Someone falls to the ground How can you tell if it s syncope or epilepsy?

Mondo Health Updated on 2024-02-06

Whether it was syncope or epilepsy when falling to the ground, for bystanders, can be preliminarily judged by some characteristics, but in the end.

The diagnosis needs to be professionally evaluated by a doctor. Here are some characteristics that may help distinguish between them:

Signs of syncope:

Sudden loss of consciousness:Syncope usually occurs suddenly, and the patient quickly loses consciousness and falls to the ground.

Pale face:When syncope, the person's complexion may become pale.

Brief loss of muscle control:When syncope, the patient usually recovers quickly after falling to the ground, and the entire event may last only a few seconds to a few minutes.

Signs of epilepsy:

Muscle twitches:Seizures are usually accompanied by muscle twitching, which may be tonic (muscle stiffness) or clonic twitching (muscle contraction and relaxation).

Eye Movement:During a seizure, the patient's eyes may move involuntarily.

Foaming at the mouth:Some people with epilepsy may foam at the mouth during a seizure.

Loss of consciousness:During a seizure, people often lose consciousness.

When judging, please note the following:

If someone falls to the ground and has muscle twitches, it may be a seizure.

If you recover quickly after falling to the ground without muscle twitching, you may be fainting.

Whether it's syncope or epilepsy, you should seek medical help immediately. During first aid, ensure the safety of the patient by placing them on a flat ground, away from potentially dangerous items. Keep an eye on your breathing and heartbeat at all times. The best course of action is to call emergency services in the event of an emergency.

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