Why do lips turn blue during seizure?

Yes, people usually turn blue or red or purple (cyanosis) during a tonic-clonic seizure. This reflects the anoxia that is present (lack of oxygen). This anoxia acts as a stimulus to restart the breathing and needs no human intervention.
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Do your lips go blue when you have a seizure?

During the seizure, your child's lips may become tinted blue and his or her breathing may not be normal. After the seizure, your child may be sleepy or confused. The symptoms of a seizure may be like those of other health conditions.
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Why does face turn blue during seizure?

Tonic Activity

If the person inadvertently bites their tongue or cheek, blood may be visible in the saliva. Stiffness of the chest muscles may impair breathing, the person's face may look bluish or gray, and he or she may make gasping or gurgling sounds.
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What type of seizure causes you to turn blue?

In a tonic seizure, the person's muscles stiffen, and they lose consciousness. The eyes roll back in their head, and muscles of the chest, arms and legs stiffen, causing the back to arch. The contracting muscles in the chest make it hard to breathe, and the person's lips and face may turn gray or blue.
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What are the 3 main phases of a seizure?

Seizures take on many different forms and have a beginning (prodrome and aura), middle (ictal) and end (post-ictal) stage.
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How to help if someone has a tonic clonic seizure - Epilepsy Action Employer Toolkit



How long can a seizure last before brain damage?

A seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes, or having more than 1 seizure within a 5 minutes period, without returning to a normal level of consciousness between episodes is called status epilepticus. This is a medical emergency that may lead to permanent brain damage or death.
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Are seizures painful?

In general, the actual experience of having a seizure does not hurt. Pain during seizures is rare . Some types of seizures make you lose consciousness.
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What happens to breathing during seizure?

During a tonic-clonic or grand mal seizure (think convulsive seizure), it may look like the person has stopped breathing. This is because the chest muscles tighten during the tonic or “stiffening” part of seizure. The person will usually start breathing on his or her own after the seizure.
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What can trigger a seizure?

12 most common seizure triggers
  • Missing medication. The most common reason for a seizure is forgetting to take your anti-epileptic drugs (AED) or deliberately not taking it. ...
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Recreational drugs. ...
  • Caffeine. ...
  • Lack of sleep / tiredness. ...
  • Stress / anxiety. ...
  • Boredom. ...
  • Dehydration.
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What are the 4 stages of most generalized seizures?

The four phases of seizure are:
  • Prodromal.
  • Early ictal (the “aura”)
  • Ictal.
  • Postictal.
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Do you stop breathing during seizure?

During the tonic phase of the seizure, they may temporarily stop breathing and their face may become dusky or blue, especially around the mouth. This period is usually brief (usually no more than 30 to 45 seconds) and does not require CPR.
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Why do eyes roll up during seizure?

The brain is your body's control center, sending and receiving messages via nerve cells that use electrical signals to communicate with each other. The abnormal electrical activity from a seizure can temporarily disrupt various processes. This can lead to a variety of symptoms — including eyes rolling back in the head.
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What are the 4 types of seizures?

There are four main types of epilepsy: focal, generalized, combination focal and generalized, and unknown. A person's seizure type determines what kind of epilepsy they have. Different types of seizures affect the brain in different ways.
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What happens during a seizure?

During a seizure, there is a sudden intense burst of electricity that disrupts how the brain usually works. This activity can happen on one small part of the brain and last for just a couple of seconds, or it can spread right across the brain and keep going for many minutes.
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What would cause lips to turn purple?

Low oxygen content in the blood or poor circulation can cause blueish discoloration in the skin and lips. This is known as cyanosis. Cyanosis occurs when the oxygen saturation levels in a person's blood fall below 85% . A person may also develop cyanosis if they have abnormal hemoglobin.
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Is it OK to 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.
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What is the most serious type of seizure?

Tonic-clonic seizures.

Tonic-clonic seizures, previously known as grand mal seizures, are the most dramatic type of epileptic seizure and can cause an abrupt loss of consciousness, body stiffening and shaking, and sometimes loss of bladder control or biting your tongue. They may last for several minutes.
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What can make seizures worse?

Here are some of the seizure triggers that have been reported by people with epilepsy:
  • Not taking epilepsy medicine as prescribed.
  • Feeling tired and not sleeping well.
  • Stress.
  • Alcohol and recreational drugs.
  • Flashing or flickering lights.
  • Monthly periods.
  • Missing meals.
  • Having an illness which causes a high temperature.
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What happens before a seizure?

Seizure warning signs before the first 'full-blown' seizures

These warning signs may include feeling “funny” or dizzy, or having jerking and twitching for several years. Other signs include fainting, headaches, vomiting, losing sensation in a certain parts of the body, daydreaming, and blackouts.
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Do you give oxygen after seizure?

Administer oxygen via non-rebreather mask at 12-15 liters per minute to any patient who is actively seizing or is postictal, regardless of their pulse-ox reading, to help with the increased metabolic demands of the brain for oxygen [4].
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What's the difference between a seizure and a grand mal seizure?

A grand mal seizure causes a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. It's the type of seizure most people picture when they think about seizures. A grand mal seizure — also known as a generalized tonic-clonic seizure — is caused by abnormal electrical activity throughout the brain.
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Are you conscious during a seizure?

Focal and generalized seizures

Since the seizure only affects one region, you might stay conscious or have a slight change in consciousness. You might be aware of sensations that occur during the seizure. A generalized seizure involves both sides of the brain. In most cases, you lose consciousness.
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Can seizures damage brain?

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.
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Can you hear while having a seizure?

Common symptoms during a seizure.

Periods of forgetfulness or memory lapses. Distracted, daydreaming. Loss of consciousness, unconscious, or “pass out” Unable to hear.
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Are seizures a disability?

For some, epilepsy is controlled by medications. For others though, uncontrolled seizures wreak havoc on all aspects of life, including the ability to work and earn a living. If you suffer from uncontrolled seizures, you may be able to qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
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