Nick Masuen, a Le Mars resident, said that very few people know how to respond to someone having a seizure. Masuen, diagnosed with epilepsy, wants to bust myths about seizures. Masuen has had to adapt his life somewhat, like driving this motorized cart to work. [Click to enlarge]

Nick Masuen wants you to learn what to do when someone is having a seizure.

For a time in his life, he was that friend.

Masuen is diagnosed with epilepsy, which is simply the medical way of describing a person who has recurring seizures.

He is one of 10 percent of Americans that will have a seizure in their lifetime, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Some of those people may only have one seizure.

A seizure happens when the brain's electrical system malfunctions and the brain cells fire continuously rather than in controlled patterns, causing a surge of energy through the brain, the Foundation's website explains.

"It's a build up of energy in the brain. The brain's gotten so tired of holding on to that energy that it just releases it," Masuen said. "The brain sends out all these signals to the body at one time."

The symptoms in the body depend on how much of the brain is affected.

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Masuen used to have grand mal seizures, probably the most recognizable type of seizure. They involve the whole brain and begin with arms and legs stiffening, followed by the limbs and face jerking.

"What I remember is first I wouldn't feel right, I'd tense up, then go down," Masuen said.

From there, he was unaware of what was going on around him.

"Once you start coming back, you're breathing hard just as if you've been running track," he said. "When you come completely out of it, your brain settles down, and you could easily fall asleep."

Those seizures stopped more than 10 years ago. If Masuen experiences seizures now, they are a different type. In fact, people might not even realize one is happening.

These are complex partial or simple partial seizures -- only part of the brain is involved. The person having them may appear conscious, standing on their feet with eyes open, but he or she is actually in a dreamlike state, not in control of movements or speech.

"I'm aware, especially during a simple partial," Masuen said. "I'd hear you, see the clock, but I wouldn't be able to respond. I'd want to respond."

These last anywhere from 15 seconds to a minute.

"If people aren't aware, they can miss them," Masuen said. "Afterward, I'd be really tired."

So what can a person do when they see someone having a seizure?

The response depends on the type of seizure.

In any case, though, if you see someone having a seizure, your priority should be making sure they are safe without interfering.

"You can't stop the seizure," said Judy Scheitler, the emergency room coordinator at Floyd Valley Hospital. "You don't want to hold them down or try to stop their extremities from shaking. You've got to let the seizure go on."

Masuen's advice: "Keep your head."

Staying calm will allow you to best help the person, he said.

If a person is having a grand mal seizure, make the area as safe as possible.

"Make sure there are no sharp objects around," Scheitler said.

Also, loosen their tie or shirt collar, place a folded jacket under their head, and turn them on their side to keep the airway open, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Don't try to hold onto the person's tongue, Masuen said. It's a myth that a person having a seizure would swallow it. Also never put something hard in the person's mouth to bite down on.

If a person is having a simple or complex partial seizure, the Epilepsy Foundation recommends responding with these steps:

*Don't restrain the person

*Remove dangerous objects from his or her path

*Calmly direct the person to sit down

*Guide the person away from dangerous situations

*Use force only in an emergency to protect the person from harm, such as walking in front of a car

*Stay with the person until he or she is fully alert

No matter what kind of seizure a person has, reassure them and help them stay calm when consciousness returns, the Epilepsy Foundation recommends.

Don't give them liquids during or just after the seizure, and don't start artificial respiration unless the person isn't breathing after the muscle jerks are finished.

Call an ambulance for anyone who has a seizure longer than five minutes, or if another seizure starts soon after the first, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Scheitler suggested calling 911 if you don't know the person having a seizure or the condition causing it.

"Maybe we can find out the reason for the seizure," she said.

There are many causes for seizures, Masuen pointed out. He traces his seizures back to a medical mishap when he was born. Other seizures may be caused by too high or too low blood sugar, tetanus, brain tumors or a stroke.

Most causes of seizures are unknown, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Today, for Masuen, seizures are rare, but having epilepsy has impacted his daily life.

For one thing, he can't get a driver's license right now -- the rule in Iowa is that you have to be seizure-free for at least six months.

"I can't just get up and go somewhere by myself, and that can be frustrating," he said. "If I want to go to Sioux City or something, I have to set it up with a friend."

Masuen did buy a motorized cart which he can legally drive around town, which helps especially in the winter, since he lives a mile from work. But it's not perfect. It tops out at about 13 miles per hour.

Another frustration Masuen faces is hearing the stereotypes about people who have a seizure or epilepsy.

"You can't catch it," he said. "We're just like anyone else -- we just have to deal with this other big thing."

Conditions that may cause seizures:

Brain tumors

Meningitis

Hypoglycemia (blood sugar levels too low)

Hyperglycemia (blood sugar levels too high)

Tetanus

Hyponatremia (low sodium in blood plasma)

Taking certain medications

Injury or trauma to the head

Any condition that irritates brain cells

Types of seizures

Generalized - affect both hemispheres of the brain

*Grand Mal - person falls, body is rigid, body jerks, last 1-2 minutes, afterward feels confused

*Petit Mal (absence) - person stares, eyes flutter, may fumble around, most likely with children, last 2-15 seconds

Partial - affects a specific spot in one hemisphere of the brain

*Simple partial - no loss of consciousness, sudden jerking, senses and emotions affected, last around 90 seconds

*Complex partial - consciousness impaired, blank stare, inability to interact normally, last 1-2 minutes