Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) caused by fasting.Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure.Ĭertain factors or conditions may interfere with the reading of an EEG test. Other risks may be present, depending on your specific medical condition.

If you do get a seizure, your healthcare provider will treat it immediately. This is due to the flashing lights or the deep breathing that may be involved during the test. In rare instances, an EEG can cause seizures in a person with a seizure disorder. In addition, there is no risk of getting an electric shock. The EEG has been used for many years and is considered a safe procedure. There may be other reasons for your healthcare provider to recommend an EEG. The EEG may also be used to monitor blood flow in the brain during surgical procedures. The EEG may also be used to determine the overall electrical activity of the brain (for example, to evaluate trauma, drug intoxication, or extent of brain damage in comatose patients). The test can also be used to diagnose other disorders that influence brain activity, such as Alzheimer's disease, certain psychoses, and a sleep disorder called narcolepsy. People with lesions of their brain, which can result from tumors or stroke, may have unusually slow EEG waves, depending on the size and the location of the lesion. When epilepsy is present, seizure activity will appear as rapid spiking waves on the EEG. The EEG is used to evaluate several types of brain disorders.

Normal eeg vs seizure