FACT: Not all seizures are due to epilepsy.

Common Causes of Nonepileptic Seizures

• various diseases (multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, tuberculosis, parasitic infections, rabies, viral infection, herpes simplex, encephalitis and Pick disease)
• head trauma
• drug or alcohol use
• emotional origin

FACT: Anyone can undergo a seizure given the right set of conditions. People who have seizures sooner have a lower seizure threshold. About 10% of the general population will have a seizure during their lifetime.

What is a Seizure Threshold?

A seizure threshold is the level at which the brain will begin to have a seizure. Everyone has a seizure threshold: anyone can have a seizure if the excitation in the brain is strong enough. A high seizure threshold means that a seizure is less likely to occur, while a low seizure threshold means that a seizure is more likely to occur. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) attempt to raise the seizure threshold, whereas other medications may lower the seizure threshold.

Factors which may change the seizure threshold or act as triggers (prompt a seizure to occur) include:

• lack of adequate, regular sleep
• missed medication
• drug toxicity (too much medication)
• poor nutrition (eating junk food or meals that are not nutritionally balanced)
• caffeine
• boredom, lack of activity or interest
• extreme fatigue
• drug abuse
• consumption of alcohol
• bladder too full (putting off urinating)
• fever, colds, infections
• constipation
• menstrual cycle
• heat and/or humidity
• consumption of large amounts of food or drink at one time
• emotional stress (divorce, death, anxiety, embarrassment, fear, feeling bad about oneself)

As well, the seizure threshold can be lowered suddenly when a person who has been taking anti-epileptic medication suddenly stops taking the medication. This can lead to life-threatening non-stop seizures, status epilepticus. People with epilepsy should never stop taking medications without their doctor’s consent, so that a safe schedule for the withdrawal of AEDs can be established, when and if this becomes advisable.

 

FACT: Epilepsy is not a disease but rather a disorder.

 

Possible causes of epilepsy

• perinatal complications (occuring prior to birth or during delivery)
• head injury
• disease and infections
• brain tumors and abnormalities
• metabolic disorders and other conditions affecting the body’s metabolism
• stroke
• drug abuse
• toxins, insecticides, industrial chemicals, etc.

Some Common Triggers of Seizures

• flashing lights
• listening to music
• hyperventilation (common cause of absence seizures)
• insufficient sleep
• irregular meals
• menstrual cycle
• poor nutrition
• particular emotions
• excessive fluids
• environmental stimuli
• overexertion/underexertion
• fever
• migraines
• allergies
• heat and humidity
• stress

Seizure diary

Keeping a seizure diary may help you identify the trigger(s) of your seizures.
You should include:

• Date
• How you feel about yourself; your energy level
• Number of seizures
• Time and duration of seizure
• What proceeded the seizure, what occurred during it and what followed it (Identify possible triggers.)
• Descriptions of the times when you thought a seizure might happen but didn’t
• Did the seizure(s) affect your school or work? family relationships? social life?
• AEDs taken: what and when, and any side effects felt that day
• The date of your last refill
• Changes in your medication
• Any other medication taken that day, (aspirin, hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, etc.)
• Your menstrual cycle day (day 1 = 1st day of your period) and any spotting occurring between periods
• Alcohol consumption
• Amount of sleep and how well you slept
• What and how much you ate, and when you ate it

What is an Aura?

An aura is a “warning” that immediately proceeds a seizure for some people.
It may be:

• sensory (sound, smell, lights, sparkles, distorted images)
• autonomic (related to the involuntary nervous system, e.g. rapid heartbeat, breathlessness, throat spasms, irregular breathing, blushing)
• related to psychic phenomena (hallucinations, etc.)

Usually, a well defined aura which occurs immediately before a seizure indicates a secondarily generalizing partial seizure (seizures that begin in one area of the brain and then may branch out).

In contrast to an aura, a prodromal warning is a state of mind that indicates the onset of an unhealthy condition. It is a vague feeling of uneasiness or irritability that occurs minutes or hours before a seizure.

Treatment for People with Epilepsy

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) successfully control up to 70-80% of epileptic seizures. However, AEDs do not cure epilepsy; they provide control only.

Surgery may be required when:

• seizures are the product of a brain problem (brain tumor)
• seizures are of a particularly dangerous type (“drop attacks” or status epilepticus)
• chronic, generalized seizures occur hundreds of times a day, making normal life impossible.

A combination approach (well-rounded approach) to seizure control includes drug treatment, careful avoidance of personal seizure triggers and the use of alternative therapies to help prevent seizures and reduce stress. While alternative therapies do not necessarily eliminate the need for drug treatment, they may help reduce the dosage of AEDs required. This is important for those who find their seizures are controlled by AEDs only when taken at toxic levels (dangerously high amounts of the medication in the blood) or with bothersome side effects.

Possible Side Effects of AEDs

• drowsiness and lethargy
• difficulty awakening (result of over-medication or toxicity)
• blurred or double vision
• tremors (shaking)
• slurred speech
• hiccups
• vertigo (dizziness)
• nausea
• rash
• stomach upset
• loss of appetite
• weight gain
• clumsiness
• hair loss or new hairiness
• numbness of extremities
• frequent urination
• insomnia
• change in gum/facial features
• psychological changes, including headaches, depression, irritability, confusion, memory loss, learning difficulties or behaviour changes

Be sure to know what side effects you might have with any AED (and other medications) you take. Some reactions to and interactions between medications (including “herbals”) can be dangerous or even life-threatening.

Taking good care of yourself physically is essential to your mental and social well-being as well.
Talk to your doctor and find out which changes will help you to improve your physical health.