MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

What might happen during a seizure regarding breathing?

1. It becomes faster

2. It may become labored

3. It stops completely

4. It becomes irregular

The correct answer is: It may become labored

During a seizure, it is common for an individual's breathing to become labored. This can occur due to muscle contractions and spasms that affect the respiratory muscles, causing difficulty in breathing. During a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, for example, the body goes through a series of muscle contractions which can interfere with regular, smooth breathing patterns. In many cases, while breathing can be altered during a seizure, it does not always stop completely nor does it consistently speed up or become completely irregular. Instead, the laboring of breath reflects the physical toll that the seizure takes on the body, causing strain rather than a total cessation of breathing. Understanding this aspect of seizure physiology is critical for providing appropriate care to someone experiencing a seizure.