Seizure Triggers and How To Avoid Them

A seizure can be described as an electrical malfunction in the body. It occurs when there is a disruption of neural activity in the brain, preventing brain signals from effectively reaching brain cells.

These seizures may affect a patient in different forms: impaired brain functions, injuries, or death. And according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, having seizures more than twice in one’s life suggests that the individual may have epilepsy.

For people prone to epilepsy, a few things increase the probability of a seizure. These things are called “triggers.” One trigger is refusing to take prescribed anti-epilepsy medicine. Anti-epileptic drugs such as Carbatrol or Tegretol are prescribed to epileptic patients to help prevent seizures in the brain’s temporal lobe. Some patients may stop taking their medication when they feel like their condition is improving and have not had a seizure lately. If one stops taking their medication as prescribed, without a doctor’s approval, they become at risk of developing uncontrollable withdrawal seizures.

Alcohol may trigger epileptic seizures because it may stimulate receptors in the brain that suppress neural activity. Alcohol itself may not trigger seizures, but after the effects wear off, the sudden spark of activity in the brain may leave the patient more vulnerable to seizures. Thus, health experts advise epileptic patients not to drink alcohol.

Narcotics and other stimulating substances may also have similar effects to alcohol on the brain, and patients prone to epilepsy are also advised to stay away from these substances.

Stress is one of the most common causes of epileptic seizures. Experts have concluded that stress releases certain chemicals into the body, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which may disrupt bodily function and make the brain more susceptible to seizures. Also, the parts of the brain that interprets emotions that occur due to stress are the same parts that fail during an epileptic episode.

Epileptic patients are advised to try their best to avoid stressful scenarios, and if they find themselves in the middle of one, they should leave or find a way to diffuse the situation. Stress management tactics such as exercise, relaxation, and getting enough sleep can help reduce the occurrence of seizures in stressful situations. They are also encouraged to use their medication in these scenarios to reduce the effects of stress on their brains.

Meals are important to regulate bodily and brain function. An inconsistent or imbalanced meal schedule may trigger seizures in people prone to epilepsy. Epileptic patients need to eat well-balanced meals to ensure that their brains receive all the nutrients they need to work properly. There is also an added risk for epileptic patients with diabetes, as hypoglycemia can trigger seizures if they skip a meal.

Photosensitive epilepsy is a rare form of epilepsy that affects three percent of all epileptic patients. Seizures may be triggered by blinking lights or contrasting patterns of light. Patients with this form of epilepsy need to avoid flashing lights and images, such as those commonly shown in the cinema. Playing video games may also trigger seizures because of the fast-moving graphics involved.

Head injuries may also trigger seizures in epileptic patients. The risk of having another seizure if the preceding one was due to a head injury is doubled, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Epileptic patients are advised to avoid contact sports and use helmets and protective gear when playing sports such as biking and skating to reduce head injuries.