Seizure and Fainting in Autonomic Disorders by Dr. David Saperstein

In the video, Dr. David Saperstein addresses the topic of seizures and fainting in the context of autonomic disorders, particularly POTS. He explains that what is often mistaken for seizures in these patients is usually 'convulsive syncope' — a condition where insufficient blood flow to the brain due to fainting leads to symptoms resembling seizures, such as body stiffening or jerking. Although these episodes look like seizures, they do not involve the abnormal electrical brain activity seen in epileptic seizures. Convulsive syncope is more likely if the person is not laid flat during a fainting episode. While it's possible for a person to have both syncope and actual seizures, an EEG can help differentiate between them by showing a lack of epileptic activity during these episodes. Accurate diagnosis requires professional medical evaluation.