Having one seizure does not mean you have epilepsy. High fevers, severe head injuries, or lack of oxygen, to name a few, can also cause seizures.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that occurs when the brain sends out abnormal electrical signals that interfere with normal brain activity. Consciousness, bodily movements, and sensations may be affected by the abnormal activity called seizures.

“While the mechanisms causing epilepsy aren’t completely understood, we know more about it now than in the past,” says Mark Granner, M.D., UI Neurosciences neurologist. “Epilepsy is not a single disorder, but can have multiple causes.”

If you or a loved one experience seizures, discuss it with a UI Family Care physician or a UI Hospitals and Clinics neurologist or neurosurgeon as soon as possible.

Early diagnosis of epilepsy is important so medication or treatment can be prescribed as soon as possible to control the seizures. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Modern medicines and surgical techniques can control seizures in about 80 percent of those with epilepsy, enabling them to live relatively normal lives.