Perhaps there is no person who would not be aware of involuntary muscle contractions that appear suddenly, like an attack, and most often do not last long. But there are people in whom this phenomenon has become regular, lasts a long time and causes a lot of problems, affecting both performance and even personal life. From what there are convulsions, how they are classified and what means will help fight them, we will tell further in the article.
How are seizures classified?
Depending on the nature of involuntary muscle contractions, they are divided into clonic, tonic and clonic-tonic. Tonic - these are contractions that force a limb to freeze in a flexion or extension position. And clonic convulsions are characterized by a rapid change in muscle contraction and relaxation, leading to stereotypical movements (twitches), which have different amplitudes. Accordingly, clonic-tonic - phase changes of clonic and tonic contractions.
Depending on the prevalence of convulsive manifestations, they are divided:
1) on localized (one muscle or their group) - arising from focal irritation of the motor parts of the cerebral cortex that innervate any limb, face, etc .;
2) generalized (convulsions of the whole body) - they capture all muscles at once, as a rule, they are accompanied by a loss of consciousness and may turn out to be the final stage of convulsive activity of any type.
Depending on the etiology of seizures, muscle contraction may be uneven in shape, course, and frequency. The features of the state after the attack and the data of laboratory studies also turn out to be different.
Causes of Seizures
From what seizures are, it is not so easy to establish in some cases, because the cause of their occurrence may be poisoning, disorders of the nervous system, metabolism, the activity of the cardiovascular system, brain or endocrine glands. And in some patients, involuntary muscle contractions are caused or amplified by the action of external stimuli, for example, from an unexpected loud sound, an injection with a needle, bright blinking light, etc. or with deep breathing and being in a stuffy room.
Seizures of the same form can occur with various diseases and turn out to be symptoms of serious pathologies. Therefore, if they occur, you must urgently consult a doctor.
Seizures in a child: causes
In children, the described muscle contractions occur more often than in adults. This is due to the imperfection of the child’s nervous system and structural features of the brain: its cells are easily excited, and the inhibition processes are still unstable and immature.
Asphyxia of the newborn, birth injury, the presence of diabetes in a nursing mother, encephalopathy, as well as infectious diseases of the nervous system can provoke a convulsive syndrome in children.
But the causes of the cramp in the child do not necessarily turn out to be pathologies of the nervous system or brain. This may be a lack of calcium in the body or muscle problems. Often in children, these attacks are caused by high fever, a reaction to the vaccine (most often it is about DTP), or emotional and mental disorders.
Features of convulsive activity in epilepsy
But the main disease that is remembered first of all when speaking of a convulsive syndrome is epilepsy. The cause of any form of seizures in this disease is an abnormal, very high activity of electrical impulses between the neurons of the brain.
Most often, epilepsy is accompanied by generalized clonic-tonic convulsions. The patient usually foresees their onset with the help of the so-called aura - a condition before an attack. It is characterized by a keen perception of sounds, smells, a sense of fear, anxiety, an unusual taste in the mouth.
After this, as a rule, the patient faints, sometimes managing to make a rather loud cry or sound like a howl. After that, a strong tonic tension appears in all his muscles, the jaws are compressed, breathing is very difficult, the face turns blue and convulsive twitches begin. In this case, foam appears on the patient's lips, and involuntary urination may occur.
After some time, breathing is restored, the face takes on a normal color, convulsive tremors become more rare and gradually pass. Such a seizure lasts no more than 3 minutes. After cessation of seizures, a twilight state of consciousness is possible. After which, as a rule, sleep occurs. Waking up, the patient does not remember anything.
Convulsions resulting from metabolic disorders
But other conditions can also provoke tonic convulsions, in which a toxic effect is exerted on the brain. For example, an increase in temperature, a decrease in the amount of calcium ions in the blood, a drop in the sugar level in it, and insufficient oxygen supply to the brain.
Seizures at high temperature are caused by loss of fluid and electrolytes (in the form of sodium chloride) due to excessive sweating and inadequate drinking. And the amount of calcium in the blood can decrease as a result of removal of the parathyroid gland, and it manifests itself in convulsions in the muscles of the legs (in the calves) or hands. By the way, its level also decreases due to malabsorption of this substance in the intestine caused by kidney disease.
A common cause of seizures is intoxication due to poisoning with caffeine, oxalic acid salts, morphine, cocaine, fluoride, atropine, mushrooms.
What to do with leg cramps?
Of course, if you have regular tonic cramps, you must definitely consult a doctor to conduct a full examination and find out their causes. Short-term spasms can be tried to relieve yourself.
So, if this unpleasant phenomenon bothers your lower limbs, you need:
- pull the toe of the straightened leg toward you;
- put your feet on the cold floor and walk barefoot;
- rub the leg with a warming ointment;
- do self-massage of the foot - from the fingers to the heel, or calves - from the heel up to the knee;
- if there are no contraindications, take Aspirin tablets (they will improve blood microcirculation in the vessels of the legs).
In this case, home ointment for cramps will also help. It is made from 2 tsp. mustard and 1 tsp. olive oil. The affected muscles are smeared with this pulp, and relief comes almost immediately.
Hand cramps - a problem to fight
Hand cramps can be attributed to professional health problems, since they are especially often affected by office workers who spend a lot of time at the computer, musicians, tailors, athletes, etc. But doctors also name other reasons that can cause them:
- stress,
- disorders of blood supply to the upper extremities as a result of osteochondrosis or problems with the cardiovascular system,
- hypothermia of the skin of the hands,
- food or alcohol poisoning,
- as well as addiction to coffee.
Arm cramps, as a rule, are disturbed in one hand, so if they appear healthy, massage the spasmodic arm. Rub your fingers, starting from the base, squeeze and unclench your fist, vigorously rotate with a brush, strain and relax your fingers.
For those who have muscle cramps periodically, doctors are advised to drink chamomile or linden tea, which can relax them, or wipe places exposed to seizures with lemon juice twice a day. If the problem began to arise too often, you should contact a specialist to find out the true causes of the problem and the selection of medicines.
What is the danger of convulsive muscle contractions?
As can be seen from all of the above, both clonic and tonic convulsions can be associated with serious problems in the functioning of the brain or endocrine disorders. In addition, during these spasms, a huge oxygen deficiency forms in the brain, which, of course, cannot but affect the metabolic processes. In children, intelligence suffers from this, personality changes occur, and a lag in physical development is revealed. No less dangerous is this condition for adults.
In severe cases, convulsions can cause respiratory arrest and even death of the patient. Therefore, they can not be ignored or attempted to get rid on their own, this condition requires accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment.
Muscle cramps: treatment
Treating seizures involves fighting the underlying cause that caused them. So, with their neurogenic nature, drugs are used that eliminate vegetative dysfunction - sedative, tranquilizing and vegetotropic effects (Mezapam, Bellataminal, Sibazon, etc.). With the hysterical form of a convulsive seizure, psychotherapy sessions are carried out and anxiety-relieving agents (Frenolon, Phenazepam, etc.) or a state of depression (Aminotriptyline, Azafen, etc.) are used.
In case of epilepsy, the patient is prescribed for continuous administration of pills for seizures that increase the content of inhibition mediators: Finlepsin, Carbamazepine, Benzonal, etc., as well as dehydration drugs (Furasemide).
Local cramps are also treated by affecting the underlying problems - the elimination of muscle hypertonicity with novocaine blockade and physiotherapy.
Last few tips
Periodically recurring tonic convulsions are a symptom that requires a mandatory visit to a doctor, and which one, try to determine for yourself.
- If you have a history of atherosclerosis, osteochondrosis, and similar diseases, contact your neurologist.
- If there are vascular diseases of the legs (varicose veins, venous insufficiency), then a vascular surgeon or phlebologist should help you.
- Donate blood for electrolytes and sugar, this will help eliminate the presence of metabolic causes for muscle spasms.
- And in the absence of obvious reasons, contact your endocrinologist or neurologist for an examination.