Seizures in the elderly: causes, first aid, treatment and prevention

From this article you will learn:

What are cramps
What are the causes of leg cramps in older people?
How to provide first aid in case of leg and arm cramps in an elderly person
How are seizures treated in old age?
What folk remedies will help with leg cramps?
What preventative measures to take for leg cramps in an elderly person?

Statistics show that half of elderly patients suffer from nighttime muscle cramps in their limbs. These spasms are not spontaneous painful muscle contractions caused by hypothermia, not numbness of the limbs during swimming, not symptoms of a developing disease. These are systematic nocturnal cramps in older people. They mainly affect the muscles of the lower leg (less often the feet). They are very painful and cause a lot of inconvenience. They can last from a few fractions of seconds to tens of minutes.

What are cramps

Almost all skeletal muscles of the musculoskeletal system are susceptible to muscle spasms. But muscle tissue involved in the movement of two joints at once undergoes spasms more often. Muscle cramps are considered common. Almost every person encounters them over time.

Any of us will remember at least a couple of times when his muscles cramped. But most often cramps cause problems for older people.

Most often, seizures affect:

Calf muscles;
Semitendinosus, biceps and semimembranosus muscles of the thighs;
Quadriceps femoris muscles.

The following may also be affected by convulsive spasms:

Foot muscles;
Muscles of the hands;
Abdominal muscles;
Muscles of the sternum.

The severity of seizures in older adults varies from a minor tic (spontaneous twitching) to an excruciatingly painful spasm. During a convulsive spasm, muscles become hard to the touch, tense, and “wooden.” Their usual form is modified. Small tics are accompanied by noticeable pulsating subcutaneous twitching. Muscle spasms can be short-term (1-2 seconds) or longer (several minutes or more). They can be either a single, one-time attack, or a series of muscle spasms over a short period of time. Spontaneous muscle contraction sometimes causes such a piercing pain shock that the muscles continue to ache even after the spasm. Sometimes such severe cramps can cause inflammation that lasts several hours or even days.

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First aid for seizures

Most leg muscle spasms disappear after a few seconds or minutes. You may have to try a few different things to stop them from happening. There are several tricks you can try:

Massage and muscle stretching – stretching the muscles using a gentle, long-lasting massage. The technique involves flexing the ankle while pointing the toes upward toward the head. All this needs to be done while lying in bed with your leg as straight as possible.
A warm shower or bath will help relax your muscles. A heating pad placed on the area of cramping may also help.
Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen.
Contact your doctor for additional information and further treatment. Regular leg cramps lasting more than a few minutes are a sign of an undiagnosed disease.
If your doctor has already prescribed medication for muscle spasms, you should take it exactly as prescribed.
Drinking plenty of fluids will help prevent recurrence.

Seizures in older people, the causes of which you need to know

Cramps in older people usually tighten muscles at night. The relaxed state of muscle tissue during the sleep phase provokes a sharp and strong muscle contraction. Muscle spasms during movement do not occur as often. Another cause of cramps may be overfatigue, which was preceded by prolonged stress on the same muscles. Such muscle contractions are often found in older people who constantly work on their feet.

The calf muscles also tend to cramp frequently. The cause of such cramps in older people is disruptions in calcium, potassium and sodium metabolism in the muscles, which develop due to congestion in the veins. An insufficient amount of calcium ions in the muscles of the limbs increases the so-called neuromuscular excitability. At first, the muscles weaken and become overtired, and then these signs result in tics, twitching, convulsions, and spasms.

There are two types of muscle spasms:

Idiopathic (they occur for no specific reason);
Secondary (they represent symptoms or complications of a specific disease).

An example of idiopathic seizures may be:

Convulsions during sleep in elderly patients;
Cramps caused by too much physical activity.

Why older people experience idiopathic seizures is not fully understood. It can be assumed that the following reasons can provoke painful muscle contractions:

Pathological tone of nerve vessels at night;
Exorbitantly intense training regimen.

The cause of idiopathic seizures can also be the natural age-related gradual shortening of tendons (fibers connecting muscle tissue to skeletal bones) in older people. Tendon fibers, shortened by age-related processes, lead to muscle spasms.

The following reasons can lead to secondary seizures:

Neurological disorders (various types of diseases that affect the nerve endings that control muscle tissue). Examples of such a neurological disorder may include:

Motor neuron disease (this disease is that the nerve cells of the brain and spine gradually atrophy their initially established functions);
Peripheral neuropathy (this disease consists in the fact that nerve fibers, due to various damages, lose the ability to control muscle tissue).

Liver diseases. As a result of such diseases, the liver cannot cope with its functions, which is why toxic substances accumulate in the blood. This provokes muscle spasms.

Infection with certain infections (for example, tetanus) provokes seizures.

Intoxication with highly toxic substances (for example, lead or mercury vapor) accumulates poisons in the blood, provoking convulsions.

Dehydration (lack of water in the body tissues sharply reduces the level of electrolytes in the blood, which causes muscle contractions).

A consequence of the use of certain medications, which can cause seizures. Such medications include:

Diuretics are medications that stimulate the removal of fluid from the body and are used in the treatment of kidney and heart failure, hypertension and other ailments;
Statins and nicotinic acid are medications that are used in the treatment of patients with excess cholesterol in the blood;
Raloxifene - medications that are used to prevent osteoporosis (pathological thinning of bone tissue) in older women during menopause;
Nifedipine is a medicine used in the treatment of tonsillitis and Raynaud's symptoms (a disease accompanied by a restriction of blood flow to the fingertips).

In cases where seizures in older people occur due to the use of one of the above medications, you should consult your doctor for advice. The doctor will review the dosage of the drug or prescribe other methods of therapy. Do not stop taking medications without consulting your doctor.

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Why do night cramps occur in older people?

Statistics are such that every third person over 60 (plus 50% of the total number of patients over 80) is systematically observed by the attending physician due to frequent cramps in the lower extremities. Every 4 out of 10 such patients suffer from cramps in the lower extremities three or more times weekly. These patients experience cramps not only in the leg muscles, but also in other muscle groups.

Often spasms in the lower extremities in an elderly person occur when the person is resting (or sleeping). This is the most common case. The first seizures occur in completely healthy middle-aged and elderly people and in most cases are not caused by manifestations of any diseases. Unnatural posture and prolonged lack of physical activity can provoke leg muscle cramps.

Sometimes in older people, the cause of cramps in the leg muscles can be a metabolic disorder (with a low level of calcium or potassium in the blood). If an elderly patient has no other complaints, then various medical examinations in most cases are not prescribed.

Spasms in the leg muscles are typical in cases of varicose veins. This disease usually provokes strong contractions in the calf muscles. But seizures with varicose veins do not happen on their own. They are accompanied by other accompanying manifestations of varicose veins: swelling, pain, “leadiness,” tension in the lower extremities, etc.

When urgent medical attention is needed

Most often, contraction of the leg muscles lasts no more than a few minutes. However, in some cases, seizures indicate the presence of serious diseases that require intensive treatment.

Medical emergency attention is required when leg cramps are accompanied by the following conditions:

Strong twitching of legs.
Sudden onset of strabismus or other visual disturbances.
The appearance of foam on the lips, profuse salivation.
Loss of consciousness.
Sudden muscle hypertonicity.

These symptoms are characteristic of such dangerous diseases as stroke and epilepsy. Timely seeking medical help will help prevent these pathologies and avoid complications caused by their presence.

Seizures in an elderly person: symptoms

At the very beginning, cramps in the leg muscles in older people can occur sporadically, accidentally. Seizures can be triggered by:

Sudden loud sound;
Regular injection;
Excessive dose of alcohol and anything else.

A sharp tonic muscle spasm lasts for about a minute and causes excruciating pain. Most often, such a spasm cramps the calf muscle during or immediately after completing a long walk or swimming in completely healthy people.

If a spasm occurs in the water, you need to stop moving your legs and try to straighten the numb leg with the help of the other leg.

A sudden convulsive spasm of the vocal cords may occur due to a strong irritating odor. Such a spasm can lead to a complete stop of breathing.

Convulsive contractions of blood vessels in different organs disrupt blood flow to these organs, changing their functions. Cramps cause sharp, excruciating, cramping pain - colic.

Symptomatic manifestations of seizures:

Attack of pain;
Swelling;
Redness;
Tingling;
Muscle tension at the site of the cramp;
Convulsive tic;
Numbness;
Darkening in the eyes;
Foggy state.

Seizures in older people, accompanied by loss of consciousness, are a sign of epilepsy. The condition that precedes an epileptic seizure can be recognized by the following symptoms:

Sudden attack of fear;
Nausea or vomiting;
Feeling of numbness;
Weakness;
Headache.

Severe seizures are unpredictable, so call an ambulance immediately. Before her arrival you need:

Calm the person;
Allow the person to lie down;
Ask the person to relax;
In case of impaired breathing, create conditions for the supply of fresh air (an oxygen cushion may also be needed);
In case of hot weather, to prevent dehydration, give cold, lightly salted water to drink (1 teaspoon of salt per 1 liter of water).

Seizures with:

Pronounced salivation;
Foaming from the mouth;
Sudden fainting;
Sudden muscle hypertonicity;
Twitching of limbs;
Deviation of the eyes.

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Healing procedures

Leg cramps can and should be treated with non-medicinal means.

Balanced loads on the leg muscles: cycling, calm walking, swimming in the pool.
Massaging your legs and feet before bed.
Eat right, include the foods described above in your diet
Establish a daily routine: do not drink alcohol, tea and coffee at night, diuretics and medications, avoid physical activity before going to bed.

Prevention of seizures is nonspecific: love of movement, proper nutrition (limiting salty, fatty, sweet foods), physical education and sports, regular visits to doctors and following their recommendations. Be healthy!

Leg cramps at night in older people - first aid

In cases where cramps occur at night and they are not associated with certain diseases, an elderly person can independently do a few simple steps right in bed:

Stretch your muscles. Alternate kneading and stroking. Do both, moving from the foot up. Sometimes the pain during a seizure is so severe that the elderly person cannot move. Then you will need to ask those people who will be nearby at that time to stretch your muscles.
Prick the numb muscle with a pin. Such items are unlikely to be at hand. But if seizures occur frequently, then it is better to worry about first aid in advance (for example, fasten a pin to your pajamas).
Pull your thumb towards you. This will stretch the muscle and the spasm will go away faster.
Walk barefoot . The cooler the floor is, the sooner the cramp will go away. Therefore, you can walk on a wet towel.
Warm your foot. This will relieve the spasm. You can hold your foot in a basin of heated water. You can cover your leg with heating pads, wrap it in an ironed towel, etc.
Pinch your leg . Sometimes it will not be possible to perform this action because the tense muscle in an elderly person will become “wooden”. Doctors then recommend actively stretching the part of the face in the place where the mustache grows. It is this area that is “responsible” for the muscles of the lower extremities.
Apply ice or a wet towel. In this case, the spasm subsides completely and does not bother the elderly person for a long time afterwards.

Leg cramps in the elderly: treatment

Sometimes leg cramps during sleep in older people are a natural consequence of certain diseases of the internal organs. Taking a course of treatment for these diseases is enough to stop nighttime leg cramps.

The causes of nighttime leg cramps in older people sometimes lie in:

Calcium deficiency;
Vitamin D deficiency;
Magnesium deficiency;
Lack of vitamin B6.

In these cases, for an elderly person to get rid of leg cramps, it is enough to simply adjust their diet by adding more foods containing magnesium and calcium to their diet:

Orekhov;
Croup;
Bran;
Cheese;
Eggs;
Vegetables;
Dairy and fermented milk products;
Figs;
Prunes;
Blueberries.

It is important to know: the body of an elderly person cannot absorb calcium without vitamins D and magnesium without vitamins B6. The lack of these vitamins causes regular night cramps in older people. A lack of B6 vitamins provokes muscular dystrophy. It’s not easy to saturate your body with the “sunshine vitamin”. Products that contain it can provide only a tenth of the required daily amount. The sun also will not always provide the daily norm (for example, for residents of the northern regions).

As a result, vitamin D deficiency causes all sorts of pathologies:

Arthritis;
Arthrosis;
Osteomalacia;
Osteochondrosis;
Osteoporosis;
Psoriasis;
Multiple sclerosis;
Alopecia, etc.

Hypovitaminosis D can be eliminated with the help of a vitamin complex that contains:

Vitamin D3 (active form of vitamin D);
Vitamin B6, normalizing mineral metabolism;
Drone brood (a donor of entomological prohormones, but not a substitute for hormones, a valuable resource of minerals, vitamins, amino acids; the vitamin D content in it is three times higher than in fish oil);
Testosteroids;
Progesterone;
Estradiol;
Free amino acids used for osteoporosis, menopause, postmenopause and other diseases.

If hypocalcemia is diagnosed, it is possible to get rid of night cramps if you start taking medications containing calcium. The most effective such preparations are considered to be a vitamin complex containing calcium citrate (quickly absorbed organic calcium salts) and drone brood. For elderly people diagnosed with hypocalcemia and hypovitaminosis D, for the best treatment effectiveness, a course of a complex with an increased dose of vitamins D3 and B6 is recommended.

To prevent night cramps during vigorous physical activity, vigorous training, and the use of medications that cause muscle spasms, it is recommended for older people:

Monitor your diet;
Take full rest;
Systematically take massage courses.

For varicose veins, when massage of the lower extremities is practically impossible, it is recommended to wrap the legs with a loose bandage and use prescribed medications to improve blood flow. A natural remedy for improving venous flow is dandelion root. It is part of many drugs that normalize blood circulation through the veins and prevent thromboembolism.

Comprehensive treatment of leg spasms should also include the use of muscle relaxants that eliminate spontaneous spasms.

An example of a natural muscle relaxant is valerian. It helps relieve stress, which increases nighttime cramps. Foot baths with decoctions of valerian roots at night are also recommended.

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Leg cramps in the elderly: treatment with folk remedies

Wetting your feet with lemon juice;
Rubbing the numb muscle with mustard oil;
Taking Echinacea tincture (1 drop per 1 kg of weight every 4 hours in cases where cramps are accompanied by fever);
Eating garlic (crush 1 clove with a spoon of honey);
Drinking freshly prepared orange juice;
Drinking tea from raspberry shoots (boil raspberry shoots for half an hour);
Taking the infusion of Adonis spring (add 2 tsp of dry Adonis to one glass of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes, drink 1 tbsp for adults 3 times a day, children 2 years old - 5 drops, children 6 - and years - 15 drops, children 12 years old - 2 tsp 5 times a day);
Taking tea from birch buds (add 2 tsp of birch buds to one glass of boiling water, infuse, drink as tea in equal portions morning and evening for 2 days);
Taking herbal infusion (1 tsp spring adonis, 1 tsp birch leaves, 1 tsp hawthorn, 2 tsp marsh cudweed, 1 tsp horsetail, mix, add 300 ml of boiling water 1 tablespoon of the collection, leave for 6 hours, drink half a glass before meals 3 times a day for cramps in the calf muscles);
Drinking infusion of broadleaf ragwort (add 20 g of ragwort to 200 ml of boiling water, infuse, drink 40 drops daily);
Drinking a soothing mixture of mint, lemon balm and motherwort;
Drinking an infusion of common thyme (add 15 g of thyme to one glass of boiling water, leave for half an hour, drink 1 tablespoon 3 times a day for the treatment of neurological spasms);
Drinking infusion of small-leaved linden (add 1.5 tablespoons of linden flowers to one glass of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, strain, drink 1 tablespoon 3 times a day);
Drinking a decoction of chamomile flowers (add 4 tablespoons of chamomile to one glass of boiling water, boil for 10 minutes, strain, drink a third of a glass 3 times a day after meals).

Leg cramps: prevention in old age

Elderly patients are more susceptible to cramps due to age-related muscle loss (atrophy). Age-related atrophy can worsen with a sedentary lifestyle.

During the aging process, muscle tissue becomes incapable of strong and rapid contraction. Over the years, the tendons gradually shorten, causing strong muscle contractions. In the body of an elderly person, the reaction to temperature changes and the need for water gradually becomes dull.

Therefore, the preventive measures described in this article are extremely important for older people. They are advised to monitor their diet, regulate muscle mass, do muscle stretching exercises, and perform sets of exercises for muscles prone to cramps.

Diagnostics

If the patient consults a doctor in a timely manner, seizures can be successfully treated. Before a specialist prescribes the correct therapy, a complete examination of the elderly person is carried out using modern techniques. A course of treatment is prescribed only after determining the cause of the symptom.

Diagnosis of pathology includes the following activities:

Consultation with a therapist, phlebologist.
Blood tests (general, biochemical) and urine tests.
MRI.
EEG.

After the research, the exact cause of the pathology is determined and comprehensive treatment is prescribed.