How to recognize and act in the event of an epileptic seizure?

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease which can manifest suddenly and generate alarm among those who witness a crisis, especially when there is no clear information on how to act. Given this situation, recognize the signs of an epileptic seizure and know what to do in those first minutes It is essential to protect the affected person and avoid damage or complications.

According to the Spanish Society of Neurology, Epilepsy already affects almost 500,000 people in Spainwhile every year some 20,000 new casesmostly in children and people over 65 years of age. Besides, 1 in 10 people will experience an epileptic seizure at least during their lifetime.

In this context, it is worth mentioning that Epileptic seizures do not always present in the same way. Although the best known are convulsive ones, with loss of consciousness and movements of all four extremitiesthere are other types that may go unnoticed, such as episodes of brief disconnection, “dejavu” feelingstaring, sudden confusion, or automatic movements. These manifestations usually raise doubts about whether it is an epileptic seizure, fainting or syncope or another neurological problem, which makes an adequate reaction difficult.

“Among the most common signs of a convulsive or tonic-clonic epileptic seizure are sudden loss of consciousness, body rigidity followed by shaking, possible involuntary sounds, abundant salivation or biting of the tongue. After the crisis, it is common for the person to appear disoriented, tired or with muscle pain, a phase known as the postcritical period, which lasts from a few minutes to several hours,” explains Ángel Aledo, head of the Neurology service at the Blua Sanitas Valdebebas Hospital.

In the case of older people, this period takes on special relevance. As Miriam Piqueras, medical director of Sanitas Mayores, points out, “epileptic seizures In the elderly population they imply a greater risk of injuriesparticularly when there is physical fragility or other pathologies occur. For this reason, it is essential to ensure a safe space and pay attention to changes that may appear after the episode, such as prolonged disorientation, falls or difficulty recovering one’s usual state.” Furthermore, in people over 65 yearsepilepsy can be an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.

From this perspective, Sanitas experts recommend following a series of basic guidelines to act in the event of an epileptic seizure:

Protect the environment: It is essential to remove nearby objects that could cause blows and place the person, if possible, on the ground or a safe surface, cushioning the head with a folded piece of clothing.

Do not intervene in the mouth: fingers or objects should not be inserted, since there is no risk of the person “swallow your tongue”but it can cause injuries.

Put aside after the crisis: Once the rigidity or convulsions end, it is recommended to place the person in a safe lateral position in order to facilitate breathing and avoid the risk of aspiration of saliva or vomiting. Control time: writing down the duration of the crisis is useful for health professionals, especially if it exceeds two minutes or several episodes are repeated in a row.

Ask for medical help: If it is the first epileptic seizure, it lasts more than two minutes, there are several in a row without recovery or the person is injured, it is essential to contact the emergency services.

“Health information and education are key tools to reduce the stigma and fear that still surrounds epilepsy. Knowing how to act not only protects the person suffering from the crisis, but also gives peace of mind to their loved ones. In fact, with a correct diagnosis and medical follow-up in person or through video consultation, Most children and adults with epilepsy lead full, active lives.”concludes Ángel Aledo.