Reducing Your Risk of Epilepsy
Reducing Your Risk of Epilepsy
Taking preventive measures may prevent some cases of
epilepsy
. These measures include:
-
Preventing head injuries by:
- Wearing seat belts and bicycle helmets
- Putting children in car seats
-
Treating a seizure properly by:
- Seeking medical help immediately after suffering a first seizure
- Taking medication after the first or second seizure
-
Getting good prenatal care to help prevent brain damage to a developing fetus:
- Treatment for high blood pressure
- Treatment for any infections
- Maintaining proper nutrition, including adequate vitamin intake
- Avoiding excess alcohol intake
- Avoiding cigarettes or illegal drug use
- Treating high fevers (especially in children) with medication
-
Taking steps to prevent or control certain medical conditions, including:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Infections
- Any disorder that may affect or injure your brain
-
Avoiding:
- Illicit drugs
- Excessive amounts of alcohol
References
Berkow R. The Merck Manual of Medical Information. 17th ed. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster; 2000.
Epilepsy Foundation website. Available at: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/ .
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ .