Grand mal seizure
A grand mal seizure is characterized by unconsciousness and convulsions that typically involve all parts of the body. The seizure will occur in stages with unconsciousness coming first and the convulsions beginning after.
The cause of a grand mal seizure is an abnormal electrical activity in the brain and this is the reason that the seizure involves all parts of the body. Typically it is a large area of the brain that is affected by the electrical activity.
Epilepsy is often thought of as the only reason for a grand mal seizure, but it is usually a symptom of an underlying condition. A seizure of this type can occur when there is kidney failure or very low blood sugar and there are risk factors for the condition. To be officially diagnosed with epilepsy, there must have been at least two grand mal seizures.
The loss of consciousness and convulsions are present in every patient, but there are other symptoms that can occur as well that are not necessarily present in every patient who has had a seizure. Some patients can sense when they are about to have a seizure, but this is not present in everyone. Some patients may lose control of their bladder and bowel, may be unresponsive after the seizure, feel confusion after the seizure, be fatigued after the seizure or have a severe headache. Not every patient will experience these symptoms.
The causes of a grand mal seizure are the abnormal electrical activity in an area of the brain that is large. However, there are some causes for that abnormal activity in some of the cases. It should be noted that there is no known cause in about half of the cases of a grand mal seizure. The known causes are low blood glucose, sodium, magnesium and calcium, traumatic injuries to the head, alcohol or drug withdrawal, meningitis or encephalitis, tumors of the brain or a malformation of the brain and strokes.
There are also certain risk factors that make the chances of a grand mal seizure more likely. A family history of seizures and seizure disorders, previous injuries to the brain from stroke or infection, medical conditions that affect the electrolytes in the body, drug use and very heavy alcohol use.
If you see someone who is having a grand mal seizure, there are a few things that you should do. Remember, the person who is having the seizure is unconscious and cannot respond to you in any way. You should call for help immediately and roll the person onto their side. Put something soft under the head to avoid injury to the head and loosen any clothing that is tight around the neck. Many people try to help the person avoid swallowing their tongue, but the tongue cannot be swallowed and you should not put anything in the mouth. Do not try and restrain the person who is having a grand mal seizure.
It is important that medical attention be gotten as quickly as possible. The grand mal seizure that lasts for longer than five minutes can result in permanent damage to the brain and even death. A second seizure immediately following the first can also result in brain damage or death.
Once medical attention is found, the doctor will need as detailed a description of the seizure as possible to help make a diagnosis and find the likely cause of the seizure. This description will have to come from those around the patient when they had their seizure.
There are blood tests that can be performed to determine if there are underlying medical conditions that are responsible for the seizure and there will likely be a neurological test to determine the damage that may have occurred during the grand mal seizure.
I have been dealing with grand mal seizures and front lobal seizures since a brain injury in 2002…….these seizures i have control my life…….even taking seizure meds……it would be so nice if meds didnt make me so sleepy and dizzy…….so one could function accorcdinly as i should. …