What are risk factors for seizures and epilepsy?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered: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 inherited.
- Head trauma - A traumatic brain injury, in a car accident, for instance, could trigger a seizure or cause epilepsy.
- Health conditions - Strokes, heart attacks, meningitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or viral encephalitis could lead to epilepsy.
- Dementia - Older adults may experience seizures related to cognitive decline.
- Developmental disabilities - Children with cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, and other abnormalities may be seizure-prone.
- Ethnic group - African Americans and other racial groups may be more likely to develop seizures than whites.
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... More -
Healthwise answered:The risk for epilepsy increases if you have:
- Family history of epilepsy.
- Head injury (for example, a penetrating wound or skull fracture) with amnesia or loss of consciousness for more than 24 hours. The more severe the injury, the higher the risk.
- Stroke or conditions that affect the blood vessels (vascular system) in the brain.
- Brain tumor.
- Brain infection, such as encephalitis or meningitis.
- Lead poisoning.
- Problems with brain development that occurred before birth.
- Substance abuse.
- Fever seizures that last a long time (also known as febrile convulsions).
- Alzheimer's disease.
Epilepsy may develop even though you do not have any risk factors. This is especially true of many forms of childhood epilepsy.
The risk for epilepsy increases if you have: Family history of epilepsy. Head injury (for example, a penetrating wound or skull fracture) with amnesia or loss of consciousness for more than 24 hours. The more severe the injury, the higher the... More
