What does SUDEP mean in epilepsy?
For some people living with epilepsy, the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is an important concern. SUDEP refers to deaths in people with epilepsy that are not caused by injury, drowning, or other known causes.
What SUDEP means?
1. SUDEP is not well understood. SUDEP stands for Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. It refers to deaths in people with epilepsy that are not from injury, drowning, or other known causes.
What happens during SUDEP?
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is said to occur when a person with epilepsy dies unexpectedly and was previously in their usual state of health. The death is not known to be related to an accident or seizure emergency such as status epilepticus.
What are the symptoms of SUDEP?
Warning signs of SUDEP These include: An increase in the number of tonic clonic seizures in the previous year. Having drug resistant epilepsy, which is when seizures continue happening despite you trying two or more anti epilepsy medications. An increase in the number of nocturnal seizures happening.
What causes sudden death in epilepsy?
SUDEP is the sudden, unexpected death of someone with epilepsy, who was otherwise healthy. In SUDEP cases, no other cause of death is found when an autopsy is done. Each year, more than 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy die from SUDEP. This is the leading cause of death in people with uncontrolled seizures.
Can you prevent SUDEP?
The risk for SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) is higher in people with uncontrolled seizures. Thus, having as few seizures as possible, or ideally zero seizures, is the best way to lessen your risk and prevent SUDEP. Getting the “best care” you can for your seizures will help improve seizure control.
Can you stop SUDEP?
Yes it can help! The risk for SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) is higher in people with uncontrolled seizures. Thus, having as few seizures as possible, or ideally zero seizures, is the best way to lessen your risk and prevent SUDEP.
How is SUDEP diagnosed?
The diagnosis of SUDEP is based mainly upon history and postmortem examination findings, such as the patient being found in a prone position.
How do you prevent SUDEP?
Seeing your epilepsy doctor and other health care providers regularly. Ensure you are getting enough sleep each night. Avoid drinking too much alcohol or using recreational drugs. Know what triggers your seizures and adjust your lifestyle and environment as needed.
What risk factors are associated with SUDEP?
Risk factors most consistently associated with SUDEP are:
- Poorly controlled seizures.
- Treatment with multiple anticonvulsant drugs.
- Having long standing chronic epilepsy.
- Other risk factors include: Generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Seizures that happen during sleep. Not taking anticonvulsant medicine as prescribed.
How does SUDEP cause death?
No one is sure about the cause of death in SUDEP and it may differ between cases. Some researchers think that a seizure causes an irregular heart rhythm. Other research has shown that breathing difficulties following a seizure lead to death.
Is SUDEP hereditary?
Definite evidence has recently emerged concerning genetic susceptibility to SUDEP, suggesting a highly polygenic contribution [18]. A gene associated with SUDEP should include a definite pathogenic alteration that causes epilepsy, increasing SUDEP risk [12].
Can SUDEP be stopped?
Does epilepsy lead to dementia?
People with epilepsy develop Alzheimer’s disease at a rate 6 times higher than the non-epileptic population, and seizures can damage the memory centers of the brain and contribute to dementia.
How can I prevent SUDEP?
Ensure you are getting enough sleep each night. Avoid drinking too much alcohol or using recreational drugs. Know what triggers your seizures and adjust your lifestyle and environment as needed. If medicines do not work, consider other therapies such as epilepsy surgery, devices, or dietary therapy.
Recent experimental evidence from humans and animal models suggests that many of these cases of sudden death to seizures and epileptogenesis, but recent studies have also implicated dysfunction of forebrain circuits as a potential cause of breathing
What causes sudden death in adults?
The most frequent causes of sudden death in adults result from catastrophes in the heart, blood vessels, lungs, and brain, according to Forensic Pathology.Sudden collapse and death can occur in people with known medical risks as well as in seemingly healthy, even young people.
How to recognize epileptic seizure signs?
– Simple focal seizures affect a small part of the brain. These seizures can cause twitching or a change in sensation, such as a strange taste or smell. – Complex focal seizures can make a person with epilepsy confused or dazed. – Secondary generalized seizures begin in one part of the brain, but then spread to both sides of the brain.
When someone has a seizure?
Beginning: Some people are aware of the beginning of a seizure,possibly as much as hours or days before it happens.