Should you go to the hospital after a seizure?

Most seizures last between 30 seconds and two minutes and will not require any emergency medical attention. However, if someone is experiencing a seizure that lasts longer than two minutes, or they lose consciousness and it does not come back right after the seizure, you should call 911 right away.

When should you go to the ER for a seizure?

Call 911 or the local emergency number immediately if:

The seizure lasts five minutes or longer or is repeated. Injuries have resulted from the seizure. The person experiences persistent breathing difficulty. The person having the seizure also has a fever.

Should you go to ER after first seizure?

“Anyone who experiences their first seizure should be taken to the ER right away,” he explains. “The purpose of an ER visit is to rule out any immediate or life-threatening.

What will the hospital do for seizures?

Antiseizure medicine may be used to treat a seizure lasting longer than five minutes or for multiple seizures. For a person with epilepsy, a Dignity Health neurologist will prescribe medications to prevent or reduce the frequency of seizures. For more severe conditions, electrical stimulation or surgery may be needed.

Should you let someone sleep after a seizure?

After the seizure: they may feel tired and want to sleep. It might be helpful to remind them where they are. stay with them until they recover and can safely return to what they had been doing before.

After the Seizure

What can trigger a seizure?

Can a doctor tell if you've had a seizure?

Electroencephalogram (EEG) – Using electrodes attached to your head, your doctors can measure the electrical activity in your brain. This helps to look for patterns to determine if and when another seizure might occur, and it can also help them rule out other possibilities.

When should you call an ambulance for a seizure?

the seizure lasts longer than is usual for them. the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if you do not know how long their seizures usually last. the person does not regain full consciousness, or has several seizures without regaining consciousness. the person is seriously injured during the seizure.

How long does it take to recover after a seizure?

Some people feel better after an hour or 2, but for some people it can take several days to feel 'back to normal'. Some people find they have temporary weakness or can't move part of their body after they've had a seizure.

What happens to your body after a seizure?

During the postictal period, you may be sleepy. You may have problems with vision or speech, and may have a bad headache, fatigue, or body aches. Not all of these phases occur in everyone with this type of seizure.

Did I just have a seizure?

Seizure signs and symptoms may include: Temporary confusion. A staring spell. Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs.

How long are you confused after a seizure?

More than 70% of people with epilepsy report post-ictal (after-seizure) complications, including confusion, fear, exhaustion, headache, emotional reactivity, memory problems and behavioral changes. Some last an hour; others can last for days.

What causes seizures in adults for the first time?

Potential causes include central nervous system infections, brain tumors, stroke, and brain injuries. The use or stopping of certain substances, including alcohol, may also trigger a seizure. The type of seizure depends on the cause. If you have a seizure for the first time, get medical attention as soon as possible.

How long can a seizure last before brain damage?

If convulsive status epilepticus lasts for 30 minutes or longer it can cause permanent brain damage or even death.

Can a seizure last 2 hours?

Absence status epilepticus is a prolonged, generalized absence seizure that usually lasts for hours and can even last for days. The cardinal symptom is the altered state of consciousness while the patient is usually fully alert and partially responsive.

Can stress cause a seizure?

Emotional stress also can lead to seizures. Emotional stress is usually related to a situation or event that has personal meaning to you. It may be a situation in which you feel a loss of control. In particular, the kind of emotional stress that leads to most seizures is worry or fear.

Do people remember seizures?

In focal aware seizures (FAS), previously called simple partial seizures, the person is conscious (aware and alert) and will usually know that something is happening and will remember the seizure afterwards. Some people find their focal aware seizures hard to put into words.

Can you get brain damage from seizures?

Most types of seizures do not cause damage to the brain. However, having a prolonged, uncontrolled seizure can cause harm. Because of this, treat any seizure lasting over 5 minutes as a medical emergency.

What are the chances of having a second seizure?

The chance of another seizure can range from 16% to 61%, depending on the circumstances surrounding the seizure and results of a neurological exam or other tests.

What to do if you have a seizure alone?

For milder seizures, like a bit of staring or shaking arms or legs, guide the person away from hazards, including traffic, stairs, and water. Don't leave someone who's had a seizure alone. Stay until they're fully aware of where they are and can respond normally when you talk to them. Speak calmly.

What is the recovery position after a seizure?

Move the bent leg that is nearest to you, in front of their body so that it is resting on the floor. This position will help to balance them. Gently raise their chin to tilt their head back slightly, as this will open up their airway and help them to breathe.

Will an EEG show past seizures?

An EEG can usually show if you are having a seizure at the time of the test, but it can't show what happens to your brain at any other time. So even though your test results might not show any unusual activity it does not rule out having epilepsy. Some types of epilepsy are very difficult to identify with an EEG.

What causes seizures with no history?

Seizures in adults with no seizure history can be caused by a number of factors ranging from high blood pressure, drug abuse and toxic exposures to brain injury, brain infection (encephalitis) and heart disease.

What is a first seizure?

A first seizure is twice as likely to be a generalized seizure as a partial seizure. Most generalized seizures occur when the patient is awake, but one in four occurs during sleep. 3 Partial seizures can be further classified as simple (i.e., no loss of consciousness) or complex (i.e., loss of consciousness).

Can dehydration cause seizure?

If left untreated, severe dehydration can be serious and cause fits (seizures), brain damage and death.