The Effect of Seizures on the Brain

Seizures can be caused by a variety of conditions, injuries, diseases, and other health problems. In some cases, the causes of a seizure are identifiable, but for many people the causes are unknown. According to Merck Medical Journal, seizures without a known cause are called idiopathic.

Cause

• A seizure occurs when a burst of electrical activity in the brain spreads past normal limits. The electrical impulses are transmitted to the muscles, which causes them to twitch and convulse.

Status Epilepticus

• According to the Mayo Clinic, about one in 100 people in the United States will experience a seizure in his or her lifetime. When a person has prolonged seizures, the condition is called status epilepticus. Prolonged brain seizures kill brain cells.

Considerations

• Although prolonged seizures can cause brain damage, it is unclear whether or not individual seizures harm the brain. It is difficult to separate the underlying brain injury that causes the seizure from the seizure itself, which is why doctors have a difficult time determining how the brain has been affected.

Injuries

• In addition to affecting the brain, seizures can have other consequences as well. The muscle contractions that occur during a seizure can cause injuries or broken bones.

Effects

• If the seizures are frequent, they can affect a person's quality of life. For example, an individual with frequent seizures may be socially stigmatized or find he is unable to participate in certain activities because of his condition.