{"id":2226,"date":"2018-07-18T04:49:32","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T04:49:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=2226"},"modified":"2020-07-30T07:29:58","modified_gmt":"2020-07-30T07:29:58","slug":"18-explanations-as-to-what-causes-seizures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/18-explanations-as-to-what-causes-seizures\/","title":{"rendered":"18 Explanations as to What Causes Seizures"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A seizure can be a frightening thing to witness as a friend, loved one, or even just a concerned on-looker. During a seizure, an individual can react in a large range of unusual ways \u2013 they may suddenly seem to contort and become stiff, rigid and seized up (hence the name), but they might also react in a number of different ways: they may, for instance, begin staring off into the middle distance and become unresponsive. This is what is known as an \u2018absence seizure\u2019. In other cases, they might become suddenly limp and collapse to the ground.<\/p>\n

And in other cases, a seizure can be far harder to spot and have a much milder appearance \u2013 sometimes it will cause an individual to twitch, cause their eyes to roll in their head, or cause one limb to move in an unexplained manner.<\/p>\n

All these things are seizures in name and share a lot in common, even if they seem very different from the perspective of an outsider. In this post, we will explain just how seizures come about, what causes them, and why it is common for them to look so different.<\/p>\n

1. Brain Activity<\/h3>\n

To understand the causes of seizure it is perhaps best to first look at that key, underlying mechanism.
\nEssentially then, a seizure is the result of sudden and unusual activity in the brain. This can be described as a sudden electrical cascade that fires across the entire neural network.<\/p>\n

To understand the brain, it is perhaps best to think of it as one giant, interconnected web of neurons \u2013 or brain cells.<\/p>\n

These brain cells each codify some aspect of our experience. An individual neuron can be linked to a specific memory (so that when the neuron \u2018fires\u2019 we might see or hear that memory), it could be linked to a part of the body (so that we move that part of the body), or it could be linked to an emotion.<\/p>\n

There are many things that cause neurons to fire, which we will explore more over the course of this article. Suffice to say though, that this is the \u2018cause\u2019 of a seizure: it is an uncontrolled and large-scale firing of countless neurons at once.<\/p>\n

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2. Local Seizure<\/h3>\n

The seizures that you perhaps are most familiar with are those that cause the entire brain to light up with neural activity. This is the kind of seizure that causes someone to fall to the floor foaming at the mouth.<\/p>\n

However, another type of seizure is the \u2018local seizure\u2019. This has a slightly different cause, as here the surge in electrical activity is only affecting one part of the brain. For instance, this might just affect the motor cortex (the part of the brain responsible for controlling movement) or it might just affect the vision.<\/p>\n

In a local seizure then, the symptoms tend to be much shorter-lived and much more specific. This is how a seizure can look very similar to a simple twitch or facial movement.<\/p>\n

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3. Epilepsy<\/h3>\n

Epilepsy is a condition that causes a person to experience sudden seizures on a regular, chronic basis. It is a mistake to believe that all seizures are caused by epilepsy (though it is a pervasive belief). In truth, over a third of all seizures have unknown causes.<\/p>\n

Epilepsy itself can have a great number of different causes. Often it is genetic and therefore will be present from birth. In other cases, it can be the result of a traumatic or unusual birth. It\u2019s also possible though for epilepsy to develop later in life \u2013 as a result of subsequent trauma, or even without an obvious explanation.<\/p>\n

As with many conditions, it is likely that a person can be born with a genetic susceptibility to epilepsy, but that this will then be more likely to come to fruition only under the right circumstances.<\/p>\n

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4. Low Oxygen During Birth<\/h3>\n

During pregnancy and immediately after birth, the brain is high \u2018plastic\u2019. Large amounts of neurotransmitters and hormones such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and nerve growth factor, will be produced in order to regulate and encourage the growth of the brain and the formation of new connections as the child learns to make their way in the world.<\/p>\n

As such, the brain is also highly susceptible to damage at this point. And if you should be starved of oxygen during this highly critical period, then it can result in a whole range of different health problems.
\nOther forms of traumatic birth may also increase the risk of epilepsy or other conditions forming.<\/p>\n

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5. Brain Tumor<\/h3>\n

A brain tumor is a cancerous growth in the brain. This is caused by damage to the cells that make up the brain that reaches the nucleus and the DNA. When cells reproduce, they do so by splitting and making perfect copies of themselves \u2013 this is called mitosis.<\/p>\n

As mitosis spreads through the brain, damaged cells will repeat themselves and increase the amount of damage. This prevents them from working properly and can result in uncontrolled growth as well as a lack of function.<\/p>\n

Not only can this cause brain damage due to the lack of function in those cells, but it can also place pressure on other areas of the brain, making them more likely to fire and therefore increasing the likelihood of epilepsy.<\/p>\n

The precise symptoms of epilepsy will vary greatly though depending on the exact position of the tumor and the area of the brain that it affects. This is why it is so important to always be on the lookout for \u2018unusual\u2019 behavior. If you notice yourself, or a friend, is not acting as they normally do, then this is a reason to get checked up at the doctors.<\/p>\n

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6. Brain Damage<\/h3>\n

Brain damage can occur as a result of many things. Perhaps the most obvious cause of brain damage however is simply a direct trauma. If you have been in a car crash, if you have been in a fight, or if you have fallen down a flight of stairs\u2026 then this can cause brain damage that will result in a range of different changes \u2013 including the onset of epilepsy.<\/p>\n

Brain damage can also cause acute seizures at the moment. That is to say that if you violently bang your head against something, this can trigger sudden and large activity in the brain. This is because direct pressure to a neuron will cause it to fire.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t believe me, then you can actually witness this for yourself: just get punched in the eye! The reason that we see a bright light when this happens, is that the sudden and direct impact to the eye socket will cause the nerves in the retina to \u2018fire\u2019 despite the lack of light.<\/p>\n

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7. Triggers<\/h3>\n

Those people who suffer from epilepsy may have a range of different \u2018triggers\u2019. These are things that cause someone to experience epilepsy when otherwise they might not. This is a kind of sensitivity to a particular type of input, that can make it very important for people to avoid those situations that they know to be problematic.<\/p>\n

At the same time, in some rare cases, a trigger can cause someone who has no previous history of epilepsy to experience a seizure! In fact, there are certain triggers that will cause anyone to experience a seizure. There\u2019s a particular pitch for instance, that if played, would cause anyone within earshot to go into a seizure. <\/p>\n

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8. Excitement<\/h3>\n

One of the most common triggers of seizure for those with epilepsy and those without it is excitement. If we get very overly excited, then this will cause a sudden rush of activity throughout the brain. That activity will then cause a cascade of more activity, which can eventually take on a life of its own.<\/p>\n

To understand this, it will again help to better understand the way that the brain and the neurons work. We now know that in order to experience anything, there must be a corresponding activity in the neurons of the brain. At the same time, this is also what then triggers more activity.<\/p>\n

When a neuron fires with an action potential, that causes a small electric current to travel down its tail (its axon) to reach other neurons. If the signal is strong enough, then the neuron at the receiving end (terminal end) of that transaction will also fire and will continue to carry the message to the next. This is why remembering one thing often causes us to remember other things!<\/p>\n

Neurons are only ever firing or not firing. They are binary and with no \u2018half on\u2019 state. And they will only fire if the amount of electrical activity is enough to push them over a certain excitement threshold.
\nSo, if you have lots of neurons firing all at once, the amount of activity will greatly increase the likelihood of more firing too. This is why getting too excited can cause a kind of domino effect throughout the brain.<\/p>\n

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9. Strong Emotion<\/h3>\n

There are other things that increase the likelihood of a neuron to fire \u2013 that increases its excitability. One of the key factors here is the existence of other hormones and neurotransmitters. Essentially, neurotransmitters are the chemicals that make us feel certain emotions. And ultimately, they can all be divided into two groups: excitatory or inhibitory.<\/p>\n

Excitatory neurotransmitters are those that make a neuron more likely to fire (dopamine, cortisol, norepinephrine), while inhibitory neurotransmitters are those that make them less likely to fire (melatonin, GABA, serotonin).<\/p>\n

When you have too many excitatory neurotransmitters, then this can cause the brain to become far more responsive \u2013 greatly increasing your chances of a seizure. And this happens when we feel the right (or wrong) emotions to a very strong degree.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, epilepsy\/seizure medication works by releasing more inhibitory neurotransmitters into the brain. The anxiolytic barbiturate for instance works by increasing GABA.<\/p>\n

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10. Drug Use<\/h3>\n

This is also why seizures are common when using certain drugs. Many drugs work by releasing a sudden and huge amount of a neurotransmitter into the brain. They do this by breaking open the little neurotransmitter-containing sacs called \u2018vesicles\u2019 located at the terminal point of the axon.<\/p>\n

In other words, they cause a huge release of dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline, etc. into the brain that causes massive havoc across a wide number of neurotransmitters.<\/p>\n

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11. Infection<\/h3>\n

An infection can lead to seizures in some cases when the condition is severe. This happens for several reasons. During an infection, the body is trying to fight off a foreign invasion in the form of a virus or bacteria. To do this, it will trigger an immune response that will cause swelling, fever, increased heart rate, sweating, and more.<\/p>\n

The idea of this response is to try and make the body a less hospitable place for the foreign body \u2013 killing it or driving it out of the body in the process. Many of us think that these symptoms are caused by the infection itself then \u2013 when in fact it is actually the body\u2019s own response that causes it.<\/p>\n

This can eventually wreak havoc in the brain if it causes swelling in the brain itself, due to dehydration, and due to the increase in temperature. Eventually, hallucinations and even seizures become distinctly possible.<\/p>\n

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12. Lights<\/h3>\n

This is one of the best-known causes or triggers for a seizure and is what many people will associate with epilepsy. The reason for this is simply that we very often see warnings regarding flashing lights that are aimed at people who have seizures.<\/p>\n

When watching a movie, for instance, it will often warn that the film contains flashing lights and that those who experience seizures should stop watching. This is due to a specific type of epilepsy called photosensitive epilepsy. Here, the bright, flashing, and unpredictable lights that come in through the retina can cause too much excitability in the neurons.<\/p>\n

Despite being one of the most well-known forms of epilepsy, it is actually among the rarer causes of seizure \u2013 being responsible for only 3% of epileptic attacks. The only reason this is so well known then is that it can be so hard to avoid for those that have the condition!<\/p>\n

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13. Music<\/h3>\n

What\u2019s perhaps even more difficult to avoid is music. And the sad fact is that there are people out there who will experience seizures in response to music. That means that they can\u2019t listen to certain tracks without being at risk and events like concerts would be far too dangerous. Of course, not all music will have this same effect!<\/p>\n

As mentioned, the wrong pitch can actually trigger this effect in anyone \u2013 so it should perhaps come as no surprise.<\/p>\n

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14. Stroke<\/h3>\n

A stroke can also cause a seizure \u2013 either in the moment or as a lingering side effect. During a stroke, blood flow to the brain is interrupted, along with oxygen supply. This prevents the neurons from operating normally and that is why the acute symptoms can be so varied \u2013 from confusion to the inability to remember one\u2019s own name.<\/p>\n

This can of course also triggers a cascade of activity in some circumstances as the individual goes into shock or panic \u2013 or if key important circuits are interrupted. Following the stroke, permanent damage can be left behind due to the death of brain cells. This can then leave someone susceptible to future bouts of epilepsy.<\/p>\n

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15. Stress<\/h3>\n

Like excitement and other emotions, stress can also cause a seizure. This is very common in fact seeing, as stress is caused by the release of highly excitatory neurotransmitters such as cortisol, adrenaline\/norepinephrine, and dopamine.<\/p>\n

Someone who is very anxious will show more activity across the brain as neurons fire and they consider every possible negative outcome. This is also why we sometimes feel anxious when we drink caffeine. Even our senses become heightened when we are stressed.<\/p>\n

Of course, a seizure is a very extreme reaction to this kind of stress, but it can be managed in just the same way by utilizing meditation, positive self-talk (CBT), calm and controlled breathing, and other strategies.<\/p>\n

The big danger here of course is that the very fact that you have seizures could then make you more stressed. In other words, the pressure to remain \u2018not stressed\u2019 is just too high, and this actually causes you to become more stressed. This same problem can occur during a panic attack (which can also lead to seizure) which is why they use CBT and meditation can be so effective.<\/p>\n

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16. Tiredness<\/h3>\n

Being very tired can also cause the onset of seizures and epilepsy. This is partly because being very tired will cause the body to experience a stress response as well. When we are extremely tired, we panic because this is an unhealthy state to be in and thus we produce more cortisol, adrenaline, etc. to try and get ourselves somewhere safe to rest quickly!<\/p>\n

As we get extremely tired, the brain can also begin to hallucinate as it tries to put us into a sleep state \u2013 REM (rapid eye movement \u2013 the moment when we dream) can even begin to occur during waking hours. It should be no huge surprise then, that this can eventually lead to a seizure.<\/p>\n

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17. Alzheimer\u2019s<\/h3>\n

Alzheimer\u2019s is a neurodegenerative disease like dementia that is characterized by the loss of proper function of numerous neurons. Here, this is caused by the build-up of protein \u2018plaques\u2019 that form on the neurons and prevent them from firing as they should, as well as \u2018tangles\u2019.<\/p>\n

Similar to a stroke or to a local seizure, the precise results of this degeneration can vary hugely depending on the part of the brain specifically that has been affected. A huge number of different potential symptoms can also include seizure among them.<\/p>\n

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\"\"18. Unknown<\/h3>\n

While all of these triggers and causes can be associated with seizure, the truth is actually that the widest number of seizure causes are completely unknown \u2013 and in fact, it is highly common for people who have had no previous history of seizure to end up having seizures.<\/p>\n

At the same time, it can also be incredibly hard to notice if you have had a seizure in some cases as they can take on so many different forms. Many people who have never had epileptic seizures before will be able to look back and recognize the earlier signs that they might have missed at the time. For instance, many people will remember that they went through a phase of feeling \u2018confused\u2019 or of staring into space. They might report that they were very tired, or that their mood had changed somewhat.<\/p>\n

Maybe you have experienced a blackout?<\/p>\n

Remember, not all seizures include loss of consciousness though or foaming at the mouth. This most commonly known form is called a myotonic seizure and others such as an atonic seizure can take on a very different form. The aforementioned absence seizure can simply be a loss of responsiveness lasting for about 10 minutes with no lost consciousness.\r\n

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