How to treat a seizure

And in what cases should you call 911?

After a traumatic brain injury like a concussion, some people are susceptible to experiencing a seizure — a disruption of communication in the brain. Most seizures happen in the first days or weeks after a brain injury, but some can occur months or even years later.

Symptoms of a seizure vary for each person, but sudden physical and mental changes may include:

■ Loss of awareness or consciousness

■ Confusion, forgetfulness or memory lapses

■ Loss of ability to hear or see clearly

■ Loss of or changes in taste

■ Numbness, tingling or electric shock sensation

■ Slurred speech or difficulty talking

■ Loss of muscle control

■ Tremors, twitching or jerking movements

■ Rigid or tense muscles

■ Difficulty breathing

■ Rapid heart rate

If you experience or see someone having a seizure, follow these first aid guidelines to keep safe until their seizure stops:

■ Stay with the person, and stay calm.

■ Pay attention to the length of the seizure — most don’t last more than a few minutes.

■ Move nearby objects out of the way or steer the person out of harm’s way.

■ If the person has fallen, support their head but do not forcibly hold the person down.

■ If they’re lying down, turn them on their side with their mouth pointed toward the ground to help keep their airway clear.

■ Do not put anything in a person’s mouth.

■ If they appear to be choking, turn them on their side and call for help.

Time for 911

Not all seizures require emergency care, but you should always call 911 when:

■ A seizure lasts five minutes or longer.

■ One seizure occurs right after another without the person regaining consciousness between seizures.

■ Breathing becomes difficult or the person appears to be choking.

■ The seizure occurs in water.

■ The person has been injured.

Managing recurring seizures

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by unpredictable seizures caused by genetics or a brain injury. It is marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions and is associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy can occur in infants, children, and adults — or develop at any age.

“Differentiating seizures or seizure mimickers is very crucial because up to 30 percent of patients who have been diagnosed with seizures may not actually have seizures,” says Rajinder Singh, DO, medical director of the Brain & Spine Epilepsy Center at Kettering Health Network. “In some cases, stress-triggered symptoms can appear to be seizures, but won’t be treatable with seizure medication.”

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with epilepsy or recurrent seizures, talk to your doctor about how to manage these conditions. Living with seizures is more than just knowing which medications to take. You can learn to manage your seizures better by emphasizing preparation and prevention.