10 Tips for a happy and healthy life with epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by abnormal brain activity that causes seizures – a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity between nerve cells. These seizures result in temporary abnormalities in movements, behaviors or sensations. Epilepsy affects more than 50 million people worldwide and can arise due to genetic factors that run in the family, or be brought on by brain damage due to a stroke, head injury or infection. Often, the cause is unknown, and epilepsy appears unexpectedly. Whatever the reason, sufferers have one thing in common: the diagnosis of epilepsy changes your life completely!

Drugs used to treat epilepsy are called antiseizure medications (ASMs). There are numerous ASMs on the market and, even with experience, selecting the correct one is not easy. There are many different forms of epilepsy, and not all medications are suitable for every type. We are all different, and medication that works for one person may not provide adequate seizure control without significant side effects for another. There is no easy pathway, but we would like to offer these 10 tips to a happy and healthy life with epilepsy!

Disclaimer: These tips are not exhaustive and do not replace general disease management by your doctor.


1. Choose a doctor you trust for treatment


As a person living with epilepsy, you should have a doctor you trust to take care of your epilepsy drug management. This is important for successful disease management; a doctor you see constantly, who knows you well, will be best placed to manage your treatment. Your doctor will base the choice of medication on their knowledge of you and the form of epilepsy you are living with, including factors such as:

• your age
• your lifestyle
• your chance of becoming pregnant
• the types of seizure you have
• how often you have seizures

2. Take your medication as prescribed

Taking your medications correctly reduces the risk of uncontrolled seizures. You should never stop taking your medication without your doctor’s permission, even if your condition seems to be improving. If the frequency of your seizures decreases, but you start having side effects – such as insomnia, headaches, agitation, energy loss, drowsiness, rashes, hair loss or unwanted hair growth, among many others – talk to your doctor immediately, who will know best what to do. It is likely that the medication dose needs to be adjusted, requiring therapeutic drug monitoring. This is usually done by a blood test, with turnaround times for results taking up to several days. More recently, real-time alternatives to blood testing have been developed for some drugs, where you simply provide a breath sample, and get an immediate result. Learn more about the technology or ask your doctor.

3. Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs

For successful epilepsy management, ideally avoid recreational drugs completely, and don’t mix them with alcohol. If you have trouble doing this, talk to your doctor.

4. Avoid stress

Stress is one of the main seizure drivers. Try to identify your stressors and eliminate them as far as possible. Managing your stress through exercise, sleep and relaxation may also help you to reduce your seizures.

5. Avoid flashing lights

Photosensitive epilepsies – seizures triggered by flashing lights or contrasting patterns of light – are rare, and only occur in around three percent of people living with epilepsy. If you suffer from photosensitive epilepsy, there is a trick to prevent the onset of seizures: cover one or both eyes with your hand. It may also help to avoid nightclubs or playing video games, as both strobe lighting and rapidly flashing graphics can trigger seizures.

6. Consistent sleep

Consistency in your daily routine also includes your sleeping habits. Try to keep your sleep schedule constant. Tiredness is one of the main drivers of stress and can trigger seizures.

7. Eat healthily and regularly

Low blood sugar levels should be avoided because they can trigger seizures, particularly in people with diabetes. Choose healthy foods and take your time with your meals.

8. Keep active

Regular exercise can help boost your mood and improve your overall health. Even going for a walk everyday will have a positive effect. Avoid activities like swimming, hiking or rock climbing because they can put you in dangerous situations.

9. Protect your head

Head injuries may lead to seizures and epilepsy. The seizures can occur weeks or months after the injury, so be aware. A head injury can also trigger a seizure in someone who already has epilepsy. In any event, it’s important to protect yourself from head injuries by wearing a helmet when taking part in high-risk activities, for example, skiing, cycling and skating.

10. Raise awareness and understanding in your community

Preventing seizures is important, but so too is communicating your condition with the people you associate with, both at work and socially. Raising awareness and understanding of epilepsy among other people will allow them to help you to remain safe. Explain how to react in case of an emergency and show them that there is nothing to be afraid of.

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