Seizures have a variety of symptoms that can easily be misinterpreted for a variety of other conditions, including dementia and stroke. Due to this, responses to seizures are often more complicated. It is important to be able to help in such situations. This post gives you vital information and tips about seizures and epilepsy from Lely FL retirement communities.
Causes of Seizures in Aging Adults
Epilepsy is the primary cause of a seizure. It affects more than three million people in America. Aging adults are at a greater risk of developing this condition because of their age. Some risk factors of epilepsy include health conditions that affect the brain, head injuries, and strokes.
Even though epilepsy is the main cause of seizures in aging adults, seizures could also result from other things. For instance, a non-epileptic seizure can stem from a physical condition or even extreme stress. Non-epileptic seizures can also result in all the same symptoms of a generalized epileptic seizure.
Types of Seizures in Aging Adults
Simply put, seizures are an electrical disturbance in the brain. The different types of seizures are determined by what part of the brain it occurs in. A generalized seizure happens when the entire brain is being swarmed with electrical activity. This can trigger convulsions, falls, strange jerking motions, blackouts, wandering, or losing the ability to talk. It could even affect breathing for a few moments.
In other cases, the electrical activity may be centralized to one area of the brain. That is known as a partial seizure. Symptoms will include staring, momentary confusion, mumbling, or repeating actions similar to sleepwalking. Like with people suffering from dementia, familiar surroundings may appear different. These events can be easy to miss for some time because people don’t remember having partial complex seizures.
Treatment Options for Seizures
A person who is experiencing a seizure may not be able to talk to others but may be able to respond to simple requests. Symptoms of a seizure usually last for three minutes. After which the person may break into a sweat, experience loss of bladder control or be in shock. Treatment options will depend on the cause of the seizure.
A good way to proceed is to test for epilepsy after a seizure. This process involves doing a scan. When the cause of a seizure is confirmed, a variety of medications can be used to manage the symptoms. Similarly, treatment for non-epileptic seizures usually involves cognitive behavioral therapy to help heal injuries and reduce stress.
What to do if an Elderly Person has a Seizure
If someone is experiencing a seizure for the first time, you should seek immediate medical attention immediately. If the person who is experiencing the seizure has a history of epilepsy, professionals advise waiting three minutes before seeking medical attention. Please note that aging adults with epilepsy should not be bathed without their safety being first assured as this could have negative consequences.
Epilepsy is a condition that can be managed with the right information and medication. However, aging adults living with this condition should avoid activities like swimming, climbing heights, and operating heavy machinery.
