
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Seizure risk factors
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Risk factors that can precipitate or provoke seizure include: excessive sleep deprivation, alcohol use, illicit drug use, some medications that reduce the seizure threshold, toxins, homeostasis abnormality due to organ failure, metabolic abnormalities, and medical and surgical histories that may be important in assessing the patientβs risk for future seizures.
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Risk factors that can precipitate or provoke seizure may include:[1][2][3]
- Chronic sleep deprivation
- Alcohol use
- Illicit drug use
- Some medications that reduce the seizure threshold such as:
- Toxins
- Homeostasis abnormality due to organ failure
- Metabolic abnormalities
- Medical and surgical histories that may be important in assessing the patientβs risk for future seizures, such as:
- Childhood development (such as delivery complications)
- History of central nervous system (CNS) infections, diseases, or surgeries
- History of head injuries (especially if there were loss of consciousness)
References
References
- β Pohlmann-Eden, Bernd; Legg, Karen T. (2013). “Treatment of first seizure in adults: A comprehensive approach integrating 10 key principles”. Epileptology. Elsevier BV. 1 (1): 61β67. doi:10.1016/j.epilep.2013.01.005. ISSNΒ 2212-8220.
- β Delanty N, Vaughan CJ, French JA (1998). “Medical causes of seizures”. Lancet. 352 (9125): 383β90. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(98)02158-8. PMIDΒ 9717943.
- β Gavvala JR, Schuele SU (2016). “New-Onset Seizure in Adults and Adolescents: A Review”. JAMA. 316 (24): 2657β2668. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.18625. PMIDΒ 28027373.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shakiba Hassanzadeh, MD[2]
