Seizures During and After a Stroke 0
A seizure occurs when a particular area of the brain fires spontaneously without voluntary control. It can result in an unexpected sensation (visual image, smell, sound, feeling or taste), motor activity (head, eyes, or limb shaking), and/or change in alertness, ability to speak or understand. Seizures are not uncommon after strokes. Multiple studies have reported approximately 10% of all ischemic stroke survivors suffer at least one seizure by the 5th year after their stroke. The risk for hemorrhagic strokes was higher, as approximately 27% of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and 34% of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage suffered at least one seizure during the same time period.
The most common seizures resulting from strokes are those that occur weeks or months after the initial event. When a region of brain tissue dies during a stroke, it begins to degenerate into scar tissue after a few weeks. The presence of this scar tissue acts a provocative irritant to the normal neurons adjacent to it, precipitation a seizure months or even years later. If you or someone you know have been experiencing seizures after a stroke, ask your primary care provider about an epileptologist in your area, a neurologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of seizures.
If you would like to read a personal article about the signs of seizure, please refer to http://www.everydayhealth.com/blogs/survivingastroke/seizures-affect-stroke-recovery
