Seizures
What is Seizures?
Types of seizures
Partial onset seizures: Also called focal onset seizures, these occur in one part of the brain. If you are able to feel the seizure, it is a focal aware seizure. The one that goes unnoticed is focal impaired awareness seizure.
Generalized onset seizures: These happen on both sides of the brain at the same time. This type is divided into subtypes, such as tonic-clonic, atonic, and absence onset seizures.
Causes of seizures
Seizures can be a result of various health conditions affecting your body or disturbing the brain. Some common causes of seizures are:
- Choking
- Drug abuse
- Fever
- Head trauma
- Extremely high BP
- Epilepsy
- Electric shock
- Drug withdrawal
- An electrolyte imbalance
- A brain tumour
- A stroke
- Brain infection
- Brain injury
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Brain defect from birth
- Liver or kidney failure
- Low blood glucose levels
- Vascular abnormality in the brain
Symptoms of seizures
The symptoms of seizures depend on the type of seizure. Some of the most common signs are:
- Confusion
- Rapid blinking
- Staring into space
- Falling to the ground
- Nausea and sweating
- Loss of consciousness
- Involuntary movements of your mouth or tongue
- Abrupt screaming or crying
- Uncontrollable spastic movements of your arms and legs
- Sudden emotional states, such as fear, doom, deja vu, or euphoria
When to see a doctor
You should seek instant medical assistance, if seizures last over five minutes, a second seizure follows right after, you have a high fever, loss of consciousness after the seizure, you have diabetes, you are pregnant, or you got injured during the seizure.
The doctor may start by asking you some questions about your emotional states and medical history before carrying out tests, such as:
- EEG (Electroencephalography) during which a specialist will attach electrodes to the brain for monitoring the electrical activities taking place inside.
- Blood tests or a spinal tap
- Imaging tests like CT scan, MRI, or PET scan
Seizures can be a hereditary condition in some families. If you or anyone in the family has a history of seizures, make sure to share the information with your doctor.
Book your appointment with Dr Rao to get the best diagnosis and treatment for seizures.
Staying healthy
Doctor’s guide
Yashoda Hospitals Somajiguda
Rajbhavan Road, Somajiguda, Matha Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana.
500082
Mallela Clinic
Mallela Clinic, Street No 4, Vijay Nagar Colony, Hyderabad, Telangana.
500057
P: +91 9908 600 004
M: drmvraomallela@gmail.com
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