5 Tips to Live Well with Epilepsy

For people with epilepsy, the onset of recurring seizures can be frightening. While many people with the condition live full and active lives, including driving a vehicle, working outside the home and playing sports, it may be necessary to make some lifestyle changes.

“The goal is to make sure the patient is seizure free with minimal side effects,” says Shaila Gowda, M.D., director, Epilepsy Program, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. “Avoiding seizure triggers such as lack of sleep, alcohol and stress will help.”

In addition to following a supervised treatment plan with medication, it’s just as important to establish good habits to manage or avoid seizures. Once triggers have been identified, exposure can be limited.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy and seizures affect more than 2 million Americans of all ages. Nearly 200,000 new cases occur each year.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder. When clusters of brain nerve cells, or neurons, signal abnormally they can cause unusual sensations, emotions and behavior; or convulsions, muscle spasms, seizures and loss of consciousness. Epilepsy can have many causes including illness, brain damage and abnormal brain development.

Dr. Gowda provides 5 helpful tips to follow when living with epilepsy:

Keep a healthy diet
A balanced diet should consist of a wide variety of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Yet, there are some foods and beverages that should be avoided as they may trigger or worsen seizures. Foods with monosodium glutamate, the food additive commonly known as MSG, is an “excitatory neurotransmitter” meaning it is a brain stimulant which can increase the severity of the seizure. Other foods and beverages with stimulants, like caffeine, should also be avoided. Dr. Gowda explains that an occasional drink will not cause a seizure, but prolonged alcohol consumption should be avoided. “Studies suggest that alcohol withdrawal seizures most often occur seven hours after heavy drinking has stopped,” explains Dr. Gowda.

Get to bed
Poor sleep habits can lead to increased frequency of seizures. It’s important to get seven to nine hours of restful sleep each night. But, getting too much sleep is not good either. If you are feeling drowsy and not feeling energized during the day, make sure you’re not experiencing side effects of the medication. Discuss the dosage with your physician. “Sometimes, if not diagnosed properly, sleep issues get dismissed as part of epilepsy,” says Dr. Gowda.

Exercise regularly
Those with epilepsy can experience fatigue and symptoms of depression. Getting regular, moderate amounts of exercise will improve overall physical health and fitness. An added benefit of exercise is that it indirectly boosts self-esteem – keeping mood disorders and depression at bay.

Manage your stress
While it’s important to learn how to handle stress on a regular basis, excessive stress in never a good thing. Undue stress increases hormones which have been shown to cause seizures. “To avoid getting overwhelmed, create an agenda of daily activities and prioritize tasks. It is important to keep some time aside for relaxation at the end of each day,” advises Dr. Gowda.

Choose the right doctor
Find a doctor who specializes in epilepsy. Those with epilepsy should be able to discuss any concerns freely, and work together with an expert to find a treatment program that works for them. People with epilepsy who understand their condition will be able to make informed decisions about lifestyle changes that are needed. Beaumont Health System has doctors who specialize in epilepsy, offering both a pediatric and adult epilepsy clinics. Both areas are staffed with neurologists, neuroscience nurses, EEG technologists and a nurse coordinator who schedules testing and follow-up care. The clinics’ staff also collaborates with several specialties including neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, ophthalmology, radiology and physical, occupational and speech therapy.

For more information visit http://neurosciences.beaumont.edu/epilepsy