How long does a seizure last?

These seizures will generally last 1 to 3 minutes. If a tonic-clonic seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes requires medical attention. A seizure that lasts longer than 10 minutes, or three seizures without a normal period in between indicates a dangerous condition called convulsive status epilepticus.

Can a seizure cause brain damage?

Sometimes severe seizure can cause brain damage, but most seizures do not seem to have a detrimental effect on the brain. Epilepsy has many possible causes, from illness to brain damage to abnormal brain development. ... Generalized seizure symptoms may cause loss of consciousness, falls, or massive muscle spasms.

Can you die in your sleep from a seizure?

Or, can you die from a seizure in your sleep? 

 

The short answer is yes, but while possible, death from epilepsy is also rare. When you hear of someone dying from a seizure, you might assume the person fell and hit their head. ... Most, but not all, deaths occur during or right after a seizure.

What does a seizure look like?

There are slight variations, but a typical tonic clonic seizure will look like: A sudden loss of consciousness, sometimes with vocalisation or calling out. The eyes, head and body may turn in one direction. The body becomes stiff (tonic), followed by jerking of the muscles (clonic)

Does a seizure hurt?

Ask your child if their seizures are painful. While a child is having a tonic-clonic seizure, they may cry out, fall to the ground and convulse. This is frightening to watch, but they are not aware of it. When the seizure is over, some children say that their head or stomach hurts or their muscles ache.

How does a seizure feel?

In a simple partial seizure the person remains fully conscious but gets unusual sensations of taste, smell, emotions, and twitches and jerks. ... A few people experienced simple partial seizures with involuntary arm jerks or twitches, déjà vu-sensations or a 'funny feeling' in the stomach and their 'legs going'.

What are the first signs of a seizure?

Seizure signs and symptoms may include:

• Temporary confusion.
• A staring spell.
• Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs.
• Loss of consciousness or awareness.
• Cognitive or emotional symptoms, such as fear, anxiety or deja vu.

Should you go to the hospital after a seizure?

When should you go to the ER for a seizure? Generally, a seizure should be considered an emergency in these situations: Seizures that do not stop within a few minutes. Prolonged confusion remains after the seizure (more than 10-15 minutes).

How common are seizures?

Seizures and epilepsy are more common in young children and older people. About 1 in 100 people in the U.S. has had a single unprovoked seizure or has been diagnosed with epilepsy. 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime. People with certain conditions may be at greater risk.

Can a seizure kill you?

Death from epilepsy is rare. The leading cause of death among people with uncontrolled epilepsy, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, or SUDEP, kills 1 in 1,000 people who have the disorder. ... Heart rhythm: Rarely, a seizure may cause a dangerous heart rhythm or cardiac arrest.

What happens when you have a seizure?

A seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain. This uncontrolled activity may produce a physical convulsion, abnormal behavior, and even loss of consciousness. Some people refer to this electrical outburst in the brain as an 'electrical storm.' Before a seizure happens, there may be warning signs.

What can cause seizures?

There are three broad categories of seizure causes: Epileptic seizures – People with epilepsy have a type of brain dysfunction that intermittently causes episodes of abnormal electrical activity. This can be caused by any type of brain injury, such as trauma, stroke, brain infection, or a brain tumor.