WHAT IS SUDEP?
SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) refers to the death of a person with epilepsy, without warning and where no cause of death can be found.
INDIVIDUALS WITH INCREASED RISK FOR SUDEP:
Uncontrolled or frequent seizures
Generalized convulsive seizures (also known as tonic-clonic or grand mal)
Seizures that started at a young age
OTHER THINGS THAT MAY INCREASE SUDEP RISK:
Male gender
Many years of living with epilepsy
Missing doses of prescribed anti-epileptic medication
Drinking alcohol
Not getting enough sleep or changing sleep patterns (shift workers)