About epilepsy lifestyle issues Epilepsy is a common condition of the brain in which a person tends to have recurrent unprovoked seizures. Understand your epilepsy diagnosis Getting a diagnosis of epilepsy can be a shock.
Epilepsy seizure triggers Some people with epilepsy may notice a link between certain situations and seizures.
Some commonly reported seizure triggers related to lifestyle include: lack of sleep overexertion or physical fatigue physical or emotional stress heat alcohol and other drug use. Driving and epilepsy If you have a seizure while driving, it could cause an accident. The length of this period will depend on things such as: what caused your seizure what type of seizure you had if you have epilepsy, and if so, what type.
There are many things to think about, but some main points include: Take a letter from your doctor confirming your diagnosis and treatment. Pack more medication than you think you will need. Always keep your medications in their original containers showing your details. Take your prescriptions with you, and keep them on your person, or in your hand luggage.
Keep supplies in different bags so if one gets lost, you still have some medication with you. Make sure the medication is available in your country of destination just in case you lose it all. Try to have a stopover if your flight is lengthy to lessen the sleep disruption. Avoid drinking water or eating salads in countries where the water is not considered safe to drink. Even brushing your teeth with bottled water is advisable in these countries. Vomiting and diarrhoea can reduce the absorption of your medication and cause seizures.
Choose your travel insurance carefully, as insurance companies vary in the way they assess cover and in the charges that apply when you have a pre-existing medical condition. The Chronic Illness Alliance has useful information about travel insurance for people with chronic disorders.
Epilepsy and flashing lights photosensitive epilepsy Many people mistakenly believe that everyone with epilepsy has seizures triggered by flashing lights, television or video games photosensitivity.
Epilepsy and stress Many people with epilepsy report a strong link between stress and seizures, with stress being a common seizure trigger. Sources of stress for people with epilepsy may include: seizures, and their unpredictability the type of seizure — focal seizures often involve unusual behaviours that many people would not recognise as epilepsy. These behaviours may be mistaken as intoxication, inappropriate behaviour or mental health problems and can cause embarrassment the risk of injury medication side effects teasing, bullying or social isolation employment difficulties and associated financial difficulties stigma of epilepsy in some cases, reduced independence.
Epilepsy and intimate relationships Juggling an intimate relationship and a chronic condition requires patience and commitment from both partners. Epilepsy and pregnancy Planning your pregnancy is important if you have epilepsy. The National Epilepsy Nurse Line is a phone and email service to support people living with epilepsy and their families.
The National Epilepsy Line is available from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week in all Australian states and territories. Information Line: or 03 Driving and seizures , Epilepsy Society of Australia. Living with a chronic illness , Relationships Australia Factsheet. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. This does not mean you have epilepsy, as a seizure can have several causes and sometimes they're just a one-off, but you should see a doctor to find out why it happened.
Find out more about the tests for epilepsy you might have. Find out what to do if someone has a seizure. Treatment can help most people with epilepsy have fewer seizures or stop having seizures completely. Some people need treatment for life. But you might be able to stop treatment if your seizures disappear over time. Overview Epilepsy is a central nervous system neurological disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of awareness.
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Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references The epilepsies and seizures: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed June 3, Schachter SC. Evaluation and management of the first seizure in adults. Get seizure smart. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Daroff RB, et al. In: Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. Elsevier; Wilfong A. Seizures and epilepsy in children: Classification, etiology, and clinical features.
Simon RP, et al. In: Clinical Neurology. McGraw Hill; Ferri FF. Seizures, generalized tonic clonic. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Overview of the management of epilepsy in adults. Who gets epilepsy? Epilepsy Foundation.
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures fact sheet. Accessed June 4, Haider HA, et al. Neuroimaging in the evaluation of seizures and epilepsy. Reproductive system. Respiratory system. Nervous system. Muscular system. Skeletal system. Digestive system. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Jeanne Morrison, Ph. Absence Epilepsy Petit Mal Seizures. Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M.
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