Neurological Emergency

Some neurological conditions are considered medical emergencies. Acute neurological illness is one of the common causes for admission to the emergency. There are a number of such conditions and it is worthwhile to understand what one needs to do when someone develops neurological emergencies. AIG Hospitals, Emergency Medicine Department is skilled in handling the Neurological Emergency cases at the earliest.

The major emergencies are stroke, fainting and seizures.

Stroke

Stroke is an acute vascular event in the brain. It is due to a block in the blood vessel or repute of the blood vessel. The awareness of the illness and preventive measures is less compared to heart attacks even though it is one of the most common causes of death/disability. Stroke can happen at any age, as the main risk factors are hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes and smoking, which are not exactly age-specific. Stroke can manifest with loss of consciousness, weakness of limbs, slurring or loss of speech and memory disturbance. This is truly a medical emergency where every minute counts. The patient needs to be brought immediately to the hospital.

However, there are some factors that may make you more likely to have uncontrolled seizures and seizures as an emergency. It’s important to know if any of these situations pertain to you and to talk to your doctor about your risks.

Epilepsy and Seizures

A seizure is considered an emergency when it lasts a long time or when seizures occur close together and the person doesn’t recover between seizures. Just like there are different types of seizures, there are also different types of emergencies.

• Seizure clusters: These may not be an emergency by itself, but a cluster of seizures that gets longer or occurs closer together could develop into one. By stopping a cluster or group of seizures, you may be able to prevent an emergency from developing.
• Status epilepticus: This is a medical emergency when seizures last too long or occur too close together. This can be life-threatening – everyone should know how to recognize what status epilepticus is and when to call for emergency help.
• Injuries or illnesses: While most injuries are minor and can be treated at home, serious problems can occur as a result of a seizure. A problem may develop immediately after a seizure or hours to days later. Make sure you know what to do if symptoms of injuries or illnesses occur.