[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/05\/epilepsy-infographic\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/05\/epilepsy-infographic\/","headline":"Epilepsy Causes and Risk Factors","name":"Epilepsy Causes and Risk Factors","description":"Epilepsy affects around 3 million people in the US. Learn more about epilepsy, such as causes, triggers, and risk factors with this infographic.","datePublished":"2015-05-28","dateModified":"2024-06-19","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery-regions","name":"Neurosurgery","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/neurosurgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/epilepsy-infographic.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/epilepsy-infographic.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/05\/epilepsy-infographic\/","about":["Neurosurgery and Brain Health"],"wordCount":337,"keywords":["brain health","epilepsy","infographic","medical mondays","neurosurgery","seizures"],"articleBody":"Epilepsy is often misunderstood. Mostly, because people know so little about it. For example, did you know that it can be more than just shaking violently on the ground, as it’s often depicted in movies? Sometimes, a seizure can just involve brief episodes of staring or daydreaming.It also affects more people than you would think. In the U.S., Epilepsy affects around three million people of all ages \u2013 more than Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and Parkinson’s Disease combined.Want to learn more about epilepsy, such as causes, triggers, and risk factors? Check out the infographic below.Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes nerve cell activity (neurons) in the brain to become disrupted, resulting in seizures, unusual behavior, or loss of consciousness.Did You Know?Epilepsy affects 65 million people in the world, 2.2-3 million in the U.S. alone. Approximately 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy at some point in a lifetime. Someone is said to have epilepsy if they’ve had two or more unprovoked seizures occur that can’t be explained by a medical condition. For about 1 in 3 people with epilepsy, there is no treatment that works. The cause is unknown for 60 percent of people suffering from epilepsy.Epilepsy Risk FactorsRisk factors of epilepsy include:Injuries in the brainHaving a seizure in the first month of lifeBrain abnormalitiesDevelopmental disabilitiesFamily history of seizuresMore than 50 percent of people who develop epilepsy don’t have any risk factors. Epilepsy is more common in Hispanic people.Epilepsy CausesThe primary causes of epilepsy include:GeneticsAutismInfectionsStroke, for people 65+Seizure TriggersCommon triggers of seizures include:Missing a dose of seizure medicationPoor sleepIllnessHormonal changesStressMissing mealsDrugs or alcoholDehydrationFlashing lights or patternsEpilepsy DiagnosisTo diagnose epilepsy, your doctor will:Ask for a detailed medical historyPerform blood testsOrder EEG tests, and CT and MRI scansEditor's Note: This gallery was originally published on May 28, 2015, and was last reviewed on April 26, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2015","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Epilepsy Causes and Risk Factors","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/05\/epilepsy-infographic\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]