Reflex anoxic seizures often misdiagnosed as breath holding

[SyncopeTrust-STARS]

Fact of the day: Reflex anoxic seizures is often misdiagnosed as breath holding

Breath holding is different to RAS in that during breath holding the heart continues to beat normally, but the breathing stops temporarily.

In RAS any unexpected stimulus causes the heart and breathing to stop temporarily. 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 stiffen, 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 sufferer is unconscious. One or two minutes later the person may regain consciousness but can appear to be unconscious for over an hour.