Seizures can get worse if left untreated. Seizures can become more frequent and longer in duration. They may become more violent or spread to other parts of the body. In severe cases, seizures can cause severe neurological damage and may lead to coma or even death.
For this reason, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you suspect someone is having a seizure. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial for the best prognosis. Treatment typically includes medications and lifestyle changes that can help to lower the frequency and severity of seizures.
Other treatments, such as surgery or dietary changes, may be recommended depending on the type and severity of the seizures. Prompt and appropriate treatment can help to control seizures and relieve symptoms.
What happens if seizures go untreated?
If seizures go untreated, the person could be at risk for more frequent or more severe seizures, as well as other serious problems. Untreated seizures can cause physical injury such as broken bones, and the person may not be able to remember the event afterwards.
Seizures can also lead to other problems such as fatigue, difficulty with concentration and lower grades in school, increased risk of injury or death, depression or anxiety, and problems in relationships.
If a seizure disorder is left untreated for long enough, it can cause brain damage or lead to permanent disability. In extreme cases, untreated seizures can lead to a coma or even death. It is important to seek medical help and treatment for seizures as soon as possible to reduce the risk of these more serious complications.
Can untreated seizures cause brain damage?
Yes, untreated seizures can cause brain damage in the long run. Seizures occur when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain, and when the brain experiences a prolonged period of increased electrical activity, it can create lasting changes in brain tissue and result in brain damage.
The type, duration, and frequency of a seizure will determine the amount of lasting damage that may occur. Seizures that last long enough, occur frequently enough, or are intense enough can cause cell death, leading to neuronal loss or even entire brain structures being damaged.
In severe cases, epileptic seizures can cause a seizure disorder to be misdiagnosed or go untreated, allowing the person to continue experiencing recurrent seizures, which can result in more extensive brain damage.
It’s important to seek medical attention for any epileptic symptoms you or someone you know may be experiencing, to reduce the risk of brain damage from seizures.
How long can a seizure last before brain damage?
Generally, seizures are classified as either convulsive or non-convulsive and can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, with the average duration lasting around one to two minutes. Seizures that last longer than five minutes can put someone at risk of brain damage; however, any seizure, regardless of duration, can potentially cause brain damage depending on their severity and the underlying cause of the seizure.
The potential for brain damage from a seizure also increases with prolonged seizure duration. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention immediately if a seizure lasts for more than five minutes.
Are seizures damaging to the brain?
Yes, seizures can be damaging to the brain. While it is true that the brain can – and usually does – recover fairly quickly from a seizure, it might not always remain unaffected by the experience. As seizures involve the sudden burst of electrical activity, it can cause structures within the brain to become damaged, resulting in possible physical and emotional changes.
Damage can be particularly severe if a seizure lasts long enough, or if they are recurrent. Even if a person doesn’t directly experience a seizure, they can still suffer brain damage due to the altered electrical activity.
For example, someone might suffer from a severe headache afterwards, even if the seizure has stopped. Cognitive problems can also arise from seizures, such as difficulty remembering things and difficulty focusing.
If brain damage does occur, it is often difficult to gauge the full extent of it until future medical scans, treatment, and testing have been completed.
How long is too long to have a seizure?
Seizures usually last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Most last only about 30 seconds, but it is possible for a seizure to last for several minutes. If a seizure is lasting for more than 5 minutes, it is considered a prolonged seizure, which is a medical emergency.
Prolonged seizures are also referred to as status epilepticus, and should be treated as an emergency. If the seizure lasts for more than five minutes, the person having the seizure should not be restrained, and should be placed in a safe environment where they can be monitored until medical help arrives.
It is important to call 911 or your local emergency number if a seizure lasts for more than five minutes.
When should you go to the ER for a seizure?
It is important to seek immediate medical attention when you or someone you know is having a seizure. A seizure that lasts more than five minutes or multiple seizures that occur in a 24-hour period should warrant an Emergency Room (ER) visit.
You should also go to the ER if the person is injured during the seizure, experiences shortness of breath, is pregnant, has a fever, or is unconscious after the seizure. Additionally, if the person is known to have a seizure disorder and has not taken their medications as prescribed, they should be taken to the ER.
When a person has an aura before having a seizure, it can be helpful for that person to go to the ER in order to be evaluated. This is especially true if the aura is different from what has been experienced in the past.
Seizures can be the sign of an underlying medical condition that may require urgent treatment. It is best to contact a medical professional for guidance and diagnosis if you are uncertain about whether or not the situation should be an ER visit.
How much damage can a seizure cause?
Seizures can lead to physical and psychological problems depending on the cause, intensity, and frequency of the seizure. In some cases, seizures can be relatively harmless, but in other cases, they may cause severe physical damage.
On the physical side, tonic-clonic seizures — formerly referred to as grand mal seizures — can cause broken bones, sprains, dislocations, and physical trauma due to the intense shaking and seizing of the body which can be up to five times the strength of normal movement.
In some cases, seizures can cause cuts and bruises, especially when they occur in vulnerable areas like inside the mouth and near the eyes. In other cases, teeth can be damaged or knocked out due to the force of the movement.
Seizures can also affect the brain and central nervous system by causing disruption to neural circuitry, affecting motor control and sensory functions. Repeated seizures can lead to neurological problems like brain damage, hypoxia, and even coma or death.
In addition to the physical risks, seizures can also cause psychological damage. People may experience post-ictal confusion (sometimes known as “post-seizure confusion”) or post-ictal depression resulting from the physical trauma of a seizure.
They may suffer from anxiety or depression after a seizure, as well as a loss of self-esteem, changes in behavior, and difficulty with daily tasks due to lowered cognitive functioning.
Do seizures leave damage?
Seizures can leave physical and cognitive damage, depending on their severity and how often they occur. Seizures that cause physical injury due to falling or other movement, such as tonic-clonic seizures, are more likely to cause physical damage.
Symptoms of physical damage can include bruising, broken bones, and head trauma. Seizures can also cause brain injury and damage, which can lead to lifelong physical, mental, and cognitive changes. These changes can depend on the seizure and can include personality changes, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating.
It is possible for the brain and body to heal from damage caused by a seizure, but this may take time and therapy. In some cases, seizures can cause permanent damage, so receiving treatment as soon as possible is important.
Does length of seizure matter?
The length of a seizure can be an important factor when determining the cause, treatment and prognosis of a seizure disorder. In most cases, seizures are considered to be brief, lasting only a few seconds or minutes.
However, some seizures, particularly those associated with epilepsy, can last much longer. Seizures that last for more than five minutes typically require medical attention and should be evaluated by a medical professional.
A seizure’s duration is also an important factor in determining the type of seizure disorder that a person may have. For example, focal seizures (also known as partial seizures) tend to be brief, often lasting only a few seconds and often resolve without medical intervention.
Generalized seizures (also known as grand mal seizures), on the other hand, tend to last longer and usually require medical attention. Seizures lasting more than 30 minutes may be a sign of a life-threatening condition known as status epilepticus, and require immediate emergency medical care.
The length of time that a seizure lasts can also have an impact on the long-term prognosis and treatment of a seizure disorder. Seizures that last longer may result in greater cognitive and behavioral impairment, as well as an increased risk of injury or death.
Longer seizures are also associated with an increased risk of chronic or recurrent seizures, and may require more aggressive treatment.
In summary, the length of a seizure is an important factor in determining the cause, treatment, and prognosis of a seizure disorder. Seizures that last longer than five minutes typically require medical attention, and a seizure lasting more than 30 minutes may indicate a life-threatening medical emergency.
The length of a seizure can also affect the long-term prognosis and treatment of a seizure disorder, with longer seizures being associated with increased risks.
How do you know when a seizure is over?
When a seizure is over, it’s important to be aware of the signs to look out for. Generally, a seizure episode should be considered finished when there is a return of awareness or consciousness, the person is responding normally, their body movements have stopped, and they are stable.
Ideally, after a seizure there should be an evaluation by a doctor to make sure everything is okay.
The end of a seizure should not be considered finished until the person is able to fully understand and respond to things around them and they don’t appear to be disoriented or confused. After a seizure, it’s important to closely observe the person for problems such as confusion, slow movement, difficulty speaking, or other signs that something may have gone wrong during the seizure.
It’s also important to make sure the person is not left alone and that someone stays with them until the doctor can evaluate them or until the person is able to function normally again.
Seizures can vary in length, frequency, and intensity and it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms so that you can be aware when a seizure episode is over. Pay attention to changes in body movements, as these can signal that the seizure is coming to an end.
If you’re with someone having a seizure, remain calm and stay with them until the seizure episode is completely finished and they are responsive again.
Should seizures be taken seriously?
Yes, seizures should be taken seriously. Seizures are caused by sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain that can cause involuntary jerking or twitching of body muscles. They can be caused by a variety of things, including head trauma, stroke, cancer, drug use, or a genetic disorder.
Seizures can range from mild to severe and can even lead to death if not treated quickly and appropriately.
In general, any type of seizure should be considered serious and requires medical attention. People who experience seizures should speak with their healthcare provider to be evaluated and treated. Treatment of seizures may involve medication, dietary changes, surgical procedures, or lifestyle changes.
Often, these treatments can greatly reduce the severity and frequency of seizures.
Seizures can also lead to a number of other health complications that can affect a person’s quality of life. In some cases, seizures can lead to permanent brain damage or even death. Therefore, it is very important to take seizures seriously and seek medical attention.
When should I be concerned about a seizure?
If you or someone you know has any type of seizure (including shock-like sensations and seizures), it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Although some seizures are benign, they are also potentially dangerous and can indicate a more serious underlying condition.
It is important to distinguish between the different types of seizures, because some require more urgent medical attention than others.
In general, you should seek medical attention if:
– the seizure lasts longer than five minutes
– the person has more than one seizure in a 24-hour period
– the person has a fever
– the seizure seems stronger or more severe than usual
– the person falls or gets injured during a seizure
– the person does not wake up after the seizure
– the person experiences confusion, difficulty speaking or other changes in behavior following the seizure
Additionally, if a seizure occurs in a person with known epilepsy and it lasts longer than a usual seizure, or does not respond to the usual treatment, it can be a sign of a worsening condition. In this case, medical attention should also be sought.
Finally, it is important to note that anyone who experiences a seizure should not resume any activities that could be dangerous until their doctor has cleared them.
What happens if you don’t get treated for seizures?
If you don’t get treated for seizures, it can lead to serious health complications and even death. Seizures can cause mental confusion, partial or complete loss of consciousness, loss of muscle control, abnormal behavior, and abnormal movement.
If a seizure lasts for more than five minutes or, if someone experiences multiple seizures within a short period of time, it is considered a medical emergency and must be treated immediately. If left untreated, a person may become weak, dehydrated, and malnourished, and can become prone to more seizures.
Seizures can also cause brain damage if they last too long, so it is important to seek medical help right away if you have any kind of seizure.
How many seizures is too many seizures?
Generally speaking, if a person experiences more than two seizures in 24 hours, or if they experience prolonged seizures, this could be a cause for concern. It is important for anyone who has experienced multiple seizures to seek professional medical advice so that a diagnosis can be determined.
It is also possible to suffer from a seizure disorder, also known as epilepsy, which is a neurological condition characterized by frequent seizures, and these should be diagnosed and monitored by a healthcare professional.
