What is Reflex Anoxic Seizures?
Reflex Anoxic Seizures occurs mainly in young children but can occur in adolescents or adults. The sudden shock of pain (however slight), or indeed any unexpected stimuli, causes the heart to stop, the eyes to roll up into the head, the complexion to become deathly white, the jaw to clench and the body to stiffen with arms and legs jerking. After 30 seconds or so the body relaxes and the heart restarts. The sufferer may remain unconscious for one or two minutes or for well over an hour. The sufferer often sleeps for 3-4 hours after an attack. RAS is often mis-diagnosed as simple breath-holding or more seriously as epilepsy.