Providing Emergency Care for Seizure in Arizona

A seizure is characterized by uncontrolled muscle spasms or convulsions, often caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can be isolated events or a recurring condition.

Epileptic seizures are associated with a change in electrical activity. Nonepileptic seizures do not involved such a change. The most common types of seizures are partial, petit mal, and grand mal.

Dignity Health extends compassionate care to treat a wide array of seizures in Arizona, as part of our neurological and emergency services. To learn more, Find a Doctor. If you need emergency care for a seizure, call 9-1-1.

Seizure Symptoms

The symptoms of seizure depend on the type. Once a seizure has passed, the person may be fatigued or weak, or have changes in behavior and mood.

Seizure symptoms are as follows:

• Partial seizure symptoms often include very specific symptoms, such as smelling, tasting, or hearing something that isn’t there.
• Petit mal seizure symptoms may only last briefly and can include an episode of staring or unresponsiveness.
• Grand mal seizure symptoms can cause spasms of the entire body and complete loss of consciousness.

You should call 9-1-1 if any of these seizure-related events occur:

• It is a new onset (first-time) seizure.
• The seizure lasts longer than five minutes.
• The person is unconscious.
• The person is injured or has other symptoms, such as trouble breathing.
• Several seizures occur in a short amount of time.

If you need to go to the ER, use our InQuicker™ online tool by selecting your estimated hospital arrival time. Upon arrival and check-in, you will see a doctor who will assess your situation and determine the next appropriate level of care.

Seizure Causes

The most common causes of seizures include:

• Brain or head injury
• Genetic disorders and brain abnormalities
• Infection of the brain or surrounding tissues
• Stroke
• Brain tumor
• Abnormal blood glucose (s)ugar or electrolytes
• Psychological stress
• Side effects of medication
• Carbon monoxide (o)r other poisoning
• Drug or alcohol abuse or withdrawal

To learn more about the causes of seizures, meet with a skilled neurologist at Dignity Health.

Seizure Treatment & Prevention at Dignity Health

In the event of a seizure, try to protect the person from injury. Most seizures stop on their own, typically within 30 seconds to two minutes.

In a hospital or outpatient care setting at Dignity Health, care for a seizure may start with testing to help the doctor make a diagnosis. The doctor will evaluate symptoms, take a medical history, and perform a neurological exam. An EEG (electroencephalography) or a brain scan may be ordered.

Antiseizure medicine may be used to treat a seizure lasting longer than five minutes or for multiple seizures. For a person with epilepsy, a Dignity Health neurologist will prescribe medications to prevent or reduce the frequency of seizures. For more severe conditions, electrical stimulation or surgery may be needed.