Epilepsy & Seizures Causes

If the electrical system of your brain goes haywire, your brain may transmit abnormal signals to your body -- leading to seizures. While there are many types of seizures, the type you have may depend on how much -- and which part -- of your brain... Full Answer

Your risk for developing a seizure disorder, also known as epilepsy, increases if you have had one seizure already. For example, researchers in one study found that about a third of the people in the study who had one seizure ended up having a second... Full Answer

Yes, there is a possibility that an antidepressant can cause seizures. Some of the older antidepressants include amitriptyline, bupropion, doxepin, maprotiline, mianserin, nomifensine, nortriptyline. The newer antidepressants are less likely to... Full Answer

There are many causes of seizures in an adult. There are structural causes such as brain hemorrhages, strokes, brain tumors or even non-brain tumors (such as meningiomas) that push on the brain. Then there are toxic and metabolic causes such as... Full Answer

If blood pressure is sufficiently low, seizures can occur. The body reacts to the low blood pressure by going into a seizure state to try to sustain the body's function during the lack of blood low which consequently causes low oxygen levels in the body. Full Answer

Given society's tendency to fear the unknown, epileptic seizures were once associated with demonic possession and black magic, rather than legitimate medical conditions. Because of those black magic associations, it may seem natural that people would... Full Answer

Yes, seizures can be psychologically triggered. These are called psychogenic non-epileptic seizures also referred to as pseudo seizures. Their origin is attributed to emotional/stress related factors i.e. trauma. Full Answer

No epileptic seizure is thought to be due to underlying psychological mechanisms. About 20% of patients with non-epileptic seizures also have epilepsy. A careful evaluation and diagnostic tests such as EEG recording are needed to make the correct... Full Answer

If a child has epilepsy the risk of siblings having epilepsy is higher, if they are identical twins, and if the epilepsy was diagnosed before the age of 15. It is also more common with generalized idiopathic epilepsy syndromes. Full Answer

Many factors may be involved in determining who will have or develop seizures or epilepsy, including: Heredity - If a type of epilepsy runs in your family, you may be at higher risk for the condition, although some seizure types are not... Full Answer