What Causes Seizures and How Do You Treat It?

An alteration in the brain’s electrical activity is what causes seizures. It usually happens to children and elderly people. When a seizure comes on, you lose control over your body and begin to shake violently. This is a serious medical condition and requires immediate treatment.

What causes seizures?

Doctors do not yet know what causes seizures. However, they have identified the following risk factors -

• Genetics: if seizures run in the family, there is a good chance that you might get them as well. Several studies have linked the presence of a particular gene in the body with seizures. According to them, if you have this gene, you are vulnerable to seizures.
• Injury to the head: head trauma is the most common cause of seizures. Bleeding from the brain can lead to seizures within a few days of obtaining the injury. Sometimes, it may happen even a year after the injury.
• Prenatal injury: if the mother suffers trauma and it affects the foetus, then the likelihood of seizures increase.
• Disorders of the brain: sometimes other medical conditions of the brain like stroke or tumours, which damage the brain, can cause epilepsy. This usually happens to a person over the age of 35.
• Infectious diseases: diseases like meningitis, encephalitis or AIDs can cause epileptic seizures.
• Disorders related to brain development: sometimes developmental disorders like Autism and neurofibromatosis can lead to seizures.

What are the symptoms of seizures?

• Dizziness
• A loss of awareness or feeling detached from the body
• Bouts of memory loss
• Losing control over bowel or bladder
• Tingling sensation along the limbs

If you have noticed any of the warning signs, you should consult a doctor on MediBuddy to determine if you have this condition.

Why are seizures so dangerous?

Since you lose control of your conscience, any number of dreadful things could happen to you. Here are a few.

• You could fall and injure yourself
• Cause an accident if you are driving
• If you are swimming at the time of attack you could drown
• Seizures can lead to pregnancy complications and endanger the lives of both mother and child

When is it time to see a doctor?

You should immediately contact a doctor if-

• Your seizure lasts for longer than 5 minutes
• It happens more than once a day
• You are pregnant or have diabetes

Treatment for seizures

Based on the results of diagnostic tests like lumbar puncture, electroencephalogram, or Computerized Tomography, your doctor will evaluate your condition and prescribe anti-seizure disorder medication.If medicines do not work, you might have to undergo a surgery where the surgeon will remove that part of the brain where the abnormal electrical activity is happening.Your doctor and dietician may also ask you to be on a ketogenic diet - lots of fats and proteins but very little carbohydrates. This will work in tandem with medicines and help control seizures. [av_promobox button='yes' label='Consult a Specialist on MediBuddy' link='https://www.medibuddy.in/?utm_source=blog_cta&utm_medium=blog' link_target='' color='blue' custom_bg='#f00' custom_font='#ffffff' size='large' icon_select='no' icon='ue800' font='entypo-fontello'] Seizures can be dangerous and disrupts your life. That is why it is imperative that you consult a specialist and seek treatment immediately. [/av_promobox] References: mayoclinicwebmdepilepsy