When most people think about seizures, they normally associate them with epilepsy. This neurological disorder affects around 1% of the general population, which is quite significant as that currently represents over 3 million Americans. While epilepsy is the most common cause of seizures, it’s not the only one. In non-epileptic people who suffer from seizures, there’s a wide range of causes that have been documented in medical journals over the years. Doctors have been able to record their cases and the more common causes of seizures have been identified as a result. It’s worth noting that idiopathic seizures, or those for which doctors are unable to find a cause, make up a large percentage of reported seizures. Yes, we still live in an age where medical advancements haven’t been able to answer all our questions yet. However, in terms of seizures where a cause is known, the following are the top five most common causes.
1 - Stroke
Stroke is the single most common cause of seizures in non-epileptic cases. There are two types of strokes and both of which can cause a person to have seizures. Ischemic strokes, the first type, occurs when blood flow to any part of the brain has been reduced or disrupted. The other type, hemorrhagic strokes, normally occur when a blood vessel near the brain bursts. Because brain damage and scarring can occur from both types, seizures can occur as a result of this and they can sometimes recur for many years after the stroke happened.
2 – Alcohol Withdrawal
Every year, 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol withdrawal. Seizures are one of the most commonly occurring side effects in this group. Quitting alcohol after long periods of heavy drinking can lead to a disruption in many parts of the brain on a cellular level. While these types of seizures are normally self-limiting and do not become chronic, in some cases they can still be very dangerous. A condition known as status epilepticus, though rare, can sometimes occur. This is when a seizure lasts longer than five minutes or when multiple seizures happen quickly and there isn’t enough time between each fit for a person to physically and mentally recover. This condition has been linked specifically to seizures caused by alcohol dependence and withdrawal.
3 - Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia, in basic terms, is a deficiency in sodium. Sodium is an electrolyte that balances the water found in the human body. Both water and sodium are crucial for the body to stay healthy, but too much water and not enough sodium is a serious problem. The excess water can cause inflammation in the brain, which can lead to seizures. Many things can cause this condition including organ damage, excessive vomiting or diarrhea, drinking large amounts of water too quickly, and abusing certain medications. Seizures caused by hyponatremia are often very serious because brain damage can occur, which can lead to chronic seizures.
4 - Hypocalcemia
This condition is extremely common and can lead to seizures, particularly in the elderly. Hypocalcemia is the medical term for calcium deficiency. If a person’s body is not receiving enough calcium, a disruption in the neurotransmitters of the brain can occur. Also, the human body needs vitamin D to help absorb calcium. Even if a person is consuming enough foods with calcium, a deficiency in vitamin D can, in turn, cause a calcium deficiency. Almost half of the American population does not consume enough calcium to meet the recommended guidelines. While only a small percentage of this group experience severe hypocalcemia, it’s easy to see why this condition is a major cause of seizures.
5 - Hypoglycemia
Diabetics are all too familiar with this medical condition, which is well-known for causing seizures as well. Hypoglycemia just means that a person has low blood sugar (glucose), which can happen for many different reasons. Certain diabetic medications can cause this, but non-diabetics can also have hypoglycemia. Poor diet habits, fasting, alcohol abuse, drug overdoses, or anything else that can affect blood sugar levels. Seizures that are triggered by hypoglycemia aren’t normally chronic after a person is treated, but can sometimes cause long-term fits in rare cases.