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Generalized tonic–clonic seizure

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360:(EEG), which records the electrical activity of the brain. This is typically done after a seizure episode in a clinical setting with an attempt to "capture" a seizure while it happens. According to "Harrisons Manual of Medicine," the EEG during the tonic phase will show a "progressive increase in low-voltage fast wave activity, followed by generalized high-amplitude, poly spike discharges." The clonic phase EEG will show "high amplitude activity that is typically interrupted by slow waves to create a spike-and-slow-wave pattern." Additionally, the postictal phase will show suppression of all brain activity, then slowing that gradually recovers as the patient awakens. 335:
especially with a compounding central nervous system condition or a prolonged seizure. Occasionally the patient may vomit or burst into tears from the experienced mental trauma. An additional smaller seizure can also occur several minutes after the main seizure, particularly if the patient's seizure threshold has been brought unusually low by known factors or combinations of such. Examples include: severe hangovers, sleep deprivation, elevated estrogen at ovulation, prolonged physical tiredness, and drug use or abuse (including, but not limited to,
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from it, which will cause the patient to fall if standing or sitting. There may also be upward deviation of the eyes with the mouth open. The tonic phase is usually the shortest part of the seizure, normally lasting only 10–20 seconds. The patient may also express brief vocalizations like a loud moan upon entering the tonic stage, due to air being forcefully expelled from the lungs. This vocalization is commonly referred to as an "
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rapidly, causing convulsions. These may range from exaggerated twitches of the limbs to violent shaking or vibrating of the stiffened extremities. The patient may roll and stretch as the seizure spreads. Initially, these contractions may be high frequency and low amplitude, which will progress to decreased frequency and high amplitude. An eventual decrease in contraction amplitude just before seizure cessation is also typical.
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Generalized tonic–clonic seizures can have a focal onset (described above) that progresses into a generalized seizure or be a generalized seizure at onset. The term "Grand Mal" is nonspecific, referring to generalized tonic–clonic seizures with either a focal or generalized onset. Due to this lack of
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cry." Starting in the tonic phase, there may also be bluing of the skin from respiration impairment as well as pooling of saliva in the back of the throat. Increased blood pressure, pupillary size and heart rate (sympathetic response) may also be noted with clenching of the jaw possibly resulting in
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The tonic phase is usually the first phase and consciousness will quickly be lost (though not all generalized tonic–clonic seizures involve a full loss of consciousness), and the skeletal muscles will suddenly tense, often causing the extremities to be pulled towards the body or rigidly pushed away
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techniques showing that there is some degree of damage to a large number of neurons. The lesions (i.e., scar tissue) caused by the loss of these neurons can result in groups of neurons forming a seizure "focus" area with episodic abnormal firing that can cause seizures if the focus is not abolished
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The clonic phase is an evolution of the tonic phase and is caused by muscle relaxations superimposed on the tonic phase muscle contractions. This phase is longer than the tonic phase with the total ictal period usually lasting no longer than 1 min. Skeletal muscles will start to contract and relax
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and/or indication to give rescue medication and call for emergency help, moving close objects out of the way to prevent injury. It is also not recommended to hold a person down that is having a seizure, as that can lead to injury. Nor should anything be put in a person's mouth, as these items can
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breathing. Confusion and total amnesia upon regaining consciousness are also usually experienced and slowly wear off as the patient becomes gradually aware that a seizure occurred and remembers their identity and location. Impaired consciousness duration can last several hours after a seizure,
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Most generalized tonic–clonic seizures begin without warning and abruptly, but some epileptic patients describe a prodrome. The prodrome of a generalized tonic–clonic seizure is a sort of premonitory feeling hours before a seizure. This type of prodrome is distinct from stereotypic
143:(a vague sense of impending seizure) may also be present before the seizure begins. The seizure itself includes both tonic and clonic contractions, with tonic contractions usually preceding clonic contractions. After these series of contractions, there is an extended 919: 904: 159:. Some generalized seizures start as a smaller seizure that occurs solely on one side of the brain, however, and is referred to as a focal (or partial) seizure. These unilateral seizure types (formerly known as 504:
Herausgeber., Kasper, Dennis L., Herausgeber. Fauci, Anthony S., Herausgeber. Hauser, Stephen L., Herausgeber. Longo, Dan L., 1949– Herausgeber. Jameson, J. Larry, Herausgeber. Loscalzo, Joseph (2016-05-27).
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The postictal phase causes are multifactorial to include alteration of cerebral blood flow and effects on multiple neurotransmitters. These changes after a generalized tonic–clonic seizure cause a period of
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of the brain and cause a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. This type of seizure has a specific term called "focal to bilateral tonic clonic seizure." Other precipitating factors include chemical and
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Michael, Glen E.; o'Connor, Robert E. (2011-02-01). "The Diagnosis and Management of Seizures and Status Epilepticus in the Prehospital Setting".
1036: 542: 128:. It is a misconception that they are the sole type of seizure, as they are the main seizure type in approximately 10% of those with epilepsy. 653: 385:
become choking hazards and, depending on what is put in, can potentially break the person's teeth. Long-term therapy may include the use of
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specificity in describing the onset of a seizure and being considered an archaic term, it is not typically used by medical professionals.
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where the person is unresponsive and commonly sleeping with loud snoring. There is usually pronounced confusion upon awakening.
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include staying with a person until a seizure is over, paying attention to length of seizure as a possible indication for
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Fisher, Robert S.; Schachter, Steven C. (2000). "The Postictal State: A Neglected Entity in the Management of Epilepsy".
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and now referred to as focal aware seizure and focal impaired awareness seizure, respectively) can then spread to both
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For a person experiencing a tonic–clonic seizure, first-aid treatment includes rolling the person over into the
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by preventing fluid from entering the lungs. Other general actions to take as recommended by the
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Abou-Khalil, Bassel W.; Gallagher, Martin J.; Macdonald, Robert L. (2012), "Epilepsies",
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and other factors. Tonic–clonic seizures can also be induced deliberately with
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and seizures in general and the most common seizure associated with
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imbalances and a genetically or situationally determined
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These seizures typically initiate abruptly with either a
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Type of generalized seizure that affects the entire brain
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of focal seizures that become generalized seizures.
817: 265:A tonic–clonic seizure comprises three phases: the 116:muscle contractions. Tonic–clonic seizures are the 1474: 27:"Grand mal" redirects here. For other uses, see 750: 199:-flashes or simple light/dark patterns, raised 696:"Electroconvulsive therapy-Electroshock (ECT)" 155:The vast majority of generalized seizures are 1030: 537:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( 503: 820:Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America 1037: 1023: 729:. Epilepsy Therapy Project. Archived from 596: 541:) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ( 58: 1044: 626:"2017 Revised Classification of Seizures" 1405:Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy 999:) is being considered for deletion. See 239:or suppressed via anticonvulsant drugs. 53:Grand mal seizure, tonic–clonic seizure 721:Ruben Kuzniecky, M.D. (16 April 2004). 183:, malnutrition, lack of sleep or rest, 14: 1475: 356:Diagnosis can be made definitively by 1018: 652:. Epilepsy Foundation. Archived from 1322:Dentatorubral–pallidoluysian atrophy 620: 618: 560: 558: 556: 554: 552: 499: 497: 495: 493: 491: 489: 487: 485: 108:that produces bilateral, convulsive 1369:Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy 230:, the cause is often determined by 24: 1299:Complex partial status epilepticus 650:"Seizure Mechanisms and Threshold" 575:10.1016/b978-1-4377-0434-1.00092-x 25: 1494: 1384:Psychogenic non-epileptic seizure 1256:Benign familial neonatal seizures 1208:Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy 1003:to help reach a consensus. › 882: 615: 549: 482: 1460: 1006:Generalized tonic–clonic seizure 569:, Elsevier, pp. 1583–1633, 94:generalized tonic–clonic seizure 45:Generalized tonic–clonic seizure 854: 811: 787: 744: 1344:Early myoclonic encephalopathy 1317:Progressive myoclonus epilepsy 714: 688: 667: 642: 590: 567:Neurology in Clinical Practice 471: 408: 120:most commonly associated with 13: 1: 988: 464: 363: 1294:Epilepsia partialis continua 507:Harrisons manual of medicine 351: 242: 7: 1349:Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy 1327:Unverricht–Lundborg disease 597:David Y Ko (5 April 2007). 417: 226:In the case of symptomatic 10: 1499: 1266:Myoclonic astatic epilepsy 211:, rapid motion or flight, 29:Grand Mal (disambiguation) 26: 1417:Epilepsy Action Australia 1397: 1361: 1307: 1284: 1226: 1160: 1151: 1128: 1097: 1056: 949: 890: 862:"General First Aid Steps" 832:10.1016/j.emc.2010.08.003 221:electroconvulsive therapy 150: 78: 66: 57: 49: 44: 1379:Landau–Kleffner syndrome 1213:Panayiotopoulos syndrome 1001:templates for discussion 1261:Lennox–Gastaut syndrome 1143:Epilepsy and employment 753:Epilepsy & Behavior 599:"Tonic–Clonic Seizures" 399:vagus nerve stimulation 165:complex partial seizure 1193:Temporal lobe epilepsy 1113:Electroencephalography 795:"Triggers of Seizures" 765:10.1006/ebeh.2000.0023 723:"Looking at the Brain" 675:"Triggers of Seizures" 459:Electroencephalography 358:Electroencephalography 161:simple partial seizure 96:, commonly known as a 67:Generalized 3 Hz 1198:Frontal lobe epilepsy 677:. Epilepsy Foundation 439:Non-epileptic seizure 215:imbalances, anxiety, 1434:Epilepsy Research UK 1218:Vertiginous epilepsy 1138:Epilepsy and driving 1089:Epilepsy in children 372:, which can prevent 209:fluorescent lighting 126:metabolic imbalances 73:electroencephalogram 1422:Epilepsy Foundation 1389:Epilepsy in animals 1069:Aura (warning sign) 866:Epilepsy Foundation 799:Epilepsy Foundation 702:on 24 February 2021 630:Epilepsy Foundation 378:Epilepsy Foundation 106:generalized seizure 1309:Myoclonic epilepsy 1286:Status epilepticus 950:External resources 444:Tonic (physiology) 382:status epilepticus 300:biting the tongue. 195:, the presence of 1448: 1447: 1362:Related disorders 1357: 1356: 1203:Rolandic epilepsy 984: 983: 434:Epileptic seizure 393:, diet therapy ( 370:recovery position 177:seizure threshold 98:grand mal seizure 90: 89: 71:discharges on an 39:Medical condition 18:Grand mal seizure 16:(Redirected from 1490: 1465: 1464: 1463: 1456: 1439:Epilepsy Society 1428:Epilepsy Outlook 1271:Epileptic spasms 1183:Gelastic seizure 1158: 1157: 1084:Neonatal seizure 1039: 1032: 1025: 1016: 1015: 888: 887: 876: 875: 873: 872: 858: 852: 851: 815: 809: 808: 806: 805: 791: 785: 784: 748: 742: 741: 739: 738: 718: 712: 711: 709: 707: 698:. 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Index

Grand mal seizure
Grand Mal (disambiguation)
The electroencephalogram recording of a person with childhood absence epilepsy showing a seizure. The waves are black on a white background.
spike-and-wave
electroencephalogram
Specialty
Neurology
generalized seizure
tonic
clonic
seizure type
epilepsy
metabolic imbalances
focal
generalized
prodrome
postictal state
idiopathic
simple partial seizure
complex partial seizure
hemispheres
neurotransmitter
seizure threshold
fatigue
hypertension
stress
diabetes
strobe
estrogen
ovulation

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