What to do after someone has a seizure; 7 best approaches

Have you ever wondered what to do after someone has a seizure? This article will equip you with more on the relevant actions to take.

Is no doubt that millions of persons worldwide are affected by convulsion as a result of fever, seizure, and other medical conditions. Which in most cases are characterized by spasms.

Convulsion is a general term that people use to describe uncontrollable muscle contractions.
Some people interchangeably use the word ‘Seizure’ but they have differences.

Introduction to what to do after someone has a seizure

A seizure is an electrical disturbance in the brain and can as well cause someone to have a convulsion, but this is not always the case.

It can either affect a part of a person’s body or affect the whole body therefore, is important to know what to do after someone has a seizure.

Causes of seizure

It is a common symptom of an epileptic seizure. Epilepsy According to Epilepsy foundation is a condition that causes a person to experience many seizures. In a few cases, epileptic seizures result in convulsions.
The most common type of seizure is a Tonic-Clonic seizure. Tonic means being firm and still while Clonic means sudden short and sharp movement.

When air forcefully passes through a person’s vocal cord, the person may make a groaning sound. While some epileptic seizures result in Convulsion others don’t.
For instance, ‘Absence seizure’ is when a person remains motionless without response during an electrical disturbance in the brain.

Febrile seizures

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), febrile seizures can affect children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years who are experiencing a fever.
Febrile seizures cause convulsions that typically last up to 5 minutes.
The majority of febrile seizures do not have any lasting negative impact on a child. They are generally harmless and do not require treatment.

However, if the seizure goes on for more than 5 minutes, or the child does not recover quickly, it is essential to call an ambulance.

Non-epileptic seizures

Emotional stress lead to seizures. According to the NINDS, non-epileptic seizures are seizures that appear to be epilepsy but are not due to electrical disturbances in a person’s brain.

Doctors believe non-epileptic seizures are “psychogenic” illnesses. This means they occur due to mental or emotional stress. For this reason, doctors sometimes refer to them as “psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.”
Doctors often recommend psychological therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, to help treat non-epileptic seizures. These treatments help a person manage the underlying stress causing the seizures.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia

The National Centre for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) is a rare condition that causes convulsions. PKD seizures typically happen after a person experiences a sudden motion, such as being startled or standing up.

Convulsions typically last less than 5 minutes but can last longer in some cases. A person will usually experience fewer episodes as they get older.
It is a genetic condition, which means a parent can pass it on to their children.
Research has found that anticonvulsant drugs, such as carbamazepine are an effective treatment for PKD.

Medication reactions

In rare cases, certain medications can cause epileptic seizures with convulsions. The Epilepsy Foundation provides an extensive list of toxins and drugs that could trigger epileptic seizures.

Migraines

There is some evidence that migraines may lead to epileptic seizures. This is called migralepsy.
However, other research disputes this understanding of migralepsy. More research is necessary to help determine whether migralepsy is a distinct condition.

what to do after someone has a seizure

let’s take it gradually to understand the dos and don’ts during a convulsive episode
Placing a person experiencing convulsions on their side can assist their breathing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if a person is experiencing convulsions over most of their body, there are various first-aid practices someone can do to help them.
These include:

placing them on the floor so they do not fall and hurt themselves
putting them onto their side so they can breathe easily and equally clearing the area of hard or sharp objects
placing something soft and flat under their head
removing their glasses
loosening or removing anything around their neck, such as a tie or a necklace
calling an ambulance if the seizure continues for more than 5 minutes
Outlook

If a person is experiencing convulsions, the first thing to do is to make sure they are safe. If the convulsions do not stop after 5 minutes, call an ambulance.
If convulsions happen regularly, it is vital to speak to a doctor to determine the underlying cause.
Some conditions that cause convulsions will pass with age, while others require medication to reduce their occurrence.

In either case, a doctor will work with someone to develop an individualized treatment plan for your episode.

conclusion on What to do after someone has a seizure

knowing the right things to do during a seizure would go a long way in preventing further health conditions.

seizures can be embarrassing sometimes but when the proper actions are taken, things can get better. The 7 approaches on what to do when someone has a seizure are essential pieces for everyone.