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Lack of sleep or stress can affect seizure control.
Eating regularly and maintaining a well-balanced and nutritious diet are also important. A poor and irregular diet may affect seizure medication levels.
Some women experience an increase
in seizures around the time of menstruation. This is referred to as catamenial
epilepsy.
Excessive alcohol consumption and subsequent withdrawal, and use of street drugs can trigger seizures.
And in those with photosensitive epilepsy, flashing or flickering lights induce seizures and can be triggered by the lights of computers, video games, or television.
There are specific health-related issues associated with certain groups including seniors, children, and women that should be discussed with a physician.
Common Seizure Triggers
While
some people are not able to identify specific events or circumstances
that affect seizures, others are able to recognize definite seizure
triggers. It is useful to learn your seizure triggers so that seizures
can be avoided. Some common seizure triggers include:
- Forgetting
to take prescribed seizure medication
- Lack
of sleep
- Missing
meals
- Stress,
excitement, emotional upset
- Menstrual
cycle/ hormonal changes
- Illness
or fever
- Low
seizure medication levels
- Medications
other than prescribed seizure medication
- Flickering lights of computers, television, videos, etc.
- Excessive
alcohol consumption and subsequent withdrawal
- Street
drugs (e.g. cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy, LSD, withdrawal from
marijuana)
Will drinking alcohol
trigger seizures?
While excessive use of alcohol and subsequent withdrawal can trigger seizures, modest occasional alcohol consumption does not seem to increase seizure activity in individuals who are not alcoholics or who are not sensitive to alcohol. Alcohol use can, however, lower the metabolism which results in lower blood levels of the seizure medication that is also metabolized by the liver. Drinking alcohol can also lower the seizure threshold. A seizure threshold is the level at which the brain will have a seizure. Some doctors recommend that individuals with uncontrolled seizures abstain from alcohol consumption. If you choose to consume alcohol, it is essential that you continue taking your seizure medication as prescribed.
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