Some common and uncommon triggers for epilepsy seizures

A trigger is something that often causes a person with epilepsy to have a seizure. This can vary from person to person and there are many things that may act as a trigger for a person with epilepsy. Part of learning to live with epilepsy is to figure out what things may trigger seizures in order to take steps to avoid them.

It’s worth noting that a trigger and a cause are two different things. A trigger may be the reason that a seizure first happens, but the cause of the epilepsy itself is usually quite different.

Here are some common and uncommon triggers to look out for:

Common

Missing or failing to take medication

Anticonvulsant medication needs to be taken regularly, and whether it’s missed on purpose or by accident this can be one of the most common triggers for a seizure. Intentional non-adherence is when a person chooses not to take medication, which can be for a number of reasons, including side effects, lifestyle or personal beliefs. Unintentional non-adherence is when the person wants to take the medication but doesn’t, which could be through forgetfulness, inability to handle medication or difficulty taking the medication.

Sleep and stress

The two are often linked, and a lack of sleep or overly stressful situations is a common trigger for people with epilepsy. It’s essential to get a good night’s sleep for many reasons, but for a person with epilepsy, it can also be the key to minimising seizures. People who work in high-pressure jobs or are under a lot of stress can often find they experience seizures more frequently.

Alcohol and drugs

Alcohol is a common trigger for seizures, which often occurs the next day as the brain has become dehydrated. Alcohol can also affect sleeping patterns and can lead to tiredness. If you’re going to drink alcohol it’s essential that you do responsibly and ensure you stay hydrated.

Recreational drugs are another potential trigger that can increase the frequency of seizures and may also affect your health. Most recreational drugs work by altering brain chemistry temporarily, which can trigger seizures and lead to lasting problems, especially for people with epilepsy.

Uncommon

Flashing lights

Photosensitive epilepsy is what most people think of as a trigger when epilepsy is mentioned, when in fact it only affects approximately 3% of people with epilepsy. With photosensitive epilepsy, a seizure may happen when the person is exposed to flashing lights or patterns, such as strobe lights. It’s mostly flashes between 3 and 60 hertz (flashes per second) that have the potential to induce a seizure.

Music

Otherwise known as musicogenic epilepsy, some kinds of music can trigger seizures in people with epilepsy. It varies from person to person, jazz might be a trigger for one person and heavy metal or classical for another. It’s thought that certain musical patterns are the trigger, also known as the ‘mozart effect’. It often takes people a while to realise that it’s the music they’re listening to that is triggering seizures.

National Epilepsy Training can help

There are, of course, many other triggers, these are just a few common ones to look out for. Talk to our team about triggers and how to minimise seizures, call us on 01706 373075 or email admin@nationalepilepsytraining.co.uk.