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What Causes Drop In Oxygen Saturation And Increase In Pulse Rate Before A Seizure?
Question: Hello, my son is 26 years old and has been experiencing seizures in his sleep since December 2013 at approximately one month intervals. The only previous history of seizures was febrile seizures as an infant/toddler and one seizure at high altitude in XXXXXXX 2012, literally at the top of a ski lift at 9000 feet. He also has thalassemia. His neurologist just wants to put him on medication without making any effort to figure out the triggers or causes of the recent seizures. We have been doing our own research, changing diet, adding supplements and monitoring blood sugar, temperature and oxygen levels. He had two seizures last night while wearing his oximeter. Can you review and evaluate the data? It looks like his oxygen level drops into the 70's just prior to the seizures.
Brief Answer:
Have reviewed the reports.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have gone through the reports.
A drop in oxygen saturation, increase in pulse rate and blood pressure are common just before, during and after a seizure. So, this record shows some of these observations, which are known.
Drop of oxygen saturation to 70s generally would not cause seizures in a 26-year old healthy person.
If not the seizure, what else could cause the drop in oxygen saturation? We should be sure that he does not have sleep apnea, respiratory or a cardiac disease. If these are excluded, then, I would agree with starting of anti-seizure medications.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Have reviewed the reports.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have gone through the reports.
A drop in oxygen saturation, increase in pulse rate and blood pressure are common just before, during and after a seizure. So, this record shows some of these observations, which are known.
Drop of oxygen saturation to 70s generally would not cause seizures in a 26-year old healthy person.
If not the seizure, what else could cause the drop in oxygen saturation? We should be sure that he does not have sleep apnea, respiratory or a cardiac disease. If these are excluded, then, I would agree with starting of anti-seizure medications.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you for your response. He did a sleep study last week and they diagnosed him with mild sleep apnea. What level of oxygen saturation could cause a seizure? Could his thalassemia affect his sensitivity to oxygen deprivation?
Unfortunately, he is not a good candidate for medication and will most likely begin a ketogenic diet to control the seizures.
Unfortunately, he is not a good candidate for medication and will most likely begin a ketogenic diet to control the seizures.
Brief Answer:
My reply is below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Mild sleep apnea may not require any special intervention such as CPAP trial. If he is overweight, weight loss may help.
Oxygen saturation dropping to 50s or below may cause seizures. However, in a person with brain damage, critically ill person, etc, even a drop to 70s may precipitate seizures.
You could try ketogenic diet and see the response.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
My reply is below.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Mild sleep apnea may not require any special intervention such as CPAP trial. If he is overweight, weight loss may help.
Oxygen saturation dropping to 50s or below may cause seizures. However, in a person with brain damage, critically ill person, etc, even a drop to 70s may precipitate seizures.
You could try ketogenic diet and see the response.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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