Can You Have a Seizure and Not Know

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a brain condition that causes a person to have seizures. Information technology is one of the almost common disorders of the nervous system. Information technology affects people of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds.

The brain consists of nerve cells that communicate with each other through electric activity. A seizure occurs when ane or more parts of the encephalon has a outburst of aberrant electric signals that interrupt normal brain signals. Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain tin cause a seizure. This includes a high fever, high or low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a encephalon concussion. But when a person has 2 or more than seizures with no known cause, this is diagnosed every bit epilepsy.

There are unlike types of seizures. The type of seizure depends on which part and how much of the encephalon is affected and what happens during the seizure. The 2 primary categories of epileptic seizures are focal (fractional) seizure and generalized seizure.

Focal (partial) seizures

Focal seizures take place when abnormal electrical brain function occurs in one or more areas of one side of the brain. Before a focal seizure, yous may accept an aura, or signs that a seizure is almost to occur. This is more common with a complex focal seizure. The almost common aureola involves feelings, such equally deja vu, impending doom, fear, or euphoria. Or you may have visual changes, hearing abnormalities, or changes in your sense of smell. The 2 types of focal seizures include:

Elementary focal seizure

The symptoms depend on which area of the brain is afflicted. If the aberrant electric brain function is in the part of the brain involved with vision (occipital lobe), your sight may exist contradistinct. More than often, muscles are afflicted. The seizure activeness is limited to an isolated muscle group. For example, it may but include the fingers, or larger muscles in the artillery and legs. You may as well have sweating, nausea, or become pale. You lot don't lose consciousness in this type of seizure.

Complex focal seizure

This type of seizure often occurs in the area of the brain that controls emotion and memory office (temporal lobe). Y'all volition likely lose consciousness. This may non mean you pass out. You may just stop beingness enlightened of what'southward going on around y'all. You may await awake, but have a variety of unusual behaviors. These may range from gagging, lip smacking, running, screaming, crying, or laughing. Y'all may be tired or sleepy after the seizure. This is called the postictal period.

Generalized seizure

A generalized seizure occurs in both sides of the encephalon. You will lose consciousness and be tired later on the seizure (postictal state). Types of generalized seizures include:

Absence seizure

This is besides called petit mal seizure. This seizure causes a cursory changed country of consciousness and staring. You will likely maintain your posture. Your oral cavity or face up may twitch or your eyes may glimmer rapidly. The seizure usually lasts no longer than thirty seconds. When the seizure is over, you may non recall what merely occurred. You lot may go on with your activities as though zip happened. These seizures may occur several times a day.

Atonic seizure

This is also called a drop attack. With an atonic seizure, you have a sudden loss of musculus tone and may autumn from a standing position or suddenly driblet your caput. During the seizure, you will be limp and unresponsive.

Generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTC)

This is too chosen grand mal seizure. The archetype form of this kind of seizure has v distinct phases. Your body, arms, and legs volition flex (contract), extend (straighten out), and tremor (shake). This is followed by wrinkle and relaxation of the muscles (clonic period) and the postictal period. During the postictal flow, y'all may be sleepy. Y'all may accept problems with vision or speech, and may have a bad headache, fatigue, or body aches. Not all of these phases occur in everyone with this type of seizure.

Myoclonic seizure

This type of seizure causes quick movements or sudden jerking of a grouping of muscles. These seizures tend to occur in clusters. This means that they may occur several times a day, or for several days in a row.

What causes a seizure?

A seizure can be caused by many things. These can include:

• An imbalance of nerve-signaling brain chemicals (neurotransmitters)

• Brain tumor

• Stroke

• Encephalon damage from disease or injury

Epilepsy may be caused by a combination of these. In most cases, the cause of epilepsy can't be found.

What are the symptoms of a seizure?

Your symptoms depend on the type of seizure. General symptoms or warning signs of a seizure tin can include:

• Staring

• Jerking movements of the artillery and legs

• Stiffening of the torso

• Loss of consciousness

• Breathing issues or stopping breathing

• Loss of bowel or bladder control

• Falling suddenly for no credible reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness

• Non responding to noise or words for cursory periods

• Actualization confused or in a haze

• Nodding your head rhythmically, when associated with loss of awareness or loss of consciousness

• Periods of rapid centre blinking and staring

During the seizure, your lips may become tinted blue and your breathing may not be normal. After the seizure, y'all may exist sleepy or confused.

The symptoms of a seizure may exist like those of other health conditions. Make certain to talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How are seizures diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and your health history. Y'all'll exist asked about other factors that may accept caused your seizure, such as:

• Drug or booze apply

• A recent injury to the caput

• High fever or infection

• Genetic aberration

You may also have:

• A neurological test

• Blood tests to cheque for problems in blood sugar and other factors

• Imaging tests of the brain, such every bit an MRI or CT scan

• Electroencephalogram, to test your encephalon's electrical activity

• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap), to measure the pressure in the encephalon and spinal canal and test the cognitive spinal fluid for infection or other problems

How are seizures treated?

The goal of treatment is to command, stop, or reduce how often seizures occur. Treatment is almost ofttimes done with medicine. There are many types of medicines used to treat epilepsy. Your healthcare provider volition need to identify the blazon of seizure y'all are having. Medicines are selected based on the type of seizure, age of the person, side effects, cost, and ease of utilise. Medicines used at domicile are unremarkably taken by oral fissure equally capsules, tablets, sprinkles, or syrup. Some medicines can be given into the rectum. If you are in the infirmary with seizures, medicine may be given by injection or intravenously by vein (4).

It is of import to have your medicine on time and as prescribed past your doctor. People'southward bodies react to medicine differently and so your schedule and dosage may need to be adjusted for the best seizure command. All medicines can have side furnishings. Talk with your healthcare provider about possible side furnishings. While you are taking medicine, yous may need tests to meet how well the medicine is working. You may have:

• Blood tests. You may need blood tests frequently to check the level of medicine in your body. Based on this level, your healthcare provider may change the dose of your medicine. You may also accept claret tests to bank check the effects of the medicine on your other organs.

• Urine tests. Your urine may be tested to see how your torso is reacting to the medicine.

• Electroencephalogram (EEG). An EEG is a process that records the brain'southward electrical activeness. This is done by attaching electrodes to your scalp. This test is washed to run into how medicine is helping the electric problems in your encephalon.

Other treatments

If medicine doesn't work well enough for you, your healthcare provider may advise other types of treatment. Yous may have:

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)

This handling sends modest pulses of energy to the brain from i of the vagus nerves. This is a pair of large nerves in the neck. If you have fractional seizures that are not controlled well with medicine, VNS may be an pick. VNS is done past surgically placing a small battery into the chest wall. Pocket-sized wires are and then attached to the bombardment and placed under the skin and around one of the vagus nerves. The battery is then programmed to transport energy impulses every few minutes to the brain. When you lot feel a seizure coming on, yous may actuate the impulses by holding a modest magnet over the battery. In many cases, this will help to finish the seizure. VNS can take side furnishings such every bit hoarse vocalism, pain in the pharynx, or modify in voice.

Surgery

Surgery may be done to remove the office of the brain where the seizures are occurring. Or the surgery helps to stop the spread of the bad electrical currents through the brain. Surgery may be an option if your seizures are hard to control and e'er start in one part of the brain that doesn't affect speech, memory, or vision. Surgery for epilepsy seizures is very complex. It is washed by a specialized surgical team. You may be awake during the surgery. The encephalon itself does not feel pain. If you are awake and able to follow commands, the surgeons are ameliorate able to check areas of your brain during the procedure. Surgery is non an option for everyone with seizures.

Living with epilepsy

If you have epilepsy, y'all can manage your health. Brand certain to:

• Take your medicine exactly as directed

• Become enough slumber, as lack of sleep can trigger a seizure

• Avert annihilation that may trigger a seizure

• Have tests every bit often every bit needed

• Come across your healthcare provider regularly

When should I telephone call my healthcare provider?

Telephone call your healthcare provider if:

• Your symptoms get worse or do not go ameliorate

• You have side effects from medicine

Key points most epilepsy and seizures

• A seizure occurs when one or more parts of the brain has a outburst of abnormal electrical signals that interrupt normal signals

• There are many types of seizures. Each can cause different kinds of symptoms. These range from slight body movements to loss of consciousness and convulsions.

• Epilepsy is when you accept ii or more seizures with no known cause.

• Epilepsy is treated with medicine. In some cases, it may be treated with VNS or surgery.

• It's of import to avert anything that triggers seizures. This includes lack of sleep.

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Source: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/epilepsy/evaluation-of-a-firsttime-seizure

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