The key difference between seizure and syncope is that seizure is a condition that causes loss of consciousness normally due to sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain, while syncope is a condition that causes loss of consciousness normally due to insufficient blood flow to the brain.
Loss of consciousness can occur when the normal function of cerebral hemispheres or brainstem reticular activating system is defective. Moreover, episodic dysfunction of these regions causes transient and often recurrent loss of consciousness in people. There are two major ways that can cause episodic loss of consciousness: seizure and syncope.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Seizure
3. What is a Syncope
4. Similarities – Seizure and Syncope
5. Seizure vs Syncope in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Seizure vs Syncope
What is a Seizure?
Seizure is a condition that causes loss of consciousness normally due to sudden uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. Seizures can trigger changes in behavior, movements, feelings, and levels of consciousness in people. Moreover, having two or more seizures at least 24 hours apart due to an identifiable cause is generally known as epilepsy. The signs and symptoms of a seizure may include temporary confusion, a staring spell, uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs, loss of consciousness or awareness, and cognitive or emotional symptoms such as fear, anxiety, or Deja Vu. Seizures can be classified into two classes: focal seizure or generalized seizure. Focal seizure affects one area of the brain, while generalized seizure affects all areas of the brain.
A seizure can be caused due to epilepsy, genetic mutations, high fever, lack of sleep, flashing lights, low blood sodium in the blood, medication such as pain relievers, head trauma, abnormalities of the blood vessels in the brain, autoimmune disorders (lupus), stroke, brain tumor, use of illegal or recreational drugs, alcohol misuse, and COVID infection. A seizure can be diagnosed through a neurological exam, blood test, lumbar puncture, electroencephalogram, MRI, CT scan, positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). Furthermore, treatments for seizures include anti-seizure medications (cannabidiol), dietary therapy (ketogenic diet), and surgery (lobectomy, multiple subpial transection, corpus callosotomy, hemispherectomy, and thermal ablation).
What is Syncope?
Syncope is a condition that causes loss of consciousness normally due to insufficient blood flow to the brain. Syncope affects 3 % of men and 3.5 % of women at some point in life. It is common when people get older than 75. However, it can occur at any age and happens in people with and without medical problems. The most common symptoms include blacking out, feeling light-headedness, falling for no reason, feeling dizzy, feeling drowsy or groggy, fainting after eating or exercising, feeling unsteady, changes in vision, and headaches. Moreover, the common causes of syncope include low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, abrupt posture, standing for long periods of time, extreme stress, extreme pain or fear, pregnancy, dehydration, and exhaustion.
Syncope can be diagnosed through laboratory testing, electrocardiogram, (EKG or ECG), exercise stress training, ambulatory monitor, echocardiogram, head up tilt test, blood volume determination, hemodynamic testing, and autonomic reflex testing. Furthermore, treatment options include taking medications or making changes to medications already taken, wearing support garments to improve blood circulation, making changes to diet (eating more sodium-containing food and drinking more fluid, increasing the amount of potassium, avoiding caffeine and alcohol), being extra cautious about stand up, elevating the head of the bed while sleeping, avoiding or changing the situations that riggers syncope episodes, biofeedback training to control a fast heartbeat, treatment for structural heart disease, implanting pacemaker to keep heart rate regular and implantation of cardiac defibrillator (ICD).
What are the Similarities Between Seizure and Syncope?
- Seizure and syncope are two major ways that can cause episodic loss of consciousness.
- Both conditions are categorized under neurological conditions.
- Both conditions can cause fainting.
- They are treated through specific medications and surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Seizure and Syncope?
Seizure is a condition that causes loss of consciousness due to sudden uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain, while syncope is a condition that normally causes loss of consciousness due to insufficient blood flow to the brain. This is the key difference between seizure and syncope. Furthermore, seizures are caused by epilepsy, genetic mutations, high fever, lack of sleep, flashing lights, low blood sodium in the blood, medication such as pain relievers, head trauma, abnormalities of the blood vessels in the brain, autoimmune disorders (lupus), stroke, brain tumor, use of illegal and recreational drugs, alcohol misuse, or COVID infection. On the other hand, syncope can be caused by low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, abrupt posture, standing for long periods of time, extreme pain or fear, extreme stress, pregnancy, dehydration, or exhaustion.
The below infographic presents the differences between seizure and syncope in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Seizure vs Syncope
Seizure and syncope are two major ways that can cause episodic loss of consciousness. Both are conditions related to problems in the brain. Seizure normally happens due to sudden uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. Syncope normally occurs due to insufficient blood flow to the brain. So, this is the key difference between seizure and syncope.
Reference:
1. “Seizures.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Syncope: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Seizures” By Nick Youngson (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Picpedia.org