How can you die of a seizure?

Answer 1

Mortality rates are considerably higher in people with epilepsy than would be expected in a healthy population. The causes of death include seizures which evolve into status epilepticus, a continuous state of seizure that can be fatal; Seizures can induce a semi-conscious state, making a person vulnerable in daily routines such as taking baths or walking down stairs; Suicide is another risk factor. People with epilepsy who suffer from depression are five times more likely to commit suicide than the overall population. A mystery in epilepsy deaths called sudden unexplained death (SUDEP), which is often listed as an official cause of death, accounts for 7-17% of deaths among the general population with epilepsy, twenty-five times higher than normal in the case of Temporal lobe epilepsy and perhaps fifty percent higher among patients with refractory epilepsy. The seriousness of this disorder which affects 50 million people world wide does not get the attention it deserves. This potentially deadly disorder affects more people than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease combined. Epilepsy is on the rise because of the aging population. People over the age of 65 have a significant increased risk of developing epilepsy. Epilepsy is twice as common as Autism and more people die from epilepsy related causes each year than from AIDS.

Answer 2

Yes. however it is extremely,extremely,extremely rare, and if you die after a seizure it is probably not the direct cause of death.

Actually, you can die from things related to the seizure, but not the seizure activity itself.

1) During a seizure, almost every muscle in the body, including the ones that allow us to breathe, are seizing and not functioning properly. If the tonic/clonic phase of the seizure lasts very long, the brain will starve for oxygen and brain injury or death can occur from that. During the post-tictal phase, when the body completely relaxes, it is also possible the the tongue muscle can relax so much that it falls back and blocks the throat, making it impossible for the person to breathe. This is not true! Knowing CPR is very important when you are with someone who is prone to seizures.

2) When a person begins a seizure, the muscles become very rigid and the person will often fall. Sometimes, this results in striking their head during the fall or during the clonic phase when they are thrashing about which can cause a brain injury that may lead to death.

3) The person may be doing something hazardous when they suffer a seizure, such as driving or being in a hazardous location, which can result in death.

4) Underlying causes of the seizure, such as high fever or a brain injury or poisoning, are the real cause for concern. Unless the exact cause of the seizure is known and is being treated by a doctor with medication, a seizure is always a warning sign of something serious and should be treated as an emergency -- CALL 911. A seizure is a signal that there is something wrong with the brain function.

Answer 3

Yes, you can. But it rarely happens, and is most dangerous in children with very high fever or undiagnosed epilepsy.

Actually, you can die from things related to the seizure, but not the seizure activity itself.

1) During a seizure, almost every muscle in the body, including the ones that allow us to breathe, are seizing and not functioning properly. If the tonic/clonic phase of the seizure lasts very long, the brain will starve for oxygen and brain injury or death can occur from that. During the post-tictal phase, when the body completely relaxes, it is also possible the the tongue muscle can relax so much that it falls back and blocks the throat, making it impossible for the person to breathe. Knowing CPR is very important when you are with someone who is prone to seizures.

2) When a person begins a seizure, the muscles become very rigid and the person will often fall. Sometimes, this results in striking their head during the fall or during the clonic phase when they are thrashing about which can cause a brain injury that may lead to death.

3) The person may be doing something hazardous when they suffer a seizure, such as driving or being in a hazardous location, which can result in death.

4) Underlying causes of the seizure, such as high fever or a brain injury or poisoning, are the real cause for concern. Unless the exact cause of the seizure is known and is being treated by a doctor with medication, a seizure is always a warning sign of something serious and should be treated as an emergency -- CALL 911. A seizure is a signal that there is something wrong with the brain function.

Answer 4

No. However, depending on where the seizure occurs, you can die from environmental conditions. For instance, a grand mal seizure while Scuba diving is serious indeed. The seizure is the symptom of something else -- an underlying cause. So dying from a seizure isn't really possible, but the underlying cause may be fatal.

Answer 5

yeah. they can choke while having a seizure.

Actually, you can die from things related to the seizure, but not the seizure activity itself.

1) During a seizure, almost every muscle in the body, including the ones that allow us to breathe, are seizing and not functioning properly. If the tonic/clonic phase of the seizure lasts very long, the brain will starve for oxygen and brain injury or death can occur from that. During the post-tictal phase, when the body completely relaxes, it is also possible the the tongue muscle can relax so much that it falls back and blocks the throat, making it impossible for the person to breathe. Knowing CPR is very important when you are with someone who is prone to seizures.

2) When a person begins a seizure, the muscles become very rigid and the person will often fall. Sometimes, this results in striking their head during the fall or during the clonic phase when they are thrashing about which can cause a brain injury that may lead to death.

3) The person may be doing something hazardous when they suffer a seizure, such as driving or being in a hazardous location, which can result in death.

4) Underlying causes of the seizure, such as high fever or a brain injury or poisoning, are the real cause for concern. Unless the exact cause of the seizure is known and is being treated by a doctor with medication, a seizure is always a warning sign of something serious and should be treated as an emergency -- CALL 911. A seizure is a signal that there is something wrong with the brain function.

Answer 6

It is possible, but extremely unlikely. If someone had a seizure in the wrong place, like on the top of a ladder, in a swimming pool or at the wheel of a car, they could put their life at particular risk. The vast majority of seizures do no real harm to the person having one.

Answer 7

You won't die from the seizure itself, its something else that causes the seizure to make you die.

Answer 8

People can die of complications from siezures.

Answer 9

no