Heart problems that cause seizures

Our hearts and our brains are very closely connected. Whether it’s how our bodies respond to exercise or the way we calm ourselves down, these two vital organs are continually communicating. It’s therefore not surprising that when there are problems in one of these organs, this can cause issues in the other. 

Several reports appear to show there may be heart problems that cause seizures (or seizure-like events). At the same time, there’s evidence that epilepsy can also affect the heart’s health. Let’s learn more about this link.

Possible relationships between heart health and seizures

A seizure is when there is a sudden surge in electrical activity in the brain. There are many different seizure symptoms. Often people lose consciousness, they may make repetitive movements with their limbs, they may jerk or shake, and they may cry out. There are many other possible symptoms too. Someone is said to have epilepsy if they have had two or more unprovoked seizures. 

Some people who don’t have epilepsy may have seizures after having a heart attack. Heart problems may also cause people to have symptoms that look like seizures - such as losing consciousness, falling over, twitching and shaking. 

People with epilepsy may also experience various kinds of heart problems including cardiac arrhythmias, asystole and bradycardia during or after their seizures. 

It is very important to seek medical advice about these kinds of episodes - whether the cause is epilepsy or a heart problem.

Heart problems that cause seizures or seizure-like symptoms

There are many different heart problems that cause seizures or seizure-like events. These may include:

• Cardiac arrhythmia: This is when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly. It can make people faint. It might also mean their brains don’t get enough oxygen, so they may shake or seem to have seizures. There are many different heart conditions that can cause arrhythmias and lead to seizure-like events. These heart conditions include hypertension, valve diseases and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, among others.

• Long QT syndrome: This is a rare heart problem which causes very irregular heartbeats. Fainting and seizure-like events are common symptoms of this condition. When the heart beats in a disordered way, the brain may not always get enough oxygen, so people faint. 

• Ischemia: This is when blood flow is restricted so not enough oxygen gets to the body. Cardiac ischemia (‘cardiac’ means related to the heart) is when the heart cannot pump blood around the body so well. Again, this can cause a lack of oxygen in the brain, and may lead to fainting.

• Asystole (or ‘flatline’): This is when the heart stops beating and all electrical and mechanical activity pauses. It causes fainting and a loss of consciousness, and may cause seizure-like activity.

• Cardiac arrest: After cardiac arrest (‘heart attack’) people may also experience seizures and myoclonic jerks. 

There are also some possible conditions that cause seizures when stressed - particularly anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Read more about this in our blog on nonepileptic seizures. 

The dangers of misdiagnosis

Several studies have found that people who have seizure-like events may be misdiagnosed with epilepsy - but in fact have underlying heart problems instead. It is important to be aware of this issue. Some people choose to get a second opinion about their epilepsy diagnosis to make sure there isn’t another cause.

Epilepsy may cause heart problems 

For many people with epilepsy, seizures are often accompanied by a rapid increase in their heart rate and rhythm. Seizures may also increase levels of stress hormones in the body, and a shortage of oxygen. This might not be a problem in the short term, but over many years it may cause damage to the heart. 

The kind of damage caused by having many seizures has led some scientists to talk about the ‘epileptic heart’ as a specific condition. 

Research seems to show that if people have uncontrolled epilepsy, they are more likely to:

• Have signs of physical damage to the heart
• Suffer heart attacks
• Have various heart diseases

These findings are significant for people who have uncontrolled seizures. If the ‘epileptic heart’ theory is correct, they are potentially at a higher risk of heart disease. 

There is also some research that suggests that taking seizure medication may be associated with an increased risk of heart problems. If you have any concerns about this, speak with your doctor. 

Suggested: Why might a seizure medication not work for you?

Head and heart

There are many ways that our hearts and brains interact with one another, and it’s helpful to be aware of heart problems that cause seizure-like events, and the ways epilepsy may affect heart health. If you have any doubts or uncertainty about the underlying causes of your seizures, speak to your doctor. With the right support, many heart and brain problems can be treated effectively.