Stonehenge: OTOT
<<Hi Paul. Do you know if gran mal seizures are associated with alcoholism in any way? >>
I hope you and your family are having a happy holiday season.
With regards to your question, the following is the answer.
Grand mal is a type of seizure characterized by
sometimes an aura ( forewarning)
crying out loud
Falling to the ground
jerky movements of hands and feet usually lasting for a few minutes.
Transient stoppage of breathing and turning blue in the face
Loss of bowel and bladder control possible
Unconsciousness for a while
postictal state: confusion, disorientation, headache
wakes up with no memory of the event.
EEG abnormalities, not in all cases.
The above is a specific disorder and comes under the heading of Generalized Tonic - clonic seizures and is not considered as part of alcoholism in the true meaning of the word Grand mal.
Yes, people can have convulsions in the severe alcohol intoxication ( alcohol blood level ( 0.3 - 0.5%; 3-5 mg/mL) . Chronic alcoholics with central nervous system involvement ( encephalopathy) can have seizures.
During this holiday season, if you find somebody jocose, lachrymose, bellicose, or comatose ( cheerful, teary, snappy and argumentative, and unconscious ) you got a person with alcohol intoxication.
If a woman drinks during pregnancy in a significant way, she may give birth to a baby with FAS - Fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants have small heads and brains, short upturned nose, wide and thin upper lip and short eye lid openings.
Happy Holidays
Paul |
