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Taking control of your epilepsy is an important part of managing the
condition. In addition to taking your medication, there are other things you need to remember in order to help reduce seizure frequency.
The following are lists of potential trigger factors for people with seizures. Some are avoidable, others less easy to avoid. Not all these factors apply to every person with epilepsy but identifying triggers in your lifestyle and dealing with them may impact on your seizure pattern.
Common triggers
- Missed medication. If forgetting is a problem consider a special pill dispenser
- Stress/emotional distress, eg. demanding workload, unemployment, diagnosis of epilepsy, financial pressure, marriage, family problems, bereavement anger, low self esteem,depression etc. Consider counselling, stress management or relaxation classes
- Lack of sleep. Try to adopt regular sleep patterns and avoid late nights if possible. If sleep is broken for lengthy periods contact your GP
- Overuse of alcohol. Keep your intake moderate
- Skipping meals. Aim to have a regular pattern of meals and do not skip mealtimes even if busy. Ensure you eat healthily
- Stimulants. Use of stimulant substances, drugs such as speed, ecstasy, heroin or cocaine should, be avoided
- Physical exertion. Both over and under exertion can cause problems. Take a sensible approach to exercise and pace yourself
- Withdrawal from alcohol or illegal substances can be a trigger factor. Discuss this with your doctor if this is a problem.
Triggers that are less avoidable
- Menstrual periods. In some cases these can be triggers, particularly in catamenial epilepsy
- Flashing lights. This applies to rarer cases where a person has been diagnosed with photosensitive epilepsy
- Sickness. Where there is illness, injury and pain, or fever take care to reduce temperature and seek treatment for illness and injuries
- Breathing. Hyperventilation and breath holding can be triggers. If either is a problem seek medical advice
- Hormonal problems. Hormonal disturbances or changes, eg. menopause or metabolic disturbances. Discuss these with your doctor
- Sounds. Specific sounds such as sudden loud noise, visual (lights geometric patterns) and touch (texture) stimuli. If you are triggered by any of these, inform others who may expose you to them and try to avoid strong contrasting patterns, disco lights, noisy machinery or whatever other stimulus might trigger a seizure
Changing time zones. When traveling on long-haul trips, changes of time zone may disrupt sleep patterns and medication schedules. Discuss your travel plans with your doctor some weeks before travelling so that necessary adjustments can be made.
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