To prevent epilepsy, attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.
Behavioral risk factors
- Diet
- Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances) – see Prevention with micronutrients.
- Consumption of stimulants
- Alcohol – Excessive alcohol consumption (but also alcohol withdrawal).
- Nicotine from e-cigarettes – an acute overdose of nicotine can cause tonic-clonic seizures (35 individual cases)In Germany, e-cigarettes are safer because the nicotine concentration is limited to a maximum of 20 mg/ml. In the US, capsules with 50 mg/ml are available.
- Drug use
- Sleep deprivation – willful or involuntary deprivation of sleep.
Medication
- Medication withdrawal
Environmental pollution – intoxications (poisonings).
- Strobe lights in clubs → patients with known photosensitive epilepsy should avoid such events or take precautions
Other risk factors
- Contrast media in radiology