EPILEPSY AND SEIZURES – GENERAL Frequently Asked Questions What is epilepsy? Seizures are divided into two main categories: Epilepsy is a common neurological disease Generalized seizures characterized by the tendency to have recurrent • Involve both hemispheres of the brain seizures. It is sometimes called a seizure disorder. • Two common types are absence seizures (petit A person has epilepsy if they: mal seizures) and tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures) • Have had at least two unprovoked seizures, or • Have had one seizure and are very likely to Focal seizures (partial seizures) have another, or • Only involve one part of the brain • Are diagnosed with an epilepsy syndrome • Include focal impaired awareness seizures (complex partial seizures) and focal aware seizures (simple partial seizures). What is a seizure? People with epilepsy may experience more than one A seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the type of seizure. For more information about seizure brain that causes a temporary disturbance in the way types, see our Seizure Types Spark sheet. brain cells communicate with each other. The kind of seizure a person has depends on which part and how much of the brain is affected by the electrical FACT: About 1 in 100 Canadians have epilepsy. disturbance that produces the seizure. A seizure may take many different forms, including a blank stare, Why do people have seizures? uncontrolled movements, altered awareness, odd sensations, or convulsions. Seizures are typically brief There are many potential reasons why someone could and can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few have a seizure. Some seizures are a symptom of an minutes. acute condition, such as an illness or a recent head injury. Some people will have an isolated seizure for no apparent reason and never have another one. FACT: It is estimated that 1 out of 10 people will have When someone has epilepsy, they have an underlying a seizure in their lifetime, but most people who have a brain condition that makes them more likely to have single seizure do not have epilepsy. recurrent seizures. There are a wide range of causes of epilepsy. 1 / 6 Frequently Asked Questions continued Do people get a warning before a seizure? CT or MRI brain scans may also be helpful in some Sometimes people can feel a seizure coming on. patients to look for differences in brain structure, However, warnings are not experienced by everyone scars, or other physical conditions that may be causing with epilepsy. the seizures. Based on all of the information gathered, the healthcare provider may diagnose the person with epilepsy. Aura Some people have an aura at the very beginning of a How is epilepsy treated? focal seizure or a generalized seizure. Technically, an The goal of epilepsy treatment is to prevent seizures. aura doesn't happen "before" the seizure, because it Anti-seizure medication is the most common way to is actually part of the seizure. Some examples of treat epilepsy. Different medications control different auras are a sudden feeling of fear, an odd smell or types of seizures, and a medication that helps one taste, or a sudden tingling sensation in part of the person may not be effective for someone else. body. About 70% of people with epilepsy have their seizures An aura can also occur by itself. For example, if the controlled with medication. In some cases, epilepsy seizure activity causing the aura does not spread to surgery offers the possibility of a reduction or other brain areas, then the seizure may not progress complete elimination of the seizures. Other non-drug treatments include specialized diets and nerve to a loss of awareness or loss of consciousness. stimulation. Prodrome It’s important to remember that everyone responds Another type of warning, called a prodrome, can differently to treatment, so a person with epilepsy occur minutes, hours, or days before the seizure should discuss their care with their physician before begins. Some examples are headache, mood making any changes to their treatment. changes, or changes in thinking abilities. For more information, see these Spark sheets: Anti- How is epilepsy diagnosed? Seizure Medications, Epilepsy Surgery, Complementary Therapies, and Ketogenic Diet Epilepsy is diagnosed by a physician or nurse Therapy for Epilepsy. practitioner. The healthcare professional will complete a medical history, asking questions about Do people have seizures forever? the seizure, such as what happened before, during, and after it. Some types of epilepsy are limited to a certain age group or stage of development, but in many cases The person will have an electroencephalogram (EEG), epilepsy is a chronic, life-long disease. There are which is a test that records brain waves picked up by treatment options to help people achieve seizure- metal discs (electrodes) placed on the scalp. The brain freedom. Medication will be effective for many waves show patterns of brain activity which may help people. Some people are good candidates for the doctor identify epilepsy and provide more epilepsy surgery. information about any seizures a person may have. (For more information, see our EEG Spark sheet.) 2 / 6 Frequently Asked Questions continued I have not had a seizure for years. Do I still have • Metabolic or autoimmune conditions epilepsy? • Infections such as meningitis or encephalitis If someone is taking anti-seizure medication to control their seizures, they are considered to have What triggers seizures? active epilepsy. The International League Against Triggers vary from person to person. Some people Epilepsy considers epilepsy to be resolved for with epilepsy are able to very clearly identify situations individuals with an age-dependent epilepsy that trigger a seizure, while others are unable to find a syndrome who are past the applicable age or if the pattern to their seizures. A common way to identify individual has been seizure-free for 10 years and off seizure triggers is to keep a seizure record that medication for at least the last five years. includes tracking what happens before each seizure. How common is epilepsy? Common triggers include: Epilepsy is not rare – in fact, about 1 in 100 Canadians • Missed doses of anti-seizure medication (most has epilepsy and over 50 million people worldwide live common trigger) with it. It can affect anyone of any gender, age, and ethnicity. • Lack of sleep or fatigue • Stress or excitation Many famous people have had (or are suspected to have had) epilepsy, including Neil Young, Florence • Elevated body temperature Griffith Joyner, Derek Morris, Harriet Tubman, Hugo • Colds, flu or some kinds of infection Weaving, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Lil Wayne, and many • Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle others. • Alcohol What causes epilepsy? • Flashing lights or contrasting patterns (photosensitivity), but only in about 5% of all Epilepsy is NOT contagious – you can’t catch it, and people with epilepsy you can’t give it to someone else. In more than half of cases, no clear known cause can be found. Can a person with epilepsy drive? Some types of epilepsy are associated with genetic In Ontario, you can drive with epilepsy if you meet factors. Among the rest, anything that affects the way certain criteria set out in the Ontario Highway Traffic the brain works could increase the chance of Act. Typically, this includes being seizure-free for at developing epilepsy. least 6 months, and taking your medication as Possible causes include: prescribed. • Head injuries This is to ensure your safety, as well as the safety of • Lack of oxygen during birth those around you. Your physician is required by law to • Stroke submit a report to the Ministry of Transportation • Problems in development of the brain before when you have had a seizure that could affect your birth ability to safely drive. • Brain tumors For more information, see our Epilepsy and Driving • Genetic conditions (such as tuberous sclerosis) Spark sheet. 3 / 6 Frequently Asked Questions continued Does epilepsy affect a person’s emotional well- The vast majority of people with epilepsy live long and being? healthy lives. As with many other medical conditions It is normal for a person who has been diagnosed with though, for some people there is an increased risk of epilepsy to experience a range of emotions such as dying caused by epilepsy. anger, frustration, fear, and sadness. Concern for the The overall risk of dying for a person with epilepsy is future and negative responses from friends and family 1.6 to 3 times higher than for the general population1. can leave a person feeling vulnerable and alone. The possible causes of this increased risk include: Living with epilepsy can result in personal challenges, • Complications during or after a seizure, such as but it does not have to result in an inability to live a seizures that do not stop naturally (status rewarding and full life. epilepticus) • Accidents caused by having a seizure, including People with epilepsy experience depression and drowning or car accidents anxiety more frequently than individuals without • The underlying medical cause of someone’s epilepsy. Research hasn’t yet determined why this epilepsy happens, but there may be some common links between the underlying causes of these brain • SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) disorders. For more information, see our Epilepsy and TIP: SUDEP occurs in about 1 out of every 1000 people Depression and Epilepsy and Anxiety Spark sheets. with epilepsy, and happens more often in people who have frequent convulsive seizures. Does epilepsy affect intelligence? SUDEP is thought to happen when a person with People with epilepsy have the same range of epilepsy, who is in their usual state of health, dies intelligence as people without epilepsy. Some unexpectedly. conditions that lower mental ability also cause epilepsy, but epilepsy itself does not diminish mental The best way to reduce the risk of SUDEP is to ability.