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Information from Your Family Doctor
Seizures: What You Should Know
Am Fam Physician. 2007 May 1;75(9):1348.
See related article on seizures.
What are seizures?
If you have problems in your brain, you might have a seizure (SEE-zher). During a seizure you might jerk or shake. You might repeat movements like smacking your lips or grinding your teeth. After a seizure, most people feel sleepy or confused.
What causes seizures?
Most seizures are caused by an illness in the brain called epilepsy (EP-ih-lep-see). Seizures also can be caused by a brain injury from a stroke, trauma, infection, or tumor.
In some children, seizures can be caused by a fever. These are called febrile (FEEB-rill) seizures.
If you stop using alcohol or some drugs, you can have side effects called withdrawal. Withdrawal sometimes causes seizures.
Taking too much of some medicines also can cause seizures.
Are seizures dangerous?
Seizures are not dangerous, but you may get hurt if a seizure happens during certain activities (for example, driving, swimming, or working on a ladder). Most states won't let you drive until you have had no seizures for several months.
How can I stay safe during a seizure?
Most seizures only last a few minutes and stop by themselves. While you are having a seizure, the people around you should move sharp objects away and help you lie on your side.
They should not hold you down or put anything in your mouth. They should call 9-1-1 if the seizure lasts longer than a few minutes.
What can my doctor do about seizures?
Your doctor may do tests to find out what is causing seizures. You may need medicine to stop you from having more seizures.
This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Other health-related information is available from the AAFP online at http://familydoctor.org.
This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
Copyright © 2007 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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