How to tell the difference between a stroke and a seizure?

Strokes and seizures are both serious and affect brain activity. However, the cause and extent of their effect on brain health varies. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, while a seizure is caused by an increase in electrical activity in the brain. In addition, a stroke can permanently affect a person’s thinking and muscle control, and the effects of a seizure are usually temporary. Here are the differences that help distinguish a stroke from a seizure.

Concept

A stroke is brain damage caused by interruption of blood supply to an area of ​​the brain, by a blockage in an artery, or by bleeding into brain tissue after a blood vessel ruptures. When an area of ​​the brain is damaged by a stroke, a person can lose some physical or mental abilities that would normally be controlled by the damaged area.

A seizure is a sudden increase in electrical activity in the brain, often affecting the way a person appears or acts for a short time. It can cause uncontrolled body movements or change a person’s consciousness.

Relationship

With a stroke, the damaged area of ​​the brain forms scar tissue, and this tissue can begin to emit abnormal electrical signals. This electrical activity can trigger seizures based on its location. So brain damage from a stroke can lead to seizures. In most cases, seizures do not affect blood flow to the brain and therefore seizures do not cause a stroke.

Reason

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke is much more common than hemorrhagic stroke. It occurs due to a blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. The blockage can be caused by a blood clot forming in an artery or blocking blood flow in one of the carotid arteries. These arteries carry blood from the sides of the neck to the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. As a result, blood leaks into surrounding tissues. The flow of blood stops at the point where the artery ruptures.

The main cause of seizures is high blood pressure. Other causes include heat, alcohol or drug abuse, snake bites, and epilepsy.

Risk factor

The main risk factors for stroke are cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Other risk factors for stroke include diabetes, carotid artery disease, advanced age, and a family history of stroke.

While a risk factor for seizures is epilepsy, having a family history of a seizure disorder can also increase your risk of having a seizure. Convulsions also occur in people who have had a head injury, and a stroke can also cause a seizure.

Possibility of death

Death from a stroke is more likely to occur due to the impact of the stroke on the large vessel and brain stem. According to experts, about 11% of people who have a stroke do not survive. Meanwhile, very rarely a convulsion can lead to death. However, the physical trauma that occurs during a seizure can lead to serious injury or death. For example, if a person has a seizure while swimming, they could drown. If a person has a seizure while driving, they could be in an accident…

Possibility of treatment

Many drugs are available to help prevent stroke in people with risk factors, and most drugs that prevent stroke are blood thinners. There are no current drugs that can improve brain damage caused by stroke, although a lot of research is focused on finding drugs to help lessen the effects. Currently researchers focus on the aspect of rehabilitation because its effect is quite useful in restoring some of the functions that have been lost due to stroke.

In terms of treatment for seizures, there are now several common anticonvulsant drugs, which work by inhibiting or reducing the chemical processes that nerve cells use to communicate. Experts recommend that using alcohol or drugs while taking anticonvulsants interferes with the drug’s action and causes seizures.

If you think someone may be having a stroke or seizure, it’s best to get medical help and try to stay with them until medical help arrives. People who have had a stroke need to go to the hospital as soon as possible, because the golden hour in the stroke emergency is so important. Don’t try to move or give any medicine when you see someone who is suspected of having a stroke or convulsion.

Mr. Chi
(Follow Healthline, Very Well Health)