Grand Mal Seizure Symptoms

Grand mal seizures are also known as tonic-clonic seizures or gran mal seizures. They are a type of generalized seizures, which affect the entire brain. Grand mal seizures is one of the types of seizures, which is most commonly associated with epilepsy and seizures in general. However, there is a misconception, it is the only type of seizure. In the tonic phase of this seizure, the patient suffer from loss of consciousness and tensing of the muscles, which may cause the person to fall. This phase normally tends to last anywhere for about 10 to 20 seconds. Whereas in the clonic phase there is rapid contraction and relaxation of muscles, what is commonly known as convulsions. This phase normally last for not more than two minutes. The outward effect may often times include wild thrashing movement or even mild or brief loss of awareness. The grand mal seizure symptoms can manifest themselves in various forms. The symptoms are a sign of abnormal brain function. It is important to recognize the symptoms of grand mal seizure, as they are potentially dangerous to the sufferers, because the sufferers can experience a loss of body awareness and organized movement.

Symptoms of Grand Mal Seizure

Grand mal seizures are caused due to electrical impulses from throughout the entire brain. During grand mal seizures often the patient may suffer from injuries and accidents are common. A number of patients suffer from tongue biting, urinary incontinence, etc. Let's see the symptoms in adults and children.

Aura is a symptom of grand mal seizure. Some people may experience a strong sense of déjà vu, lightheadedness, dizziness, etc. The person can also go through inappropriate emotions, intense feeling of discomfort, altered vision and hearing, etc. One of the symptom can also be hallucinations. If the person loses complete awareness, the person can start making odd and pointless and repetitive movements towards the end of aura. However, this is the time, when the seizure has progressed and has become complex partial seizure.

In some cases, if the muscles around the vocal cords seize, the person may begin to cry out or scream at the beginning of a seizure. This happens, because air is forced out of the vocal cords. Along with screaming, some other seizure symptoms include loss of bowel and bladder control. However, this may not always be at the beginning or towards the end of a seizure.

Often the person may be disoriented before as well as after a grand mal seizure. In some cases disorientation after the seizure can also be followed by unresponsiveness after convulsions. This unconsciousness may persist for several minutes, after the convulsion has finished. Fatigue is one of the symptoms to look out for. As a person may be fatigued after a seizure, he may also be fatigued before a seizure. Therefore, it is common, that the person may feel very sleepy. Severe headache can also point to grand mal seizure disorders. However, it may also not always be caused, due to grand mal seizure.

Grand Mal Seizure Causes

Grand mal seizure occur, when there is electrical activity all over the surface of the brain becomes abnormally synchronized. When we have to look at it in general, seizures are a result of abnormal, rhythmic nerve cell activity in the brain. The nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other by sending electrical and chemical signals across the synapses, which connect the cells. However, in people who have seizures, the electrical activity in the brain is altered. The exact causes of grand mal seizure is unknown. However, some grand mal seizure causes include, low levels of glucose, sodium, calcium, etc. Traumatic head injuries, strokes, brain tumors are also known to cause grand mal seizures in adults and children. Malfunctioning of blood vessels in the brain, genetic disorders are also seizures causes.

If you notice grand mal seizure symptoms, then it is better to sit or lie down, so as to avoid any type of injuries caused by the seizure. In case the grand mal seizure lasts for anything more than five minutes, it calls for immediate medical help. Same is the case if there are consecutive two seizures within in a short span of time.