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Seizures are defined as a sudden spasm of muscles caused by too much electrical activity in the brain, resulting in uncontrollable twitching, blackouts, snorting, foaming at the mouth, and a host of other symptoms. Many different things can cause seizures, but the most common causes are brain injury, epilepsy, and high fever. While seizures are a very scary thing to witness, they are rarely life-threatening and can be treated by anyone with correct knowledge on how to administer first aid to someone with a seizure.
While it may be unrealistic to think that one can prevent seizures altogether, there are definitely some things people can do to minimize the risk of getting a seizure. There are also things that one can do to treat a seizure as well.
Drugs and alcohol can bring on seizures in some. Excessive use of alcohol can make some people more subceptible to seizures than others. These people should cut back on alcohol use to keep from putting themselves at risk. While alcohol can increase the risk of seizures, the opposite is true of certain drugs. In this case, the actual withdrawal from certain perscription drugs can cause seizures. To prevent this from occurring, always consult a doctor before discontinuing the use of a medication.
For many others, high blood pressure and heart disease can cause seizures. Keeping both of these conditions under control can greatly reduce the risk of seizures. Consult a physisian to see how you can lower blood pressure and treat heart disease.
People with chronic seizure disorders such as epilepsy are especially at risk for getting seizures. Medication is available for people with such conditions to prevent the onset of seizures.
In the case of young children and infants, high fevers can cause seizures. These types of seizures are called febrile seizures. While little can be done to prevent these kinds of seizures, there are some things parents and child care providers can do if a child under their care gets a febrile seizure.
Upon seeing a child with a febrile seizure, take all of the child's clothes off immediately. Once the child is naked, sponge his or her entire body with lukewarm water; however, do not completely immerse or bathe the child. Once the child is tended to, call a doctor to see if he or she needs medical attention.
There are some basic techniques that can be used to treat seizure victims. The first thing one should do is to stabilize the person who is having the seizure. DO NOT HOLD THE PERSON DOWN OR PHYSICALLY RESTRAIN HIM OR HER. Just make sure that they are nowhere near dangerous objects.
Next, you should make sure that the person is in a position where their airway is clear at all times. Many people start to vomit or foam at the mouth when having a seizure. When this starts to happen, they can possibly choke if they are not in an upright position if standing or sitting or a side position if laying down.
Make sure that you loosen the victim's clothing and remove items such as eyeglasses, earrings, etc. When the seizure has ended put the victim in a comfortable position on his or her side. He or she may feel tired, it is okay to let them go to sleep. After the seizure, make sure you check for airway, breathing, and circulation. If the victim is not breathing, perform artificial respirations.
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