Seizures in Adults

A sudden change in behavior due to brain dysfunction is called a seizure. It is caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. There are different types of seizures in adults, which are described as under.

What are the Types of Seizures in Adults?

Partial Seizures: Partial seizures are caused by the malfunctioning neurons located at one part of any cerebral hemisphere (one half of the brain). Partial seizures are further classified into two types, simple and complex. In simple partial seizures, no loss of awareness is found. It is characterized by twitching, sweating, hallucinations and numbness. The patient is awake and is able to speak. In complex partial seizures, the patient loses awareness. He may also display automatism.

Generalized Seizures: Such a type of seizure involves the entire brain. It has four main types. The first type is known as absence seizure. It is also called "petit-mal" seizure. The absence seizures in adults is characterized by a sudden interruption of bodily functions and a blank stare. It usually starts in childhood. The second type of a generalized seizure is myoclonic seizure. It is marked by brief shock-like jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles. The third type is tonic-clonic seizures. It occurs due to sudden contraction of the muscles. Tonic and clonic are two phases of this type of seizure. During the tonic phase, the limbs become stiff and rigid and there might even be a breathing problem. The patient may develop incontinence. For example, he may develop loss of bowel or bladder control. The tonic phase lasts for a few seconds. It is followed by clonic phase, which lasts for less than 90 seconds. It is marked by rhythmic contractions in a violent manner. Patients become very tired during tonic-clonic seizures and usually sleep for long hours after the attack. The fourth and the last type is myoclonic seizures. The symptoms of myoclonic seizures are sporadic and jerking movements.

What are the Causes of Seizures in Adults?

Atherosclerosis: The deposition of cholesterol in the arteries results in the hardening of the arteries. It is called atherosclerosis. When it occurs in the arteries around the brain, it causes seizures.

Aging: After the age of 60, functional ability of the body decreases. Diseases related with old age such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease etc. can be the reason behind seizures in elderly people.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Subarachnoid hemorrhage is the bleeding in the brain. It affects the central nervous system, which in turn leads to seizures.

Genetic Predisposition: Inheritance is also one of the common causes of seizures. Generally, it is the expression or malfunctioning of those genes that control metabolism. Some metabolic disorders that often become the cause of seizures are hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hepatic encephalopathy, etc.

Injury: What causes seizures in adults the most is an injury to the head. Such an injury may happen at any point in life. It may occur even during the stages of fetal development.

Diseases: Many diseases such as brain tumors, encephalitis, meningitis, epilepsy and kidney failure can involve seizures as symptoms.

Withdrawal: Withdrawal from addictive substances such as alcohol, heroine etc. can cause seizures. This is because regular intake of such drugs change the physical pathways of nervous system. When the addicted person does not take these drugs, seizures occur as a withdrawal symptom. Therefore, drug withdrawal should be done under specialized medical supervision.

What are the Symptoms of Seizures in Adults?

• Automatism (complex, repetitive movement), which may include picking at clothes, lip smacking, unnatural mouth movements, chewing or swallowing without a reason, etc.
• Sensations of numbness and tingling
• Abnormal pain or discomfort
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Dilated pupils
• Sudden changes in vision
• Changes in mood
• Flushed face
• Blackout spells
• Sudden halt in conscious activity
• Hand fumbling
• Lack of awareness of surroundings

Patients get seizures almost instantaneously. If you see someone undergoing such a deadly attack, you should try to ease the situation. First of all, give the victim some free space. Ask the bystanders to move away. If possible, place a soft pad underneath the victim's head and loosen the clothing around his neck. When the seizure has ceased, you should open the airway and check his breathing. The best way is to provide rescue breaths and chest compressions, if required. The medical treatment of seizures in adults is possible till a great extent. Any person should immediately consult a medical professional in case of occurrence of symptoms of seizures in adults.