Can you fly with epilepsy?

While most people with seizures can travel safely by airplanes, guidelines of the Aerospace Medical Association do recommend that people with uncontrolled seizures not travel by commercial airliner. An airline may ask for a letter from your doctor that you are okay to fly.

Can flying trigger seizures?

Approximately 1 in every 39 000 airline passengers presents with an in-flight medical emergency, and about 6% of these are seizures. Patients with epilepsy have shown an increase in seizures during the first few days after a flight.

How do you travel with epilepsy?

How long after a seizure can you fly?

Most airlines follow the rules set out by of IATA (International Air Travel Association) which states that passengers must be seizure-free 24 hours before travelling by air. If you have had a seizure 24 hours before your flight, you will need clearance to fly.

What epileptics should avoid?

Are there any concerns when traveling with epilepsy? (Tami Maier, epilepsy patient)

Is epilepsy a disability?

Is Epilepsy Considered A Disability? Epilepsy is considered a disability and it has a listing in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book. For epilepsy to qualify for disability benefits, it must meet the criteria of the Blue Book listing. There are different listings for epilepsy in the Blue Book.

What triggers a epilepsy seizure?

Missed medication, lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and menstruation are some of the most common triggers, but there are many more. Flashing lights can cause seizures in some people, but it's much less frequent than you might imagine.

Can high altitude trigger seizures?

The description of the clinical event obtained from the witness and the presence of a positive family history strongly support a high altitude-triggered new epileptic seizure. This report suggests that at high altitudes seizure risks in a seizure-prone person may be higher than for normal individuals.

What happens if I have a seizure on a plane?

When the seizure stops, help the person into a resting position in a single reclining seat. If the seizure continues for more than about 5 minutes or is immediately followed by another one, tell the flight attendant that the person may be experiencing a medical emergency and may need emergency care.

Can epilepsy go away?

Treatment with medications or sometimes surgery can control seizures for the majority of people with epilepsy. Some people require lifelong treatment to control seizures, but for others, the seizures eventually go away. Some children with epilepsy may outgrow the condition with age.

Does epilepsy affect travel insurance?

If you have epilepsy, some insurance companies will charge you more because epilepsy is classed as a 'pre-existing medical condition'. To make sure that an insurance policy meets your needs, insurance companies will usually pass you on to their medical department.

Can you live a normal life with epilepsy?

Most people with epilepsy live a full life. However, the risk of early death is higher for some. We know that the best possible seizure control and living safely can reduce the risk of epilepsy-related death.

Can you fly with partial seizures?

If you are flying, check if you need medical clearance

The IATA guidelines say that if you have had a tonic-clonic seizure less than 24 hours before your flight, you will need medical clearance to be allowed to fly. If your seizures are generally well controlled, you should not usually need medical clearance.

How does high altitude affect the brain?

Sustained exposure to high altitude leads to cognitive decrement, such as impairment in attention, memory, judgment and emotion⁴. Research has demonstrated that cognitive impairment due to altitude starts at 2,500 m above sea level^5,6,7, because brain vulnerability to hypoxia increases beginning at 2,500 m⁸.

Does altitude affect medication?

Those who enjoy traveling to exotic locations, beware. The latest research shows that staying at high altitudes for more than 24 hours can alter the effect of drugs like Demerolâ„¢, Lithiumâ„¢ and even widely-used high altitude sickness medications like acetazolamide.

Can you get disability for seizures?

Adults with epilepsy may be eligible for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI, for those who paid taxes into the Social Security system) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI, for low-income people). To qualify for either SSI or SSDI, epileptic seizures have to occur regularly (see below).

Does epilepsy get worse with age?

The incidence of any type of seizure increases substantially over the age of 60, commonly due to other neurological conditions such as dementia or stroke.

What can you not do when you have epilepsy?

Does epilepsy damage the brain?

Prolonged seizures are clearly capable of injuring the brain. Isolated, brief seizures are likely to cause negative changes in brain function and possibly loss of specific brain cells.

Does epilepsy affect memory?

The epilepsy may cause difficulties with being able to store memories. Research has shown that people with epilepsy are prone to forget things more quickly than others.

Can epileptics donate blood?

Throughout the world people who have epilepsy and seizures are prohibited from donating blood. These restrictions are based on the assumption that they are prone to adverse donor reactions, specifically, syncope and convulsions. We describe a study evaluating whether that concern is warranted.

How long is the average lifespan of a person with epilepsy?

On average, people with epilepsy live 10–12 years less than those who do not have the condition. Summary: On average, people with epilepsy live 10-12 years fewer than those who do not have the condition. Excess mortality is particularly pronounced among people with epilepsy and mental disorders.

Can Covid affect epilepsy?

Some research suggests people with epilepsy could have a slightly increased risk of getting seriously ill or dying from coronavirus. Because of this increased risk, people with epilepsy aged 16-64 were invited to receive the COVID-19 vaccine earlier than people without underlying health conditions.

Is epilepsy a death sentence?

Each year, more than 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy die from SUDEP. This is the leading cause of death in people with uncontrolled seizures.

Do you have to declare epilepsy to insurance?

You'll need to tell your insurer about your epilepsy for your motor insurance to be valid. If you need to give up your driving licence it can be difficult to keep your vehicle insured (for example to insure it against theft).