What Are Seizures?

If you have problems in your brain, you might have a seizure or convulsion or fit. These all mean the same. During a seizure you might jerk or shake. You might repeat movements like smacking your lips or grinding your teeth. One form of seizure just makes you pause for a brief time in your awareness with your surroundings. After a seizure, many people feel sleepy or confused.

In some children seizures can be caused by a fever. These are called febrile seizures. As long as your doctor does not feel that the febrile seizures are actually caused by an infection of the brain, then febrile seizures are usually not serious, although can be quite scary to those who witness the seizure.

If you stop using alcohol or some drugs, you can have side effects called withdrawal. Withdrawal in its most severe forms sometimes causes seizures.

Taking too much of some medicines also can cause seizures. It’s always important to tell your physician if you have ever had seizures or convulsions in the past. It may be also important for him to know if there is a family history of seizures. Sometimes seizure risk can be inherited.

Are Seizures Dangerous?

Seizures are usually not dangerous, but you may get hurt if a seizure happens during certain activities (for example, driving, swimming, or working on a ladder). Most states won’t let you drive unless you have had no seizures for several months.

They should not hold you down or put anything in your mouth. They should call 9-1-1 if the seizure lasts longer than a couple of minutes or if you are turning blue or cyanotic at any time. If you vomit during a seizure, make sure a doctor checks out the lungs for possible aspiration.