Seizures often leave individuals feeling disoriented and profoundly fatigued, raising questions about the safety of resting or sleeping afterward. The brain undergoes significant changes during a seizure, requiring a period of recovery. This article addresses what occurs after a seizure and the safety of post-seizure rest.
The Post-Seizure Experience
Following a seizure, individuals typically enter the postictal phase, a period during which the brain recovers from intense electrical activity. This recovery phase commonly presents with a range of physical and cognitive symptoms, such as confusion, disorientation, memory or speech difficulties, headaches, muscle soreness, and extreme drowsiness.
The brain’s neurons fire abnormally and excessively during a seizure, leading to exhaustion and depletion of neurotransmitters and energy reserves. This contributes to the profound fatigue and altered consciousness seen in the postictal period. The duration of this phase varies among individuals and seizure types, reflecting the brain’s need for recuperation.
Immediate Care After a Seizure
When someone experiences a seizure, remain calm. Stay with the person for their safety. Gently guide them to the floor or a safe, open area, and turn them onto their side to keep their airway clear. Loosen any tight clothing around their neck to aid breathing.
Note the time the seizure began and ended for medical professionals. Never attempt to restrain the person or place anything in their mouth, as these actions can cause injury. As the person regains consciousness, offer calm reassurance and explain what has happened, as they may be confused or frightened.
Resting After a Seizure
After a seizure, resting or sleeping is generally safe and beneficial. The body and brain need time to recover from the intense neural activity. Feeling sleepy is a common postictal symptom, and honoring this natural urge supports the brain’s recovery. This period of rest helps normalize electrical activity and replenish energy reserves.
Creating a quiet, comfortable, and safe environment for rest is advisable, such as dimming lights and reducing noise. While observation is good after a seizure, continuous active monitoring during natural sleep is typically not necessary unless specific concerns arise.
When to Get Medical Help
While rest is often appropriate after a seizure, certain situations necessitate immediate medical attention. Call emergency services if a seizure lasts longer than five minutes or if another seizure begins before the person has fully recovered consciousness from the first. A first-time seizure also warrants immediate medical evaluation, regardless of its duration or severity. Seek help if the person experiences an injury during the seizure, such as a head trauma.
Additional reasons to seek immediate medical help include difficulty breathing or signs of choking during or after the seizure. If the seizure occurs in water, or if the person does not regain consciousness within a reasonable timeframe after the seizure ends, emergency assistance is needed. For individuals with underlying health conditions, or if the person is pregnant, medical attention should be sought promptly. If the person requests medical help or if there is any doubt about their well-being, contacting emergency services is the safest course of action.