What to do with bouts of epilepsy? This question interests those who have to live next to a person with such a disease. Today, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological pathologies. Around this disease for several centuries there are many rumors and legends.
An attack of epilepsy can look intimidating, but, as practice has shown, urgent medical intervention is not required for the patient. Basically, after an attack, a person quickly recovers, but until everything stops, he just needs the help of people who are next to him. This is what will be discussed, each person should know what to do with bouts of epilepsy, because you can encounter a sick person anywhere, and only the right help will enable him to quickly master the situation and not harm himself.
Epilepsy: what is it?
First you need to understand the nature of the disease. An attack occurs if the patient's brain emits too intense electrical impulses. They can affect only one of the areas of the brain, then the patient has a partial seizure, and if both hemispheres are affected, then generalized seizures occur. These impulses are transmitted to the muscles, hence the characteristic cramps.
Doctors still can’t say exactly what exactly causes the disease, but there is an assumption that the cause is a lack of oxygen during fetal development, trauma during childbirth, meningitis or encephalitis, neoplasms in the brain or an innate feature of its development. Pathology can manifest itself at any age, but children and elderly people still enter the risk group.
There are still studies that will help clarify the underlying causes of the disease, but there are suggestions that the triggering factors are:
- stress;
- alcohol abuse;
- smoking;
- bad sleep;
- hormonal disruptions during the menstrual cycle;
- excessive use of antidepressants;
- premature refusal to take drugs that were prescribed to the patient.
This is only a small fraction of what a person needs to know in order to immediately understand what is happening to him and why. In addition, you need to know what to do with epilepsy attacks in order to provide first aid to the patient.
How to suspect a fit
If a person has already had epilepsy attacks, then his relatives should know when they are more often, how everything starts and what to do first of all to cope with the situation. Harbingers of an epileptic seizure may be:
- increased irritability of the patient;
- a change in patient behavior - drowsiness or, conversely, increased activity;
- short-term twitching of muscles that pass quickly and without assistance;
- in rare cases, symptoms such as tearfulness and anxiety may appear.
If such symptoms appear, then those who are nearby need to know what to do if a person has an epilepsy attack so that he does not cause serious harm to himself, because at this moment the patient does not control his actions.
What does an epilepsy attack look like?
At first glance, it might seem that everything starts instantly, and a person who is nearby does not know what to do if an epilepsy attack occurs. Most often, the patient makes a cry and faints. During the tonic phase, his muscles tighten strongly, breathing is difficult, and it is precisely because of this that his lips turn blue. After the clonic phase sets in, at this moment all the limbs begin to strain or relax, from the outside it looks like a jerky twitch.
Sometimes patients during a seizure bite their tongue or the inner surface of their cheeks. Spontaneous emptying of the bladder or intestines, profuse salivation, or vomiting may also occur. After the end of the attack, the patient often feels drowsiness, sometimes there is a memory loss. Also, after an attack of epilepsy, my head hurts. What to do to alleviate the patient’s condition, how to reduce seizures and is it possible to prevent them?
Can an attack be prevented or reduced?
Very often, a stressful situation or lack of sleep can become provoking factors for the onset of an epileptic seizure. It is for this reason that patients need to carefully observe the daily routine, relax as much as possible, exercise, in order to relieve stress. You can prevent a seizure if you do not violate the regimen of drugs that are prescribed by your doctor. In no case is it recommended to change the dose of medication or disrupt the course.
Tip: it is worth remembering that patients with epilepsy should not take alcohol, since it can significantly change the effect of drugs and disrupt sleep, which ultimately provokes frequent seizures.
First aid during an attack
As we have already said, the relatives of a patient who suffers from epileptic seizures should know what to do with bouts of epilepsy, if they have not been prevented. You need to help on time, but no excessive physical effort. In those cases, if the attack happened in front of an unprepared person, then he can greatly scare him. Convulsive convulsions, foam from the mouth, high blood pressure, pale skin - all this can cause severe stress. But you must definitely pull yourself together and do everything possible to help the patient cope with the attack:
- It is necessary to lay the patient as quickly as possible on a flat and soft surface and all because during a seizure, it is most often possible to avoid injuries and bruises.
- Take off all tight-fitting clothing.
- If possible, then the patient's head must be turned to the side.
- All items that can harm the patient should be removed away, because he can grab them involuntarily and thereby harm not only himself, but those who are nearby.
- Some advise to keep the epileptic during the attack as strong as possible, but in fact this should not be done, because it can easily break bones. If necessary, you can only hold on a little.
- Closed jaws should be tried to open, because during an attack the cramps are so strong that the patient can break his teeth.
- Do not insert hard objects into your mouth, they can cause serious harm to the patient, you do not need to give him drink at this moment, and if he falls asleep, you should not touch him, let him sleep.
What to do after an attack?
The attack basically passes very quickly, but what to do after an attack of epilepsy, what help should be provided at this moment? Only in a few cases out of a hundred seizures passes into status epilepticus, in this case the patient needs to be urgently hospitalized, as the condition is quite serious.
In most cases, after an attack, the patient falls asleep, and after waking up does not remember what happened to him. If drugs were recommended to block an attack, then they should always be at hand to drink immediately if necessary.
After a seizure, the patient must rest, from his diet you need to completely remove all products that change the speed of processes in the nervous system. In this case, coffee, strong tea, too salty foods, spices, marinades and smoked foods are completely contraindicated.
If the nature of the seizures has not changed, then you need to continue the course of taking the medicines that were recommended and prescribed by the doctor, if they became frequent and intense, then you need to adjust the treatment.
What can not be done during an attack?
We have already talked about what to do during an episode of epilepsy, but every person who lives next to an epileptic should also know what he should never do:
- in order to open the jaw during an attack, you do not need to use solid objects, it is best to make a soft roller from a handkerchief, towel or scarf;
- when opening the jaw, do not use force, otherwise you will break it;
- no need to restrain the patient's movements: do him even more harm;
- no need to do artificial respiration, during a seizure, the patient may lose rhythm for 20-30 seconds, this is normal;
- do not hit the patient on the cheeks, spray him with water;
- Do not give him a drink during an attack;
- do not give medication during an attack; do not self-medicate.
Having all the necessary knowledge in what to do after an attack of epilepsy in a person, you will not do any harm and help to cope with the situation very quickly.
First aid tips for an epileptic seizure
If your loved one was diagnosed with epilepsy, there is nothing to be done about it, you need to come to terms and discuss with the doctor what should be done after and during an epilepsy attack to help? Here are some tips from doctors to help you quickly deal with the situation and help a person during an epileptic seizure:
- first of all, you do not need to panic, you should pull yourself together;
- you need to be around until the attack stops and the patient comes to his senses, even if he fell asleep, it is better to watch him;
- look around and take away everything that could threaten a person’s life, because during an attack he does not control his actions;
- be sure to remember how long the attack lasted;
- lay the man down and raise his head slightly;
- do not hold it by force, trying to stop the cramps, at this moment nothing will help to relax the muscles;
- don’t open your mouth, because there is an opinion that at this moment the patient’s tongue may sink, everything is completely wrong, it’s better to just put a soft roller in your mouth, so you can protect your teeth from injury.
Be sure to monitor how long the attack lasts, so that you can decide later whether to call an ambulance or not.
When does a patient not need to call an ambulance?
Qualified medical assistance is not required in such cases:
- if the epilepsy attack lasted no more than 5 minutes;
- when the patient regained consciousness and another seizure does not occur;
- if the patient did not injure himself during the attack.
But there are times when the patient simply needs the help of doctors and as quickly as possible.
When should I call an ambulance?
The help of physicians in very difficult cases is simply necessary, otherwise any slowdown can be fatal:
- when the attack lasts more than 5 minutes, that’s why doctors advise time tracking;
- if during an attack the patient was injured, his breathing is difficult;
- if an attack occurred in a woman while carrying a baby.
It is not difficult to provide assistance during an attack, the main thing is not to get lost and act quickly, then the patient will transfer it more easily and will not harm himself. In the presence of a disease such as epilepsy, it is very important to follow all the recommendations of the attending physician, then you can significantly reduce the likelihood of an attack and improve the quality of life.