What is a Reflex Anoxic Seizure?
Reflex Anoxic Seizures (RAS) occur mainly in young children but can occur in adolescents and adults. Any unexpected stimulus, such as pain, shock or a fright causes the heart and breathing to stop, the eyes to roll up into the head, complexion to become deathly white, the body to stiffen and the arms and legs to jerk. After 30 seconds the body relaxes and the heart starts beating, the sufferer is unconscious. One or two minutes later the person may regain consciousness but can appear to be unconscious for over an hour. Upon recovery the person may be very emotional and then fall into a deep sleep for two to three hours. RAS is often misdiagnosed as simple breath-holding or more seriously as epilepsy.
