What can you not do when you have epilepsy?

What I can and can't do because of my epilepsy
  1. Will there be things I can't do?
  2. Risk assessments and possbile discrimination.
  3. Sport.
  4. Alcohol and recreational drugs.
  5. Photosensitive epilepsy.
  6. Transport and travel.
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What should epileptics avoid?

Here are some of the seizure triggers that have been reported by people with epilepsy:
  • Not taking epilepsy medicine as prescribed.
  • Feeling tired and not sleeping well.
  • Stress.
  • Alcohol and recreational drugs.
  • Flashing or flickering lights.
  • Monthly periods.
  • Missing meals.
  • Having an illness which causes a high temperature.
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What can make your epilepsy worse?

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.
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What things can trigger epilepsy?

12 most common seizure triggers
  • Missing medication. The most common reason for a seizure is forgetting to take your anti-epileptic drugs (AED) or deliberately not taking it. ...
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Recreational drugs. ...
  • Caffeine. ...
  • Lack of sleep / tiredness. ...
  • Stress / anxiety. ...
  • Boredom. ...
  • Dehydration.
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Does epilepsy shorten your life?

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. On average, people with epilepsy live 10-12 years fewer than those who do not have the condition.
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Causes of Epilepsy and How to Treat it?



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.
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Does exercise help epilepsy?

Exercise helps people to stay fit and healthy. If you have epilepsy, this may help to reduce the number of seizures you have. Exercise can also improve mood and relieve stress. As stress is a common trigger for seizures, exercise may help to prevent seizures for some people.
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What food is good for epilepsy?

Nonetheless, the Epilepsy Society still recommends a balanced diet so your body and brain get the nutrients they need to stay as well as possible.
...
Foods to Eat With Epilepsy
  • Whole grains like rolled or steel cut oatmeal, brown rice and whole wheat breads.
  • Fruits.
  • Vegetables.
  • Legumes like peas, beans and lentils.
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Can cell phone use cause seizures?

Sleep disturbance: A lack of sleep is one of the leading triggers of epileptic seizures. The way you use your phone could disturb your sleep, and make seizures more likely. The blue light that emits from mobile screens can make it hard to sleep if you look at it late at night (blue light 'tells' your body to wake up).
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Is banana good for epilepsy?

The 2018 study was published in the ”Pharmacognosy Research”. The researchers tested the water extracts of banana stem on animals and found that it was able to reduce the onset and duration of seizures in animals with some forms of epilepsy under laboratory conditions.
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Is coffee good for epilepsy?

Moderate doses of caffeine may benefit patients with epilepsy, whereas high doses – four cups of coffee per day or more – may increase seizure susceptibility, said Julie Bourgeois-Vionnet, MD, of the department of functional neurology and epileptology at Hospices Civils de Lyon in France.
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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.
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Does caffeine affect epilepsy?

Caffeine can increase seizure susceptibility and protect from seizures, depending on the dose, administration type (chronic or acute), and the developmental stage at which caffeine exposure started. In animal studies, caffeine decreased the antiepileptic potency of some drugs; this effect was strongest in topiramate.
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Is chocolate good for epilepsy?

Abstract. While the consumption of caffeine and cocoa has been associated with a variety of health benefits to humans, some authors have proposed that excessive caffeine intake may increase the frequency of epileptic seizures in humans and reduce the efficiency of antiepileptic drugs.
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Does stress make epilepsy worse?

According to the World Health Organization, epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition affecting around 50 million people worldwide, characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures [1]. Among other factors, stress has been reported as the most frequent trigger for seizures in people with epilepsy [2,3,4,5].
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How many hours should a person with epilepsy sleep?

People with epilepsy should get adequate sleep - enough to feel refreshed the next day. In general, adults should try for at least 7-8 hours a night. Going to bed late (for example, 3 a.m. instead of 11 p.m.) can be compensated for by sleeping late (10 a.m. instead of 6 a.m.) and thereby avoiding sleep deprivation.
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Can WIFI cause epilepsy?

Numerous studies have revealed that electromagnetic activity in the environment can also trigger seizures in epileptic patients [6, 7]. However, many neuronal modulatory devices that produce electromagnetic fields have been introduced to diagnose and treat epilepsy [8,9,10].
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Can watching TV cause seizures?

Television is the most common seizure stimulus, but any source of flickering light, such as light flickering through trees, can provoke a seizure. The slower the flicker, the more likely it is to cause seizures. Conventional cathode-ray television sets flicker at the same rate as the current they are connected to.
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Can lights cause seizures?

Overview. Photosensitive seizures are triggered by flashing or flickering lights. These seizures can also be triggered by certain patterns such as stripes. Photosensitive seizures can fall under several categories, including tonic-clonic, absence, myoclonic and focal seizures.
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Can chocolate cause seizures?

Stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, sweets, soft drinks, excess salt, spices and animal proteins may trigger seizures by suddenly changing the body's metabolism.
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Can Certain things trigger seizures?

Triggers are situations that can bring on a seizure in some people with epilepsy. Some people's seizures are brought on by certain situations. Triggers can differ from person to person, but common triggers include tiredness and lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and not taking medication.
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What are the warning signs of epilepsy?

Epilepsy: Seizure Triggers, Warning Signs, and Symptoms
  • Temporary confusion—often described as a “fuzzy” feeling.
  • A staring spell.
  • Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs.
  • Loss of consciousness or awareness.
  • Psychic symptoms—out-of-body feelings or not feeling “in the moment”
  • Memory lapses.
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What activities can you do with epilepsy?

Kids with epilepsy should be able to participate in as many normal, typical activities as possible. Many kids with epilepsy go swimming, ride bikes, go on sleepovers, play hockey, and play soccer.
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Does heat make epilepsy worse?

Some people with epilepsy may be sensitive to heat. Staying cool is important. Considerations for staying cool in warm weather include: Limit sun and heat exposure.
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Can I swim if I have epilepsy?

Swimming should not be discouraged in young people with epilepsy, who should be given every opportunity to lead as full a life as possible. However, adequate supervision is essential. It might be advisable for people with epilepsy to avoid swimming in murky or deep water.
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