Seizures and fainting: How to know when to go to the ER

If you've ever seen someone faint or have a seizure, you know that it can happen suddenly and without warning. It can also be very frightening for everyone involved. Both reactions are the body's way of telling us that something is wrong. Diagnosing the source of the seizure or fainting spell is something that should be left to a medical professional, as there are many different conditions that can cause these reactions. Here's what you need to know about seizures and fainting and when to go to the ER.

Common conditions that cause seizures

A seizure happens when there is a sudden, abnormal change in the brain's electrical activity. Seizures can be caused by a variety of conditions that directly and indirectly affect our brains. These include:

• Brain tumors
• Brain hemorrhages
• Developmental malformations of the brain
• Stroke
• High fever in children, which can cause febrile seizures
• Very low sodium levels (hyponatremia)
• Very low or very high blood sugars
• Genetic disorders
• Some medications/drugs

However, the cause of most seizures is unknown.

Epilepsy is a seizure disorder that affects about 3.4 million Americans. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, six out of 10 people with epilepsy have no diagnosable cause for their condition.

About 3% of people with epilepsy have photosensitive epilepsy, which means their seizures can be triggered by exposure to flashing lights at certain intensities or certain visual patterns. This type of epilepsy is more common in children and adolescents and episodes can decrease with age.

How to recognize seizures

Seizures can be easy or hard to recognize, depending on which part of the brain is seizing. The person may or may not lose consciousness. The seizure may involve the whole body, repeated jerking of a single limb or simply hand rubbing or picking at clothing.

However, there are common elements to look for that can help you identify a seizure, such as:

• Staring
• Decreased responsiveness
• Lip-smacking movements

When to get medical help for seizures

When someone is having a seizure, the best thing you can do is to place them away from harm. For example, keep them away from sharp objects and make sure that they don't choke on anything by laying them on their side. Don't put anything in their mouth or hold them down.

Call 911 for seizures that:

• Last beyond one minute
• Begin to happen more frequently (occur back-to-back)

You should always inform your doctor of any seizures or other unusual medical symptoms regardless of how severe they are.

Common conditions that cause fainting (including seizures)

When someone faints, they lose consciousness due to a sudden decrease of blood to the brain. An episode of fainting can be a sign of a seizure disorder and is always a reason to seek medical attention.

Conditions that can lead to fainting include:

• Seizure disorders (including epilepsy)
• Electrolyte abnormalities in the heart or brain
• Dehydration
• Low or high potassium or magnesium levels
• Other heart issues, including:
  • Heart rate that is too fast or too slow
  • Ventricular tachycardia
  • Ventricular fibrillation

When to get medical help for fainting

A fainting episode normally lasts a few seconds to several minutes. Always let your doctor know about any episodes of fainting and seek immediate help for all medical emergencies. When in doubt, call 911 or head to the nearest ER.

If you feel faint:

• Lie down or sit down.
• If sitting, place head between knees.
• Avoid getting up too quickly.

If someone else faints:

• Position the person face-up.
  • If there are no injuries and the person is breathing, raise their legs above their heart level (about 12 inches) if possible.
  • Loosen belts, collars and other constrictive clothing.
• If the person doesn't regain consciousness within one minute, call 911.
• Check for breathing and begin CPR if necessary.

At Medical City Healthcare, we're dedicated to the care and improvement of human life. So, we hope you'll Take Care!

For more information, call our Ask a Nurse hotline 24/7 or use Find a Doctor online.

Medical City Healthcare provides comprehensive emergency services across North Texas.

You can also get care for minor injuries or illness at one of the many DFW CareNow^® Urgent Care locations, with convenient Web Check-In^® so you can wait in the comfort of your home.