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Epilepsy
Prevention
There are many causes of epilepsy, and this affects whether or not the disorder could be prevented. Prevention of birth anoxia and head trauma can in part reduce the risk of some epilepsies, but most epileptic syndromes cannot be prevented. With treatment, some people may not experience a seizure for many years, enabling them to stop their medication, for others, epilepsy is a life-long condition and treatment must be continued accordingly. People with epilepsy can help control their seizures by taking their medication regularly, as instructed by their doctor, and, where possible, avoiding the common triggers of an epileptic seizure. Common triggers include:
- alcohol
- stress
- lack of sleep
- fever (in infants and small children)
- menstruation
- exposure to flickering light.
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After 2 to 5 years of successful treatment, medication can be stopped in approximately 70% of children and 60% of adults, without relapses.
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It is important to note that following these measures will not prevent a person with epilepsy from experiencing another seizure, but it will help to prevent a further seizure from occurring.
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