Grand Mal Seizures in Adults

Under normal circumstances, the nerve cells of the brain produce signals by which they are able to coordinate their activities with each other. The pattern of these signals shows that the cells of the brain are always busy and the places of these signals occurrence suggests the activities being done by the brain such as control muscle movement, hearing, feeling, seeing, thinking, etc. Whenever these signals are interrupted suddenly seizures occur and are usually very intense. Seizures may take place either throughout or in a part of the brain. When seizures take place in all the cells of the brain it's called generalized seizures. Also called grand mal seizures, generalized seizures are more common in adults, but may happen in children as well. The most common symptom of grand mal seizures in adults include jerking limbs and body stiffness.

Causes of Grand Mal Seizures in Adults

Whenever there is an interruption in or abnormal electrical activity in the nerve cells of the brain, grand mal seizures are caused. All the activities of the human body are regulated by the brain and when such seizures are attack the nerve cells lose control of the normal activities. Seizures signify that the brain is not able to function normally due to a number of seizure causes like injuries or some diseases. Metabolic imbalance, stroke, brain tumor, infections in the central nervous system, head injury, birth trauma and toxic substance ingestion may also cause grand mal seizure.

Many a time seizures may seem to have no specific reason and such types are called idiopathic seizures. There are reports that this type of seizure occurs in 75% of the cases in adults. They may be caused due to brain lesions, which are microscopic, that may have taken place at the time of birth. Moreover, they may also be caused due to metabolic disturbances which have still not been explained.

Symptoms of Grand Mal Seizures

The most common grand mal seizure symptoms in adults include stiffening of the body and sudden shaking of the body. The eyes and the mouth remain open, legs and arms straighten till the time the effects of seizure doesn't go away. This is accompanied by contraction of the respiratory muscles and as such the air is forced out of the lungs. Moreover, there's clumping of the jaws accompanied by biting of the tongue. The bladders contract thereby releasing urine, the body becomes rigid, and a person loses consciousness. This phase is known as the tonic phase. The tonic phase is followed by the clonic phase and is accompanied by rhythmic muscular compressions of the whole body.

Types of Seizures

Depending on what extent and which part of the brain is effected, the type of seizures vary. Medical professionals divide seizures into four types: 1) Generalized; 2) Simple partial; 3) Nonepileptic; and 3) Epileptic seizure. Generalized seizures are those which affect both the sides of the cerebral hemispheres at the start of a seizure. Loss of consciousness for sometime or for longer periods is accompanied by such seizures. If the abnormality is limited to a specific area of the brain, it's called partial seizure. Nonepileptic seizures are those wherein a persons behavior is changed briefly and they look similar to epileptic seizures. Status epilepticus, which is known to last for more than 30 minutes, is nothing but a continuous seizures which a person may suffer.

So, grand mal seizures is a condition wherein the brain starts functioning abnormally and lost control over the body functions. If you get such a condition, get in touch with your doctor immediately, as if it is not treated on time, it can become dangerous, and at times life-threatening.