Why Do People Have Seizures?

Seizures can be caused by several factors. Whether you have had seizures from birth, or they started later in life, the cause will determine the treatment. Seizures usually can be controlled by medications, while certain types will stop as suddenly as they appeared.

Epilepsy

• Epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures and affects more than 3 million people. Epilepsy causes the electrical impulses of the brain fire too rapidly, sometimes as fast as 500 times per second.

Genetics

• Seizures can be related to a genetic disorder. Angelmans syndrome and neurofibromatosis are genetic disorders that can cause seizure activity.

Trauma

• After a head trauma, a person will be 12 times more likely to have a seizure. During head trauma, the brains electrical impulses are interrupted, unlike epilepsy where the signals are erratic.

Disease

• Certain diseases such as Alzheimer's and progressive brain disease can cause seizures. Neurological diseases and hereditary diseases are also common causes of chronic seizures.

Infections

• Certain infections such as bacterial meningitis, kidney failure or encephalitis can lead to seizures. Chronic renal failure also might cause seizures as can a brain abscess or tumor.