About Epilepsy
An epileptic seizure is a temporary interruption of communication between nerve cells (brain cells). This interruption or disturbance can be either unprovoked or provoked.
Unprovoked Causes of Epilepsy
Some seizures are caused by something “natural” that has occurred or is present in the body, such as a problem that the person was born with or a chemical imbalance the person has.
- Genetic factors
- Problems or conditions the person was born with
- Chemical or metabolic imbalance
- Head injury/infection
- Neurological problem
- Alzheimer’s disease
Provoked Causes of Epilepsy
There are seizures considered provoked, caused by an event that has happened to the individual. For example, a head injury resulting from a serious accident can be a cause of provoked seizures.
- Any damage/injury during childbirth
- Use of alcohol or drugs
- Head or brain injury
- Progressive brain disease
- Seizure (stroke)
- Brain tumor
- Medications
Note of interest: in about 50% of people with epilepsy, the cause of epilepsy is unknown.