What happens during a seizure? ?
“Grand Mal” – Primary Generalized, Tonic-Clonic Seizures • The true generalized seizure is characterized by sudden loss of consciousness, usually without warning. At onset there is usually a general stiffening of the body, often with forceful expiration of air (and a peculiar sound as this air passes through the throat). If the person having the seizure is standing when this happens, there can be a hard fall to ground or floor. This “tonic” phase of the seizure is generally very brief but is responsible for a number of things which often frighten witnesses. Because virtually all skeletal muscles in the body are forcefully contracting at the same time, there may be biting of the tongue, passage of urine, (rarely) defecation or vomiting, and sometimes a change in color to a purplish-blue (due to muscles of respiration being stuck in the tightened state). This phase generally lasts about 30 seconds. • Immediately following the ‘tonic’ phase of a seizure, convulsing begins as forceful, rhy
