals in the blood, such as sodium or potassium;
- Infections, especially when they affect the nervous system or cause fever;
- Decreased oxygen levels or bleeding in the brain;
- Strong blows to the head;
- Intoxication due to medication, alcohol or illicit drugs, for example;
- Brain malformations;
- Neurodegenerative diseases or brain tumor.
A seizure is caused by an abnormal functioning of neurons, resulting in an excess of nerve impulses in the brain. It does not always have a specific cause and may only be associated with the person’s genetic predisposition in some cases.
Read too: Febrile seizure: what it is, symptoms, causes, treatment (and what to do)
tuasaude.com/convulsao-febril
What to do
In case of a convulsive crisis, you should:
- Stay with the person during the crisis;
- Keep nearby objects away from the person that could hurt them;
- Lay the person on their side if they have fallen;
- Wait until the crisis stops and, if it persists for more than 5 minutes, call for medical help;
- Help the person to sit in a comfortable place so that they can recover after the crisis;
- Explain to the person what happened when they are more alert;
- Contact a family member or friend of the person so that you can accompany them home.
During a crisis, you should not try to immobilize the person, nor put anything in their mouth, to prevent them from hurting themselves. You should also not offer water or food until the person is completely awake so that they do not choke.
Read too: First aid for seizure (epilepsy seizure)
tuasaude.com/primeiros-socorros-para-convulsao
Most seizures pass quickly, but especially in cases where they persist for more than 5 minutes or return quickly, it may be necessary to use anticonvulsant medications directly into the vein to control them.
Furthermore, after the crisis, it is important to consult a neurologist for an evaluation. Especially in cases where there is no specific cause and there is a high risk of new episodes, the doctor may recommend the continued use of anticonvulsants to prevent new attacks.
Source: www.tuasaude.com