Will I Have a Seizure if I Have Had a Stroke? Know More

 Both Strokes and Seizures are serious conditions that affect your brain activity. However, their causes and effects are quite different. While a Stroke originates from a disruption to the blood circulation in the brain, a Seizure is a sudden electrical disturbance in the brain. If you have recently had a Stroke, it’s important to understand your risk of a Seizure, what its symptoms look like and how to avoid one.

Understanding Stroke Vs Seizure

Also called a cerebrovascular accident, a Stroke is a type of brain damage caused by an interruption in its blood flow. It occurs when the blood supply to a part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing the brain tissues from getting oxygen and nutrients. When this happens, the brain cells begin to die. The quicker one seeks medical attention, the better one’s odds of a full recovery.

On the other hand, a seizure happens when there is a surge in electrical activity in the brain.
Like a Stroke, a Seizure’s symptoms include headaches, numbness in different parts of the body, dizziness, and difficulty speaking. There are different types of Seizures with different degrees of severity. Several medications are available to manage Seizures, many of which might need to be taken for extended periods or even lifelong, to prevent a recurrence.

What is the link between a Stroke and a Seizure?

Patients who have suffered from a Stroke are at increased risk of having a Seizure, particularly older patients. This is because the injury caused to the brain by the Stroke leads to the formation of scar tissue, which disrupts electrical activity in the brain and can cause a Seizure soon after. Typically, a patient’s risk of post-stroke Seizure is the most in the first 30 days following the episode. According to the National Stroke Association, about 5% of patients will have a Seizure within a few weeks of a Stroke, and acute Seizures are likely to happen within the first 24 hours of a hemorrhagic Stroke or a Stroke to the cerebral cortex. Patients who experience this are at a higher risk of developing epilepsy, particularly if the Seizures are recurrent.

Symptoms of a Seizure

The first symptoms may start minutes or even hours before it occurs. The patient may become sensitive to light and experience a distorted sense of taste or smell. When the actual Seizure sets in, the patient may blink excessively, bite their tongue, experience muscle freezing, drool, or feel sudden anxiety. Severe Seizures could even lead to a loss of consciousness. Finally, in the end, the patient may experience confusion, memory loss, or even temporary paralysis.

Lifestyle Changes That Can Reduce the Risk of Post-Stroke Seizures

The recovery process after a Stroke requires you to carefully follow the regime laid out by your doctor, including medication, physiotherapy, and exercising once you are able to. In addition to making regular visits to a rehabilitation center in Bangalore for health check-ups, the following lifestyle tips can help you minimize your risk of a Seizure.

• Eat a healthy, nutritious diet and stay hydrated. Avoid alcohol and smoking.
• Incorporate physical activity to maintain a healthy body weight. However, always avoid exerting yourself too much
• Ask a family member or friend to drive you around, and ask them to be present while you are cooking or swimming
• Educate your family and friends about what a Seizure might look like so that they can help you if you have one

Tips on How to Respond to a Seizure

If you have recently had a Stroke, educate yourself as well as your friends/family/caregivers about these guidelines issued by the National Institute of Health on what to do if a Seizure comes on.

• Roll the patient onto his or her side to prevent vomiting or choking
• Loosen clothing around the neck and cushion the patient’s head
• Do not restrict the patient’s movement unless he or she is in danger
• Ensure that the patient is breathing. If necessary, gently grip the jaw and tilt the head back to open up the airway.
• Don’t put anything in the patient’s mouth
• Remove any solid or sharp items nearby
• Stay with the patient until the Seizure ends. Take note of how long it lasted and what symptoms the patient displayed so you can inform the medical personnel when they arrive.

Both Seizures and Strokes are serious medical conditions that require suitable preventive care and the right medication. By scheduling periodic check-ups at a top-notch rehabilitation center in Bangalore, you can avoid recurrences and lead a normal, healthy life.