What Conditions Cause Seizures?
Studies show that approximately 1 out of 100 Americans experience a seizure in their lifetime. Whether you’ve experienced one seizure or multiple seizures, you should schedule an appointment with our team at Neurology Consultants of Arizona in Scottsdale.
Our board-certified neurologist, Luay Shayya, MD, and the rest of our team offer treatment for all neurological conditions. We can give you a thorough exam to understand your type of seizure and identify its cause.
Signs of a seizure
When you have a seizure, you can experience a shift in your movements, behavior, feelings, and even consciousness. Seizures range in severity depending on how and where they start in your brain. They can last anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes.
Symptoms of the onset of a seizure include:
- Feeling confused
- Staring outward with a blank look
- Uncontrolled jerking movements in your body
- Lack of awareness
- Unconsciousness
You want to reach out to Dr. Shayya and our team for an assessment if you experience any of these signs. We can help determine how your seizure began in your brain and where your abnormal brain activity started.
Conditions that can cause a seizure
When the nerve cells in your brain lose the ability to send and receive electrical impulses, the disrupted communication pathways can cause you to have a seizure.
Causes include:
- Infection from COVID-19
- Head trauma that causes injury to the brain
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Sleeplessness
- Recreational or illegal drug use
- Brain tumor
- Alcohol abuse
- Certain medications that lower your seizure threshold
When you come in to see us, we evaluate you with a series of tests, and we learn about your family medical history. Our goal is to stop your seizures from ever happening again with effective therapies.
What can happen if seizures go ignored
If you don’t get your seizures under control, you can run the risk of other issues that could be life threatening. For example, a seizure can cause you to fall, which can injure you. You could drown if you experience a seizure while swimming or even taking a bath. You’re also at risk for having a car accident.
We encourage you to schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible if you experience any type of seizure. Your condition could be more serious if you’re:
- Pregnant
- Diabetic
- Have a high fever
- Experience heat exhaustion
- Have a second seizure right after your first one
Dr. Shayya and our team have the expertise in neurology to accurately diagnose you and give you the care and treatment needed. If your seizure ever lasts more than five minutes, you should seek medical attention immediately.
If you’ve ever had a seizure or want to learn more about what might cause a seizure, call us today for an evaluation or schedule your appointment online. You can also send a message to Dr. Shayya if you have any concerns or questions.