Download What is a Seizure?

Seizures & Epilepsy
10-4 training
10 Slides, 4 minutes
Lehigh/Hanson Region West
Safety and Health
Epilepsy Facts:
 Over 3 million Americans have epilepsy.
 Roughly 181,000 new cases of seizures and
epilepsy occur each year.
 50% of people with epilepsy develop seizures by the
age of 25; however, anyone can get epilepsy at any
time.
 Now there are as many people with epilepsy who are
60 or older as children aged 10 or younger.
What causes epilepsy?
 In about 70% of people with epilepsy, the cause is not
known.
 In the remaining 30%, the most common causes are:
Head trauma
Brain tumor and stroke
Lead poisoning
Infection of brain tissue
Heredity
Prenatal disturbance of brain development
Dispelling Misconceptions about Epilepsy
 Most seizures are NOT medical emergencies.
 Epilepsy is NOT contagious.
 Epilepsy is NOT a form of mental illness, it is a
medical condition.
 People rarely die or have brain damage from a
seizure.
 A person can NOT swallow his/her tongue during a
seizure
Seizure – a brief, temporary disturbance in the electrical
activity of the brain
Epilepsy – a disorder characterized by recurring seizures
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What is a Seizure?
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Your brain cells (neurons) constantly send tiny electrical impulses
(signals) that direct the functions of your body.
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A seizure occurs when too many neurons in the brain “fire” too
quickly, causing an “electrical storm”.
These uncontrolled electrical impulses can cause a change in
awareness or movement.
There are over 20 different types of seizures.
 Some seizures cause people to shake, fall or have convulsions.
 Other seizures involve staring, confusion, muscle spasms,
aimless wandering.
 Many seizure types do not cause loss of consciousness.
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All brain functions – including feeling, seeing, thinking and moving
in the brain – depend on these electrical impulses passed
between the neurons.
What can trigger a seizure?
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Missed medication (#1 reason)
Stress/anxiety
Hormonal changes
Dehydration
Lack of sleep/extreme fatigue
Photosensitivity
Drug/alcohol use; drug interactions
First Aid for Seizures
 Stay calm and track the time.
 Do not restrain the person.
 Remove dangerous objects from the person’s path.
 Calmly direct the person to sit down and guide him
or her from
dangerous situations.
Use force only in an emergency to protect the person from
immediate harm, such as walking out in front of an oncoming car.
 Observe, but do not approach a person who
appears angry or combative.
 Remain with the person until he or she is fully alert.
No first aid is necessary for most mild seizures.
First Aid for more severe Seizures
 Stay calm and track the time.
 Do not restrain the person, but help them avoid
hazards.
Protect head, remove glasses, loosen tight neckwear.
Move anything hard or sharp out of the way.
Turn person on one side.
 Check for epilepsy or seizure disorder
identification.
 Stay until person is fully aware and help re-orient
them.
 Call ambulance if seizure lasts longer than 5
minutes, or if it is unknown whether the person has
had prior seizures.
NEVER
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Put anything in the person’s mouth.
Try to hold down or restrain the person.
Attempt to give oral antiseizure medication.
Keep the person on their back face up throughout
convulsion. Instead, help them to a recovery
position on their side.
When to call an ambulance
 A convulsive seizure occurs in a person not known to
have seizures or lasts more than 5 minutes.
 A complex partial seizure lasts more than 5 minutes
BEYOND its usual duration for the individual.
 Another seizure begins before the person regains
consciousness.
 Also call if the person:
Is injured or pregnant
Has diabetes/other medical condition
Recovers slowly
Does not resume normal breathing