Reducing Your Risk of Epilepsy

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

En Español (Spanish Version)

There are steps you can take to lower your risk of epilepsy.

Prevent seizures that happen from head injuries by:
- Wearing seat belts and bicycle helmets
- Putting children in car seats
Get help right away if you think you have had a seizure.
Get prenatal care to help prevent brain damage to a growing fetus:
- Eat a healthy diet and get enough vitamins.
- Do not drink alcohol.
- Do not smoke cigarettes or use illegal drugs.
Treat high fevers (especially in children) with medicine
Take steps to prevent or control health problems, such as:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Infections
- Any health problem that may affect or injure your brain

REFERENCES:

Epilepsy in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115086/Epilepsy-in-adults. Updated November 9, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2019.

Epilepsy in children. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T900174/Epilepsy-in-children. Updated March 22, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2019.

Epilepsy information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Epilepsy-Information-Page. Updated June 18, 2018. Accessed March 26, 2019.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). The epilepsies: the diagnosis and management of the epilepsies in adults and children in primary and secondary care. NICE 2012 Jan:CG137.

Seizure disorders. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated November 2018. Accessed March 26, 2019.

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Last reviewed March 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD
Last Updated: 3/26/2019

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