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In case of epileptic seizure, call an emergency doctor after five minutes
Epilepsy is the most common chronic disease of the central nervous system. It affects women and men alike. Although the disease can be treated well today medication, but the risk of seizures persists. In case of persistent seizure, the emergency doctor must be called.
Significant risk of injury
Around 0.8 percent of the world's population suffers from epilepsy. It is the most common chronic disease of the central nervous system. It affects women and men alike. The seizures, which occur again and again, represent a significant risk of injury and should definitely be medically clarified. If an epileptic seizure persists, the affected person must be treated immediately. This is indicated by the Professional Association of German Neurologists (BDN) on its portal "www.neurologen-im-netz.org".
Although epileptic seizures usually resolve after a short time, but if they last longer, the emergency doctor must be called necessarily. (Image: stockWERK / fotolia.com) Epileptic seizures usually resolve on their own
According to the experts, the majority of epileptic seizures clear up after a short time alone - usually within three minutes at the most. However, if a seizure lasts longer, there may be a status epilepticus that can be life-threatening if left untreated. Then bystanders at 112 should call an ambulance.
"If an epileptic seizure is accompanied by loss of consciousness, cramping or twitching of the extremities and lasts more than five minutes, it must be given immediate clinical attention. This also applies to "simple" seizures without loss of consciousness, as well as multiple seizures or disturbances of consciousness that last longer than a period of 20 to 30 minutes, "Dr. Curt Beil from the BDN.
"In this situation, regulation of vital bodily functions, such as breathing, blood pressure or body temperature, can be compromised and life-threatening. An emergency medical care can interrupt the status epilepticus and prevent consequential damage ", says the physician.
Absolutely medically clarify
However, not every seizure with disturbance of consciousness represents an epileptic seizure. Similar events can also occur as part of a cardiovascular-related dropout - a syncope - or be caused psychogenic.
In principle, recurrent disturbances of consciousness or seizures pose a significant risk of injury and should be clarified medically in order to rule out epilepsy or other diseases or to have them treated if necessary.
"It is more like an epileptic seizure, when the affected person has open eyes, can not remember anything, and is still confused up to half an hour after the seizure. Typically, epileptic seizures also follow a clear pattern in which the person first cramps and then shows synchronous twitching of the arms and legs, "Dr. ax.
Risk factors for seizures
Epileptic seizures can be triggered, among other things, by a sensory overload of the brain, for example during computer games or by flickering light. Also, sleep deprivation, rapid breathing, nicotine, alcohol and stress are possible factors.
Anyone who suffers from epileptic seizures, according to BDN, is unable to drive a motor vehicle as long as there is a risk of repeated seizures. Even in the period of medical examination, persons affected should not be behind the wheel until the fitness to drive was assessed by the attending physician.
As the experts explain, the onset of an epileptic seizure is due to a temporary simultaneous excitement of neuronal networks in certain brain areas. This overreaction is due to the fact that the regulatory messenger substances of the brain are in imbalance. (Ad)