Epileptic crisis: what to do and how to act
The World Health Organization estimates that, in the world, approximately 50 million people have epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder that can actually affect people of any age, although it tends to appear above 5 years of age. .
It is a brain disorder caused by the existence of a imbalance in the electrical activity of neurons of some area of the brain. It is, therefore, one or several neurological disorders that leave in the brain a predisposition to suffer recurrent seizures, which often lead to cognitive, neurobiological and psychological consequences.
One of its common symptoms is the one known as Epileptic crisis, which consist of episodes of alteration of brain activity that produce changes in the attention or behavior of the person.
Why is the epileptic crisis?
Normal brain electrical functioning depends in a certain sense on a certainly delicate balance between the activity of the different excitatory neurons and the inhibitory neurons. So, if there is any process that modifies this balance, an abnormal neuronal discharge can be generated.
The truth is that most of these discharges remain localized, with no clinical expression. But if the download exceeds those known as local "security" circuits (which actively prevent the spread of discharges), and spreads to a critical number of neurons appears the clinical crisis.
How long is the epilepsy crisis?
It is usually one of the most common questions that a person makes when they are in front of a family member or friend who suffers a crisis of epilepsy. Usually, an epileptic seizure usually lasts 3 to 4 minutes. After 5 minutes some medical specialists consider it convenient to call an ambulance.
These symptoms may stop after a few seconds or minutes, or continue for up to 15 minutes.
Of course, when the duration of the epileptic crisis is greater than 30 minutes we are in a neurological emergency, it is essential to go urgently to the hospital.
How to act in the face of an epileptic crisis
It is essential to always stay calm. In most cases the epileptic seizure only lasts a few minutes, and in a large number of cases they tend to spontaneously subside.
It is recommended observe with great attention the different characteristics of the convulsive movements, how long they last and what the person does when beginning his recovery once he has overcome the epileptic crisis.
Since you can injure the person, it is not advised to try to stop the crisis or prevent convulsive movements. Conversely, if it is advisable to accommodate the person with care, placing some soft object under his head and carefully placing him on his side, so you can breathe better.
It is also essential stay with the person until the crisis ends. It is usual that after the crisis the person is confused; Talk to him in a friendly and calm tone.
In addition to the tips indicated above, also bear in mind the following basic guidelines:
- Loosen clothes that may prevent the person from breathing freely.
- Remove objects and furniture that could hurt the person when convulsing.
- Do not try to administer artificial respiration. Except when the patient does not breathe again after the crisis (very unlikely circumstance).
- It is possible that after the end of the crisis the person feels confused. Avoid determining it, and talk to it in a calm and friendly way, directing it without forcing it away from dangerous objects.
- Do not put anything in the person's mouth.
When to request an ambulance?
Although epileptic seizures do not represent a medical emergency in the great majority of cases, since they usually last one or two minutes and do not usually cause damage, there are some reasons that can lead to urgent help. They are the following:
- When the crisis lasts more than 5 minutes.
- Difficulty breathing after the crisis.
- Slow recovery
- Second seizure
- Pregnancy.
- Any sign of illness or injury.
- Existence of other medical diagnoses.
