Seizures: Causes and Treatment
What are seizures?
Convulsions are a paroxysmal, involuntary contraction of muscles as a result of overstrain. Convulsions occur suddenly and do not last long, but after a certain interval of time they may recur. They usually cause severe pain. Young people complain of painful cramps much less often than the elderly and children. These muscle contractions occur primarily at night, when the body is warm and asleep, or during muscle activity.
The most prone to cramps are the calf muscles, less - the thighs, back, neck and abdomen. Convulsions can be in one muscle or in a muscle group.
Causes of seizures
Cramps appear due to insufficient blood circulation in the muscles, especially during physical exertion. For some, convulsions appear and intensify when exposed to external stimuli - a needle prick, sudden loud noises, alcohol abuse.
A factor in the development of seizures in athletes is a lack of salt in the body, caused by increased sweating.
Even repetitive movements, such as typing on a keyboard or moving the computer mouse, can cause seizures.
Night cramps are the result of a complex of psychophysiological disorders (low blood circulation and stress).
If the same muscle groups are under stress, they can also be subject to convulsive contractions when tired. This primarily concerns people who work while standing.
Sometimes seizures are a consequence of diseases of the nervous system (epilepsy, tetanus, neurosis), poisoning, metabolic disorders or the activity of the endocrine glands.
Convulsions in children are associated with insufficient maturity of the brain and nerve fibers, weak inhibitory mechanisms. The development of convulsive readiness is influenced by harmful factors during the mother's pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum phase, acting on the baby's nervous system. Before childbirth, it can be toxicosis, intrauterine infection, drug intoxication, acute and chronic diseases of the mother; during childbirth - mechanical damage to the fetal brain; after childbirth - infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, complications after vaccination, traumatic brain injury.
Spasms of the calf muscles are also an independent disease, and may accompany any disease (for example, varicose veins). They appear during long walking, swimming.
Video: neuropathologist on the causes and treatment of seizures during sleep:
Seizure symptoms
The seizures range from mild to very severe. With a mild form, confusion, darkening of the eyes, snorting, twitching and tingling in a specific part of the body may occur. Moderate severity - when urinary and fecal incontinence, short-term fainting are added to the previous symptoms.
The most dangerous form of seizure is an epileptic seizure. In this case, there is an inexplicable feeling of fear and numbness, nausea, dizziness, salivation, foam at the mouth, deviation of the direction of the eyes and head. Convulsions last more than two minutes, after which loss of consciousness occurs.
Treatment of seizures
Treatment of seizures is carried out depending on the underlying disease. Anticonvulsants are applicable: phenobarbital, hexamidine, benzonal, diphenin. Thermal treatments, local massage, a clear work and rest schedule have a positive effect. With a convulsive status or recurrent seizures, emergency medical care is needed, otherwise there is a risk of developing cerebral edema, respiratory depression and other vital functions.
To prevent dehydration in hot weather, the patient is advised to drink cold water with table salt dissolved in it (1 teaspoon of salt per liter of water).
Another way to improve local circulation with recurrent seizures is to apply alternately hot and cold compresses to the affected area.
Video: 3 ways to relieve a seizure:
If the seizure has already begun, the seizure cannot be stopped. The people around are able to call medical help as soon as possible, as well as to protect the patient from injuries and bodily harm that he can inflict on himself.
Stretching the affected muscle is a self-help if a spasm occurs. For example, to relieve a spasm in the calf muscle, you need to overcome the pain and push the heel downward to lengthen the muscle.
General convulsions and loss of consciousness are symptoms of epilepsy. Before the arrival of the doctor, you need to create a calm environment for the patient, lay him down so as to help the muscles to relax. If breathing problems are observed, provide fresh air or allow oxygen to breathe from an oxygen bag. An epileptic person should always have a note with him about the number and duration of epileptic seizures. This data will be very useful for doctors.
A common indication in the treatment of seizures is to massage the area with involuntary muscle contractions. This procedure will improve local blood circulation and, therefore, accelerate the delivery of more blood and oxygen to the muscles. Strong stroking and sliding movements, always directed towards the heart, are especially effective.
Simultaneous aromatherapy will enhance the effect of the massage. You can use oils of juniper, lavender, marjoram, rosemary. Diluted essential oils will cause redness of the skin, dilate blood vessels, and increase blood flow, which will relax muscles and relieve cramps.
Video: Dr. Evdokimenko about leg cramps, how to treat?
Author of the article: Sokov Andrey Vladimirovich | Neurologist
Education: In 2005 completed an internship at the IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and received a diploma in Neurology. In 2009, completed postgraduate studies in the specialty "Nervous diseases".
