Can a person die from epilepsy?

Condition analysis:
Most people with epilepsy live a full life. However, the risk of early death is higher for some. We know that the best possible seizure control and living safely can reduce the risk of epilepsy-related death.

Factors that increase the risk of early death include
-- More serious health problems, such as a stroke or a tumor. These conditions carry an increased risk of death and may cause seizures.

-- Falls or other injuries that happen because of seizures. These injuries can be life-threatening.

-- Seizures that last over 5 minutes. This is a condition called status epilepticus. Status epilepticus can sometimes happen when a person suddenly stops taking seizure medication.

Rarely, people with epilepsy can experience sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). SUDEP is not well understood and experts don’t know what causes it, but they suspect that it is sometimes due to a change in heart beats (rhythm) during a seizure. Sudden death due to heart rhythm changes also happens in people who do not have seizures. The risk of sudden death is larger for people with major uncontrolled seizures.

Instructions:
What is a balanced diet? A balanced diet is generally made up of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vegetables and fruit, and drinking plenty of fluids. Research continues into what makes a healthy diet, and dietary guidelines are also influenced by where we live, our health needs, and our lifestyle.

Carbohydrates provide energy and are found in foods such as potatoes, bread, pasta and rice. Wholegrain versions of these foods provide extra vitamins, minerals and fibre (which helps to remove waste from the body).

Fats include oils, oily fish, nuts and seeds. Fats help us to absorb nutrients including some important vitamins, and keep us warm. They help keep our cells healthy and give us energy.

Proteins build and support our muscles, hormones, enzymes, red blood cells and immune system. Protein is in dairy foods such as milk and cheese, and also in meat, fish, tofu, beans, lentils and eggs.

Vegetables and fruit of various colours provide vitamins and minerals. They also help protect us from infection, damage to our cells and diseases. Currently it is recommended that we aim to eat at least five portions of vegetables or fruit per day (one portion is roughly a handful).