What Are the Long-Term Effects of Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition that occurs when chemical signals in the brain cause seizures. According to Mayo Clinic, epilepsy is diagnosed when there are recurring seizures. Epilepsy is caused by a number of factors and can lead to numerous complications if left untreated. It is important to receive the proper treatment in order to avoid the negative impact that epilepsy can have on your life.

Symptoms

• Some of the symptoms of epilepsy include confusion, uncontrollable jerking in the limbs and loss of consciousness. According to professionals from the Mayo Clinic, these symptoms are especially dangerous if they last for more than five minutes, as it can cause brain damage.

Causes

• Factors such as genetics, trauma to the head, strokes, dementia, prenatal injuries and disorders such as autism and Down syndrome may all play a part in epilepsy. Many environmental factors can play a part in the chemical signals in the brain that cause this disorder. Further risk factors may include brain infections, vascular diseases and seizures during childhood due to high fevers.

Effects

• Epilepsy can have a major negative impact on your life, especially if left untreated. Seizures are unpredictable and can happen when driving, swimming or simply walking. This poses a risk of falling, car accidents and other serious accidents. The Mayo Clinic states that seizures can also cause pregnancy complications and birth defects to an unborn baby. It is important to speak with your doctor before planning a pregnancy if you have epilepsy.

Complications

• Although there are only a few long-term effects of epilepsy, the ones that exist are serious. Prolonged seizures can cause brain injury, status epilepticus and sudden unexplained death. Status epilepticus occurs during prolonged seizures and causes those who have them permanent brain damage and even death. Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy, although rare, is possible in untreated or under-treated epilepsy. According to the Mayo Clinic, this only occurs in fewer than 1,000 people who have the condition.

Treatment

• Many medication treatments are available for epilepsy. These medications can help reduce the frequency of seizures, as well as how intense the seizures are. Although they have certain side effects such as rashes, loss of coordination, fatigue, dizziness and bone density loss, they also have many benefits. Epilepsy medications reduce the chance of long-term complications caused by the condition as well as help reduce your chance of having a seizure. Medications can be adjusted to your need.