Strokes May Lead to Epilepsy

Photo: Nurse Talking To Senior Male Patient On Ward

Learn more about how preventing stroke can also prevent some kinds of epilepsy.

What Is a Stroke?

A stroke happens when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.1 About 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year.1 It is a major cause of disability and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States.1 Signs that someone is having a stroke are:

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or problems understanding speech.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
Sudden severe headache with no known cause.1

Preventing Stroke

Lower your chance of having a stroke by:

Controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol
Having a healthy weight
Being physically active
Eating a healthy diet
Limiting alcohol
Avoiding smoking.2

Strokes Can Cause Seizures and Epilepsy3

Epilepsy is a broad term used for a brain disorder that causes repeated seizures. There are many types of epilepsy, and there are also many different kinds of seizures.

One study found that almost 12% of adults who had strokes went on to develop epilepsy.3

A single seizure may happen soon after a stroke.3 You do not necessarily have epilepsy, or will develop epilepsy, if you have just one seizure. Certain types of strokes, such as ones that cause bleeding, and more severe strokes may be more likely to cause epilepsy. 3

Epilepsy caused by strokes can usually be controlled with anti-seizure medicines.3 It’s important to take medicine as prescribed to keep seizures under control.

Older Adults Are More at Risk

Photo: Senior couple with dog running in green sunny nature

Physical activity is one way to lower the chance of having a stroke.

Epilepsy is more likely to develop in older adults than younger adults.4 Stroke causes up to half of new epilepsy cases in older adults for which a cause can be identified.4 This makes stroke one of the most common reasons people develop epilepsy as they age.4

Seizures may be hard to recognize in older adults and may be overlooked. For instance, trouble with memory, confusion, falls, dizziness, or numbness may be viewed as “normal” aging problems. However, these can actually be symptoms of seizures and are not normal.4 Older adults who have had a stroke, and their caregivers, should watch for these symptoms.

To learn more about recognizing seizures in older adults, take the Epilepsy Foundation’s Seniors and Seizures training .

Do you know what to do if you see a seizure? Learn seizure first aid.

Prevent epilepsy by preventing stroke!

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stroke Fact Sheet. Accessed January 30, 2018.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Stroke: What You Can Do. Accessed February 12, 2018.
Conrad, J, et al. Seizures after cerebrovascular events: Risk factors and clinical features. Seizure. 2013;22(4):275-82. DOI:1016/j.seizure.2013.01.014.
Brodie MJ, Elder AT, Kwan P. Epilepsy in later life. Lancet Neurol. 2009; 8(11):1019–30. DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70240-6.