Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSeizure TypesDuring a SeizureRisk FactorsContributing Factors to Seizures
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Seizure Types
During a Seizure
Risk Factors
Contributing Factors to Seizures
Seizuresare a risk following head trauma. Also calledtraumatic brain injury, head trauma can range from mild (such as a concussion) to severe. Severe injuries have a higher chance of causing a seizure.
About 10% of people who experience a traumatic brain injury that’s severe enough for them to be hospitalized will end up having a seizure. Most of the time, it happens within the first few days or weeks after the accident.
However, for a smaller percentage of the head injury population, seizures can start months or years later. The symptoms of becoming unresponsive, with jerking, uncontrolled movements, may indicate a lifelong challenge with a seizure disorder.
This article explains how traumatic brain injury increases the risk of seizures, even those with mild symptoms. It will help you to know more about what to expect if and when seizures occur.
1:43Knowing What to Do When Someone Has a Seizure
1:43
Knowing What to Do When Someone Has a Seizure
Seizure Types Related to Brain Trauma
Seizures that occur as a result of traumatic brain injury are classified on the basis of when the first seizure happens. These definitions include:
What Is Epilepsy?
What Happens During a Seizure
A seizure occurs when the normal electrical function of the brain is thrown off balance. This disruption may happen for a variety of reasons after head trauma, including:
Signs and Symptoms of SeizureSome signs of seizure include:Staring out into space and not responding to voice or touchHeadache, sudden fatigue, or dizzinessLip smacking, chewing, biting of the mouthChanges or difficulty withbreathingInability to speak or understand othersUncontrolled jerking of the head, arms legs, torso
Signs and Symptoms of Seizure
Some signs of seizure include:Staring out into space and not responding to voice or touchHeadache, sudden fatigue, or dizzinessLip smacking, chewing, biting of the mouthChanges or difficulty withbreathingInability to speak or understand othersUncontrolled jerking of the head, arms legs, torso
Some signs of seizure include:
In addition to the seizure activity, there may be a loss of bowel orbladderfunction. After the seizure, it may take a while to “wake up,” realize you had a seizure, and become aware of the environment.
For seizures that last longer than two minutes, it may take several days to fully recover and you may experiencecomplicationslike increased confusion, difficulty walking, or trouble talking.
An Overview of Seizure Phases
Increased Risks of Seizure
There are a number of factors that play into one’s risk of developing a seizure disorder afterhead trauma.
Penetrating injuries, such as gunshot wounds, have a high likelihood of leading to seizures. Up to half of all people with penetrating traumatic brain injuries will develop epilepsy, and it’s the leading cause of a new diagnosis for people whose age is in their 20s and 30s.
If two or more brain surgeries were needed to repair damage or remove blood clots from the brain after head trauma, the risk for seizure is about 35%.If the head trauma is entirely contained within the skull (no penetrating injuries or surgery) the risk is about 20%.
What Are Penetrating Trauma Injuries?
Drug and alcohol use greatly increases the likelihood of having a seizure.You may be more likely to vomit during the seizure, and you will not have adequate control over your gag and cough reflexes. This can lead toaspirating(inhaling) stomach contents into the lungs, which can be fatal.
Other illnesses not related to head trauma can also increase seizure risk. Having a high fever, as well as having an electrolyte imbalance such as low sodium, may lead to seizure activity.
Not getting enough sleep and being stressed lower the seizure threshold. Sometimes a seizure happens years after a brain injury when the person is under a great amount of pressure and feeling fatigued.
Symptoms of Chronic Stress and Treatments
Summary
Gunshot wounds, in particular, can lead to seizures and an epilepsy diagnosis after head injury. Other factors, including an underlying illness or alcohol and drug use, can increase the risk of seizures as well.
It’s less common, but some people who have a history of a head injury won’t experience seizures for many months or even years after the incident. Be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of your medical history and that you maintain any treatments prescribed to prevent seizures.
How Epilepsy Is Treated
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing epilepsy.
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Huang, Y., Liao, C., Chen, W., & Ou, C. (2015).Characterization of acute post-craniectomy seizures in traumatically brain-injured patients.Seizure: European Journal Of Epilepsy,25150-154. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2014.10.008Lucke-Wold, B. P., Nguyen, L., Turner, R. C., Logsdon, A. F., Chen, Y., Smith, K. E., & … Richter, E. (2015).Review: Traumatic brain injury and epilepsy: Underlying mechanisms leading to a seizure.Seizure: European Journal Of Epilepsy,3313-23. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2015.10.002
Huang, Y., Liao, C., Chen, W., & Ou, C. (2015).Characterization of acute post-craniectomy seizures in traumatically brain-injured patients.Seizure: European Journal Of Epilepsy,25150-154. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2014.10.008
Lucke-Wold, B. P., Nguyen, L., Turner, R. C., Logsdon, A. F., Chen, Y., Smith, K. E., & … Richter, E. (2015).Review: Traumatic brain injury and epilepsy: Underlying mechanisms leading to a seizure.Seizure: European Journal Of Epilepsy,3313-23. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2015.10.002
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