The brain consists of millions of nerve cells that communicate with each other using the chemicals as well as the electrical impulses. The occurrence of a seizure is due to abnormal functionality in the electrical impulses and excessive production of electrical activity. The incident in the brain leads to the development of changes in the individual such as losing consciousness, showing abnormal movements and behavior. The entire episode lasts for a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the type of attack.
A doctor can term an individual as an epileptic patient when he or she displays recurring seizures. However, it is not a compulsion that only an epileptic patient has a seizure. People with no history of epilepsy also have episodes of seizures due to other conditions.
What are the Conditions That Lead To Seizures In Adults With No History?
As stated earlier, not all seizures occur due to epilepsy. Due to this, neurologists segregated the occurrences into three categories:
Epileptic Seizures: In this class, people with epilepsy show a malfunction of the brain that leads to frequent episodes of seizures. The occurrence of such seizures is due to trauma, brain infection, brain injury, stroke, or a tumor. In exceptional cases, epilepsy passes down as an inherited disease. Regardless of the occurrence of the symptoms, it is unclear why an individual experience epileptic seizures.
Provoked Seizures: Provoked seizures is the result of abnormal electrical activity caused due to the withdrawal of drugs, alcohol, and other imbalances in the body such as low blood sugar. In such cases, after the individual receives treatment, there is no re-occurrence of the problem. In such scenario, people do not possess epilepsy.
Non-epileptic Seizures: Although they are similar to seizures, they are not the result of the abnormal functionality in the brain. Most people have non-epileptic seizures due to muscle disorder or psychological conditions.
Identifying Seizures
As it is difficult in identifying seizures and placing them in a category where an individual has a medical history or with no history, neurologists carry out several diagnostic tests in order to reach a conclusion. Based on the tests, the results, and the symptoms experienced by the individual, the doctor will provide the treatment that will help in reducing the abnormal activity produced in the brain or excessive electrical production. Most of the treatment includes the use of medications with prolonged release of the necessary drug.
Triggering Factors
As you have learned that seizure attacks in adults with no history can occur due to several factors, identifying them will be no longer an issue. Apart from the causes explained above, additional triggering factors include strong emotions, flashing lights, loud music, and intense exercise activity. These conditions fall into the minor category, and only a few people display such symptoms. As it is difficult to link these symptoms to a seizure attack, a few factors can elevate the likelihood of the occurrence of the seizure. As an example, lack of sleep, stress, high fever, and menstrual periods can also increase the risk for the cause of seizure in some individuals.
Treatment
The appropriate treatment for seizures in adults with no history depends on the type that he or she experienced. For example, if the seizure is a result due to a brain infection, then the doctor will provide treatment to the disease rather than concentrating on epilepsy. Treating the infection will prevent further occurrence of seizures. Likewise, the procedure is similar to such actions where determining the reason will provide the solution to the cure.
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“Seizures and Epilepsy: Overview” – Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17907-seizures-and-epilepsy/management-and-treatment
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“Non-epileptic seizures (NES)” – Epilepsy Foundation. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/non-epileptic-seizures-nes
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“Provoked Seizures (Acute Symptomatic Seizures)” – American Epilepsy Society. https://www.aesnet.org/for_patients/fact_sheets_for_patients/provoked_seizures
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“Understanding Seizures” – Epilepsy Society. https://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/understanding-seizures
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“What Are Seizures?” – National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Seizures-Information-Page
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