What's the difference between anoxic ... - Unexplained Faint...

Unexplained Faints and Consciousness

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What's the difference between anoxic seizures and epileptic seizures?

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2 Replies

It would be good to hear real life opinions on this

SyncopeTrust-STARS profile image
SyncopeTrust-STARS

Reflex anoxic seizures occur mainly in young children but can occur at any age. Any unexpected stimulus, such as pain, shock, or fright, causes the heart and breathing to stop.

The eyes roll up into the head, the complexion becomes deathly white, often

blue around the mouth and under the eyes. The jaw will clench and the body will

stiff en, sometimes the arms and legs will jerk. After what seems like hours but is

probably less than 30 seconds, the body relaxes, the heart starts beating

(sometimes very slowly at first) and the suff erer is unconscious. One or two

minutes later the person may regain consciousness but can appear to be

unconscious for over an hour.

Epileptic seizures are caused by a sudden burst of excess electrical activity in the brain, causing a temporary disruption in the normal message passing between brain cells. This disruption results in the brain’s messages becoming halted or mixed up.

Unfortunately, because of the symptoms, it is known that RAS is often

misdiagnosed as temper tantrums, breath holding or as epilepsy. It is one of the

aims of STARS to improve both professional and public awareness of RAS.

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