What is a Drop Attack?

Drop attacks are sudden falls without an apparent external physical precipitant, such as tripping over something.

There is no loss of consciousness in a drop attack. People quickly regain equilibrium if they weren't injured in the fall. Drop attacks typically last for about 15 seconds.

Drop attacks are sometimes called:

• Atonic seizures
• Drop seizures
• Akinetic seizures

However, not all drop attacks are due to a seizure.

For example, Tumarkin'sotolithic crisis is a drop attack that can cause vertigo or inner ear difficulties.

What are the symptoms of a drop attack?

When a seizure triggers a drop attack, electrical activity in the brain changes without warning. This results in an abrupt loss of muscular tone and strength. The legs, arms, and the rest of the body's muscles may go limp.

You may find any or all of these occur:

• If you have a drop attack and are holding onto something, you might let go.
• Your eyelids might droop down, and your head may loll forward.
• Your legs may give out on you and send you falling or slumping to the floor.
• You could be jerking all over the place.
• You should remain conscious of this whole thing and will experience no after-effects unless you had an injury from the fall.
• People who have drop attacks may also feel that they have injuries and bruising on their face, legs, and palms.

What causes drop attacks?

Drop attacks have dozens of known causes. They include different seizures, heart disorders, brain disorders, and inner ear disturbances. The causes are listed as follows:

• Brain tumour: Symptoms vary according to the location of the tumor.
• Focal motor atonic seizure: This sort of seizure originates in one area of the brain.
• Generalized atonic seizure: The seizures begin on both sides of the brain and impact the entire body.
• An epileptic partial seizure: Epilepsy generates a variety of seizures. A simple partial seizure affects only one portion of the brain.
• Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome: This is an uncommon type of epilepsy.
• Dravet syndrome: This is also a rare type of epilepsy.
• Hyperventilation: Another name for fast respiration.
• Photosensitive seizure: A seizure that occurs in response to flickering, flashing, or strobing lights, as well as striped patterns.
• Hypotension: Also referred to as low blood pressure.
• Cardiovascular syncope: Fainting is another name for this form of syncope, which results from a slowed-down heartbeat and a decrease in blood pressure to the brain.
• Carotid sinus hypersensitivity: It can lead to dizziness and lower blood pressure.
• Meniere disease: This is an inner ear condition that impairs balance.
• Vertebrobasilar insufficiency: It results from a decrease in blood flow to the back of the brain.

How is a drop attack diagnosed?

Since there are various causes of drop attacks, your doctor will take a careful history, both medical and family medical history. And they'll do a physical examination.

Be ready to share information about the medications you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, supplements, and a better history of a drop attack or attacks.

An example of this can be when taking blood pressure medication and feeling a drop attack while exercising; your medication can be readjusted.

Some doctors may need to confirm a diagnosis based on test results. Some of these include:

• EEG (electroencephalography) examines brain wave patterns. Your doctor can use it to identify problems with electrical activity in the brain.
• Ecog(electrocochleography) is a technique that detects electrical responses within the cochlea of the inner ear.
• Audiograms can detect issues in the inner ear.
• Electronystagmograms (engs) assess involuntary eye movements. It can aid in identifying issues with equilibrium.
• MRI can be performed if your doctor thinks that a tumor in the brain or any other type of growth is causing the symptoms.
• CT scans can assess cross-sectional images of your brain.

How is a drop attack treated?

Treatment and prevention of drop attacks are given according to their cause. Sometimes, the cause of drop attacks is not easy to diagnose, and it might take time to find the most effective treatment.

Treatments and preventive measures include:

• Medication to help control your blood pressure or pulse.
• Helmets to protect heads during falls.
• Medication for antiseizure activity.
• Use of medications for motion sickness as required.
• Use of anti-nausea medications as required.
• An implanted device can stimulate the vagus nerve with electrical energy to help control seizures.
• Adherence to the ketogenic diet- a diet that is effective in some cases in reducing seizures in children.
• Using hearing aids may assist in some cases.
• Talk therapy if you experience repeated episodes because it can guide you on spotting situations that tend to provoke a drop attack; it also teaches you how to deal with anxious feelings caused by the attack.

When to see a doctor?

Drop attacks may occur once, or can occur frequently. Either way, it is advisable to see a doctor to determine the cause of the drop attack. Determining why a drop attack occurred can help prevent one from happening again.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Drop Attack Treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Drop Attack treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced neurologists and specialists who provide accurate diagnosis and comprehensive treatment options including medication management, neurological evaluation, vestibular therapy, and management of underlying conditions such as epilepsy, cardiac issues, or balance disorders. Our Neurology team has decades of experience in successfully diagnosing and treating Drop Attacks in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Drop Attack Treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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