What really causes seizure?

Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. This includes a high fever, high or low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a brain concussion. But when a person has 2 or more seizures with no known cause, this is diagnosed as epilepsy.

Can seizures be caused by something other than the brain?

Nonepileptic seizures are caused by something other than epilepsy — typically by psychological conditions. This means a brain scan won’t show a change during a nonepileptic seizure. Nonepileptic seizures are also commonly referred to as pseudoseizures.

Is an abnormal electrical discharges from brain cells cause seizures?

Abnormal electrical discharges in the brain cause seizures. The symptoms of a seizure vary greatly, depending on the area of the brain affected. Seizures often stem from a medical condition, such as epilepsy, dementia, or brain inflammation.

Do the electrical events that cause seizure symptoms occur in the brain?

Generalized-onset seizures are surges of abnormal nerve discharges throughout the cortex of the brain more or less at the same time. The most common cause is an imbalance in the “brakes” (inhibitory circuits) and “accelerator” (excitatory circuits) of electrical activity in the brain.

Can dehydration cause a seizure?

Becoming extremely dehydrated — defined by the World Health Organization as losing more than 10 percent of your body weight in fluid — can lead to injury or fatal complications, and it requires an ER visit. Seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, or hypovolemic shock can occur because your blood volume is too low.

What foods can trigger seizures?

Stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, sweets, soft drinks, excess salt, spices and animal proteins may trigger seizures by suddenly changing the body’s metabolism. Some parents have reported that allergic reactions to certain foods (e.g. white flour) also seem to trigger seizures in their children.

Can overstimulation cause seizures?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder experienced by 65 million people worldwide. It is characterized by the overstimulation or hypersynchrony of neurons that leads to epileptic seizures. Physical symptoms include weakness, inability to communicate clearly, and excessive exhaustion.

Does an EEG show past seizure activity?

The likelihood of recording a seizure during a routine EEG is small. The EEG generally records brain waves between seizures, called interictal brain waves. These waves may or may not show evidence of seizure activity.

What does a neurologist do for seizures?

Your regular doctor will probably refer you to a neurologist or an epileptologist, a doctor with specific training in diagnosing and treating epilepsy. The specialist will typically order more tests to find the cause of your epilepsy, and they will prescribe medicine to prevent more seizures.