Was That a Seizure?
What's a seizure?
Seizures are best described as "electrical storms" in the brain, says Dr. Nathan Fountain, director of the F.E. Dreifuss Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at the University of Virginia and chair of the professional advisory board at the Epilepsy Foundation. The sudden surge of electrical activity can affect how a person acts for a short period of time and interfere with normal brain function. Anyone can have a seizure, and experiencing one doesn't necessarily mean one has epilepsy -- a chronic condition affecting 65 million people worldwide. Here are warning signs that indicate someone is having a seizure, plus how to help that person:
Aura
At the beginning of a seizure, someone might experience an aura -- an often indescribable sensation that can be sensory or experiential. An aura can include tingling, numbness, electric shock-like sensations, pain, a desire to move and visual and auditory hallucinations. Someone experiencing an aura might describe an out-of-body sensation, unusual taste or smell -- like garlic or roses -- and feelings of deja vu or unfamiliarity. "It can be a strange feeling that has no other explanation," Fountain says. "It's a peculiar feeling on the inside, like butterflies in the stomach."
Jerking
If someone having a seizure is convulsing, he or she is likely experiencing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, also known as a grand mal seizure. During the tonic phase of this kind of seizure, muscles stiffen and the person loses consciousness and falls to the floor. That's followed by the clonic phase of the seizure, when the arms and legs begin to jerk rhythmically. This shaking typically lasts less than two minutes.
Blank stare
Take notice if a child or adult abruptly stops talking in the middle of a conversation. It could be a warning sign of an absence seizure -- a type of chronic seizure named specifically for this moment of absence in someone's attention. "Sometimes they'll just freeze momentarily and go on with what they're doing," Fountain says. "Oftentimes, [absence seizures] go unnoticed because the person having it doesn't recognize they're having it." It's particularly hard to detect this type of seizure because it may only last as long as a normal hesitation in speech.
Other warning signs
Other warning signs of a seizure include episodes of daydreaming; periods of forgetfulness or memory lapses; tingling or numbness in parts of the body; unexplained confusion, sleepiness or weakness; and/or losing control of bladder or bowels. Some seizures may be mistaken for sleep disorders, mental health disorders or stroke, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. "Of course, all of us have unusual sensations," Fountain says. "For example, if your hand is numb all the time, it's unlikely [a seizure]." But if twitches come on suddenly, it's possible that it's a seizure. "That's why it's important to go to your primary care provider," Fountain says.
What causes seizures?
Epilepsy is typically diagnosed after a person has had at least two seizures that weren't due to another medical condition, such as a mental illness or sleep disorder. Why a seizure occurs is often unclear, but causes include: brain malformations; lack of oxygen during birth; low levels of blood sugar, blood calcium or blood magnesium or other electrolyte disturbances; genetic disorders that affect the way someone metabolizes food; intracranial hemorrhage; and maternal drug use. Other causes include fever and infections in infants and children, a congenital condition like Down syndrome, a family history of epilepsy and head trauma. Seniors are more likely to have a seizure if they've had a stroke, live with Alzheimer's disease or have had a head trauma.
How to help
If you witness someone having what appears to be a seizure, "The most important thing to do is make sure the child or adult is safe," says Dr. Dennis Dlugos, a professor of neurology and pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "If they're standing up, you should gently encourage them to sit or lie down." Ensure the person is in a situation where he or she is not likely to be injured by a fall, which helps reduce head injuries, Dlugos adds. Rather than attempting to control the seizure or wake the person from the episode, wait for it to stop. "The vast majority stop within two minutes," Dlugos says.
When to call 911
Keep track of what happened and how long it lasted, and share that information with a health care provider. Call for emergency medical help if a seizure lasts longer than five minutes; one seizure happens right after another; the person's breathing becomes difficult or he or she appears to be choking; the seizure happens in water; or if an injury has occurred or the person requests medical help. While you wait for medical assistance, don't hold the person down, put anything in their mouth or give them water, pills or food until they're fully alert.
Samantha Costa is a Health + Wellness reporter at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at scosta@usnews.com.
