Seizures: Brief Version

What is a seizure?

A seizure happens when nerve signals in the brain are not working right. This can cause strange feelings and actions. Sometimes muscles will twitch. You may even lose consciousness.

What is the cause?

A seizure can happen for many reasons. You may have a seizure if you:

• injure your head
• had a brain injury at birth
• have a brain infection or tumor
• have a stroke.

You might also have a seizure when:

• You have been using drugs.
• You suddenly stop using a substance you are addicted to, such as alcohol or other drugs like cocaine or sleeping pills.
• Your body chemicals are not in balance.
• Your blood sugar is too low.

Often it is not known why you started having seizures. If you have several seizures and no treatable cause is found, you may have a condition called epilepsy.

The 2 most common types of seizures are:

• Grand mal: If you have a grand mal seizure, you lose consciousness and fall down. Your muscles may get very stiff. Then your body may jerk in a violent way. This could last 1 or 2 minutes. Then you go into a deep sleep for a few minutes. When you wake up, you don't remember the seizure and you may be drowsy for hours.
• Petit mal: Petit mal happens when you have a short period of "spacing out." You may not be moving at all, just staring. Your eyelids may flutter or your face may twitch. The seizure lasts just 10 to 30 seconds. You could have hundreds of these seizures a day. This kind of seizure usually starts when you are a child.

If you keep having seizures one right after another or have one seizure for a long time, it can be dangerous. It is a medical emergency and you will need help.

What are the symptoms?

Here are the symptoms of a seizure:

• A part of your body may twitch or jerk without your control.
• You may feel, hear, see or even taste things that are not really there.
• You may be afraid. You may feel you are doing something you've done before.
• You may see flashing lights or hear noises just before you have a seizure.
• You may lose consciousness.
• You may lose control of your bladder muscles and wet yourself.
• When the seizure is over, you may feel sleepy or confused for several hours.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will check you. He or she will ask you about your health history. You may need one or more of these tests:

• Blood tests.
• EEG. It measures the electricity in your brain.
• MRI. It makes a picture of the inside of your head.
• CT scan. It is a special X-ray of your brain.

How is it treated?

Your healthcare provider will first try to find a cause for the seizures. Your provider may then order medicine to help stop the seizures. You will need to find what dose works for you.

If you keep having seizures when you use the medicine, your provider will:

• Check the level of the medicine in your blood.
• Make sure you take your medicine the right way.
• Make sure you don't drink alcohol or use illegal drugs.
• Ask about other medicines you are taking that might cause problems.

Talk to your healthcare provider about your medicine and how long you will have to take it.

Your friends and family should know first aid for seizures. When you have a seizure, they should:

• Loosen the clothes around your neck.
• Let you move freely. They should not try to hold you down.
• Move things away from you that could hurt you.
• Not put anything in your mouth.
• Check to make sure you are breathing.

It will also help to:

• Turn you on your side in case you throw up.
• Turn you on your side while you are waking up after the seizure.
• Move you only if you could get hurt if you are not moved.

Someone should call 911 if:

• The seizure lasts more than 3 to 5 minutes.
• You are not acting like yourself after the seizure is over.
• It seems like you are not breathing.
• A seizure happens after you hurt your head.

How can I take care of myself?

Stay healthy:

• Follow your healthcare provider's advice. Take your medicine exactly as your provider tells you.
• Eat healthy foods.
• Get plenty of rest every night.
• Keep a healthy balance of work, play, and exercise.
• Wear a medical ID bracelet.

At work or at school:

• Tell your boss and co-workers or teachers at school that you may have a seizure.
• Tell them also what to do if one happens.

Keep safe:

• Stay away from jobs that could put you in danger.
• Do not work with heavy or fast-moving equipment.
• Do not work high off the ground or near water.
• Ask your healthcare provider when you may safely drive a car again.
• Ask your healthcare provider which sports are safe for you.

Call your healthcare provider if:

• You have side effects from your medicine.
• You keep having seizures, especially if they are happening more often.

What can I do to help prevent seizures?

You can help prevent more seizures:

• Take your medicine the right way.
• Get plenty of sleep every night.
• Stay away from alcohol and illegal drugs.
• Don't use sleeping pills.
• If you start to get a fever, take aspirin or acetaminophen right away.
• Go to all your checkups.

You can get more information from:

Epilepsy Foundation of America
Phone: 800-332-1000
Web site: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org
Answers specific questions from callers, referrals to local chapters, catalog of educational materials.