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McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2
Spanish version
Seizures: Brief Version
What is a seizure?
A seizure is when a part of your body twitches or jerks. It
is caused by abnormal electrical activity in part of your
brain. If the activity spreads to other parts of your
brain, you may become unconscious. Your whole body may
twitch.
If you have seizures over and over again, you may have
epilepsy.
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 are drunk or high from abusing alcohol or drugs.
- You suddenly quit using alcohol or other drugs like
cocaine or sleeping pills.
- Your body chemicals are not in balance.
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 rhythmic and 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 staring, fluttering eyelids, or twitching in your
face. It 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.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care 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 health care 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 health care 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.
- It seems like you are not breathing.
How can I take care of myself?
Stay healthy:
- Follow your health care provider's advice.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Keep a healthy balance of work, rest, 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 health care provider when you may safely drive a
car again.
- Ask your health care provider which sports are safe for
you.
Call your health care provider if:
- You have side effects from your medicine.
- You keep having seizures, or they get worse.
What can I do to help prevent seizures?
You can help prevent having more seizures:
- Take your medicine the right way.
- Get plenty of sleep every night.
- Stay away from alcohol.
- Don't use sleeping pills.
- If you start to get a fever, take aspirin or
acetaminophen right away.
- Go to all your checkups.
For more information, call or write:
Epilepsy Foundation of America
Epilepsy and Seizure Disorder Service
4351 Garden City Drive
Landover, MD 20785
800-332-1000
800-332-2070 (TDD)
Web site: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org
Answers specific questions from callers, referrals to local
chapters, catalog of educational materials (800-213-5821)
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