A traumatic head injury, meningitis, and deficiency of essential minerals are some of the most common reasons behind the occurrence of grand mal seizures.
Seizures is a condition in which the muscles contract repeatedly for a minute or two. This involuntary muscle contraction resulting from abnormal electrical stimulation in the brain causes uncontrolled repeated movements of any body part. Grand mal seizures, also referred to as tonic-clonic seizures occur in two phases. In the first phase the person loses consciousness while in the second phase all parts of the body suffer from uncontrolled shaking. In most cases, these seizures typically do not last for more than two minutes.
The neurons located inside the brain generate electrical signals, that are eventually transmitted to the desired muscle group for proper movement. In grand mal seizures, disturbances in the electrical activity of the neurons occur in major part of the brain. As a result, the continuous jerky movements are widespread and affect the whole body. In other words, the entire body trembles in this type of seizure.
Head Injury
Malfunctioning of the neurons in the brain that send and receive electrical signals may be due to traumatic head injuries. Such type of physical injuries to the head during an accident can predispose a person to tonic-clonic seizures.
Meningitis
The brain and the spinal cord is covered with a thin tissue that protect these organs from external damage. This protective tissue that surround these organs are basically the membranes and also referred to as meninges. Meningitis is a condition in which these membranes are inflamed. If left untreated, meningitis can interfere with the normal electrical activity of the brain and eventually cause seizures.
Deficiency of Calcium or Magnesium
When calcium or magnesium levels in the blood dip below the normal range, it can also trigger unwanted electrical activity in the brain, which may lead to seizures.
Stroke
In this condition, the brain function rapidly deteriorates, because a part of the brain no longer gets sufficient blood supply. This abnormality in the blood flow to the brain can induce tonic-clonic seizures. Stroke-induced tonic-clonic seizures can be recurrent or occur occasionally depending upon the amount of damage caused by the stroke.
Brain Tumors
Uncontrolled cell division occurs inside the brain and leads to the development of abnormal mass of tissue, known as tumor. It is observed that brain tumor patients are susceptible to seizure attack. In fact, studies show that seizure is a frequently occurring problem in people affected with brain tumors.
Treating the underlying cause is the key to manage this abnormal seizure activity. The doctor is likely to prescribe anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin and oxcarbazepine. Generally, a combination of anti-seizure medicines are required to treat this condition effectively.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
