Other Seizure Triggers

Hormonal Changes in the Body. How does this trigger a seizure?

Hormonal changes take place all throughout our life time. The child is growing up: big changes are taking place in their body.  Sometimes these changes are happening too quickly or maybe even too slowly.  He/she now enters teen years. This is often the time when seizures may first start to appear. For girls in the future, a possible pregnancy, then there is the pre-menopause and menopause time frame. Some women find that they have more seizures just before or during their menstrual period. This may be caused by a combination of factors such as increased fluid retention, alteration in hormonal levels and alteration in the blood levels of antiepileptic medications. A significant increase in seizure activity at this time is known as catamenial epilepsy.Sometimes seizures will disappear during these changing times or the seizure activity slows right down but then they can re-appear again at any time.  It is important at all times to take care of yourself and see your doctor regularly.  Do not be too quick to want to cancel taking your medications especially in these times of remission if you previously had a long history of Seizures.  A decrease in medication dosage may be possible, but this should only be done in consultation with your Doctor. By altering your dose of antiepileptic medication or introducing another medication your doctor may be able to control or ease the problem.

Being inactive or bored

Have you been overprotected by someone close to you?  This too can bring on seizures, although the person means well.  Research has shown that individuals who have isolated themselves or are overprotected are more likely to have seizures.  By being isolated, having no social interaction with friends, staying inside and living ‘inside your own little shell’ so to speak you could be asking yourself what else do you have to think about but your seizures, and wonder when the next one is coming. You then become worried or anxious as ‘mom is hovering over me today, and maybe she sees or knows something I don’t. I wonder what it could be’.  Your brain starts getting itself prepared for the worst. This constant stress and worry alone can bring on more seizures, large or small, than you may be aware of. Treating the person normally before, during and after a seizure is the best medicine.  Be as calm as possible especially during the seizure and this may prevent a second one from happening.  Even though the person may be unconscious, they sense that this calmness helps their brain to return to normal sooner. Remember that it is all this un-necessary stress that could be causing more seizures and increase the depression which you may then be suffering from.

The Strobe or Lighting Effect

This can include videos, computer screens, flashing lights or anything to do with a strobe effect.  Have you ever noticed when someone else is playing with the T.V. controls, and the programs are flickering quickly from station to station that you have a tendency to turn your head or at least close your eyes?  Your brain is trying to tell you it just doesn’t like it, and if provoked enough to accept this, and if you don’t do something about it, the brain reacts and seizure activity could take place. Your brain reacts just like a child or anyone else could when provoked, by rebelling.  A seizure is a quick and possibly the only way your brain knows how to make you aware that it is under stress and wants to avoid the trigger.

Fevers causing high temperature

This has been noted especially in very young children under the age of 5.  Particularly if the child is prone to fevers, or continuously getting ill, or if a fever is very high and is difficult to quickly bring down to a normal temperature range then seizures may take place.

Alcohol and Cigarettes

To begin with, alcohol and AED’s (Anti-Epilepsy medication), or any medication for that matter, simply just do not mix.  If you do partake of alcoholic drinks, at least try to keep your intake to a very limited amount.  This may not be easy to do for some, as we are all aware that alcohol can become very addictive after that first drink. Cigarettes are just as addictive. AEDs can make you more sensitive to the sedating effects of alcohol while alcohol reduces the effectiveness of AEDs making seizures more likely. Excessive drinking can result in poor seizure control due to late nights, missed meals, or forgotten doses, while 'hangover' seizures are likely to occur as the alcohol level in the blood falls. If you are aware of this happening you need to consult with your Doctor immediately. If you take your medication erratically or you suddenly stop taking all medication, you may trigger a severe and prolonged seizure or a cluster of seizures that will require hospitalisation.

Barometric Pressure

Any changes in the barometric pressure can lead to stress.  Changes in air pressure especially any that happen rather quickly can affect your body.  The most obvious is the discomfort or even pain you feel in your ears.  Which happens when you lose or gain altitude quickly, such as taking off or landing in an aircraft or even in a fast elevator, or even just going up or down on an escalator and can be enough to cause stress.

Arising from a prone position too quickly

If you are person who sleeps more soundly towards the end of your sleep and are then woken with a ‘start’ that too can cause you to be sent into a spin.  This may be more frequent for you if your vitamin B12 and sodium levels are low.  Deficiency in other vitamins or minerals can also affect this delicate balance. Your anti-convulsant medications (AED’s) delete your Immune System of the essential nutrients that your body needs on a daily basis. It is wise to be aware of your Nutrition.

Metabolic Factors

This can include everything from vomiting, diarrhoea, liver or renal failure, blood sugar levels, and electrolyte imbalances. Constipation can be added to the list also.  When these things happen, all the toxins accumulated in our system build up.  The body was provided with certain ways of releasing all the unwanted toxins.  We release some of them by sweating.  If you have something in your eye, it provides tears to help reject it.  A healthy Bowel also helps getting rid of toxins.  Our body is built to do these things naturally, and when one system is not working efficiently, or not at all, then something else has to give.  Can you see a pattern forming here?  Again, this applies to anything to do with your health.  When medications are not properly absorbed and vomiting and diarrhea may be a side effect of your drugs, you are at risk.  Your body needs adequate levels of salts and electrolytes - minerals such as sodium and potassium - in order to maintain the electric currents that keep your heart beating. Disruption of your body's fluid and mineral levels creates an electrolyte imbalance. Your immune system has been compromised and you have no control of what happens within your body.  If your immune defense system is working properly you can fight almost anything within your power.  Your immune system is really a very important control engine of your body.

Hyperventilation and seizures  

Have you ever watched someone who is hyperventilating?  It looks quite stressful doesn’t it. Sometimes in a stressful situation it is the body’s way of saying there is confusion in the brain and it just does not know where to turn. When you are hyperventilating, the oxygen is not getting to the brain and hyperventilation (or deep breathing) is associated with high levels of energy expenditure. Sufferers are frustrated, confused, crying out for help, or just do not know how to fix the situation they are in.  Of course, you hyperventilate for other reasons as well. You could be in shock and this is where it is difficult to tell whether it is a response from an over stimulated brain or a true seizure. If a person gains  consciousness quickly and does not have any confusion afterwards, that their words and response comes back quickly and there are no other after-signs of the true seizure then this would not be considered a true Epileptic Seizure but merely that the person is hyperventilating.  But you could on the other hand go on to have an Epileptic Seizure following all of these signs as the stress and lack of oxygen may be just too much for the brain to cope with.  For a long time, hyperventilation has been implicated as a means to provoke epileptic seizures. The technique is often used to trigger epileptiform discharges and/or seizures during EEG recording or video telemetry.

Check with your doctor to make sure that it was a true Epilepsy type Seizure that you had experienced. There are many potential causes of a decreased level of consciousness.

Also check with your medical provider that you are taking the correct dose of your prescribed Medication as the level could be too low for total control of your seizures.

Barometric Pressure - weather changes

Here again is that word "changes" . Sudden changes in temperature. Going from a warm interior to a cold exterior too soon or the stress of not knowing if you are going to have a weather change and will you be suitably dressed. In winter there is less immediate change going from inside
to outside - you are warm inside - but you also dress warm to go outside.  And the sun is not as bright.
Dark skies, maybe thunder. Or bright sunshine. Bright, hot sunlight  may be a trigger for some. During the hot weather you have it fairly cool inside your house then just to go outside from your house to the car may be enough for that immediate change to hit and then the brightness of the sun and possible humidity. You then choose to wait until later in the evening hoping it will get cooler out.  So what do you do all day - worry and wonder about when the next seizure will be. For some people it may work the opposite  and they may have more seizures in winter than summer - they spend more time inside their own home and space not much social interaction, no place to go as it is too cold or dark, afraid to go outside as they may slip and fall  as the ground is hard and icy. And would cause a lot more damage to themselves if a seizure should occur. For a child it could be the fear of a thunderstorm that has been forecast or knowing that a "change" is expected but not sure just what to expect.

Surprisingly, in patients with known epilepsy, increased seizure frequency occurred with changes in barometric pressure, particularly over 5.5 mBar range per day. Speculative mechanisms of AP change on seizure susceptibility are discussed. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17484759?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Immersion in Hot or Cold Water

Anything done too suddenly (a quick change of any kind) can lead to a seizure.  Going from cold to a warm temperature, or going from a warm house to a bitter cold day outdoors can shock your system. Also the change in humidity which may happen suddenly can then trigger your body into a seizure.  When having a bath it is best to have the bath water warm rather than hot as getting into a hot bath, along with the added humidity present in the bathroom too may be enough to trigger a seizure. When immersing yourself in cold water it is best to do this gradually and make sure you have another person with you to ensure your safety.

Exercise and How they can Trigger Seizures

Some people with Epilepsy tend to avoid exercise altogether because they are afraid they will have a seizure during this activity.  This in fact is not all that common.  Rather than triggering seizures, physical exercise can actually reduce the risk.  Research has found that most people with Epilepsy experience improved electroencephalograph (EEG) readings during and after exercise.  The reasons for this are unknown, but theories include:

- The heavy breathing associated with exercise stops the build-up of carbon 

   dioxide in the blood (hypercapnia).

- Stress is a known seizure trigger, and regular exercise is a highly recommended way to manage stress.

- The release of ‘feel good’ brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) during exercise may calm the brain.

-  The degree of concentration needed during sport may focus the brain so that seizures are less likely.

-  The benefits of regular exercise, such as improved fitness and wellbeing, may contribute to a reduced seizure risk.

So although exercise is good for you be careful not to overdo it and put your body under too much stress.  Know your boundaries.  Remember to keep an even balance, resting adequately during your exercise … have a water bottle handy and sip from it often watching out that you don’t get dehydrated and also that you don’t get over anxious. Remember that balance is the key to a relaxed mind and body.

Certain Allergies

Allergies may provoke seizures in some people with epilepsy. If allergies are present it has been brought about by us, with the help of environmental stress.  This includes all the toxins in our air, water and food that can build up in our bodies and cause havoc.  Our defense system gets lower each time we are subjected to these things we have become allergic to and eventually something has to give up.  Your immune system then says, “sorry I have done all I can to fight off all health ailments, you will have to find another way, or put up with them”.  We know when we get ill seizures are bound to happen.  For some people certain allergies may make them light headed and this can cause the dizziness that can lead to a seizure.These allergies are therefore a trigger and need to be taken care of. Allergies themselves do not cause Epilepsy. However, they may aggravate a pre-existing seizure problem. Examples of some allergies that may cause seizures: Artificial sweetener, Aspartame, anything that is associated with migraines, foods are a big one (eg gluten). Some medications themselves can cause seizures if you are allergic to them.  Anything that irritates the gastrointestinal tract.  

Allergies may cause vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea and this can trigger seizures because they can prevent your body from absorbing your anti-epileptic medication.

Seizures may be severe and this may just be caused from being allergic to something you ate/drank/touched or breathed in your system couldn’t cope with the extra strain. Food allergies can seizures among many children. Food allergies cause Migraines, pain in the abdomen and hyperactive behaviour. These in turn act as Triggers in Epilepsy. Those children with such food allergies should be administered food and additives carefully in order to not to have seizures. The point is that people who experience epilepsy or other types of seizures should try to eliminate additives and preservatives from their diet and see if this improves their condition in any way. And make sure that your Immune System is healthy to eliminate these toxins and overcome allergies.

Doctors usually use skin tests and occasional blood tests to determine the specific substances that cause an allergic reaction. As with skin tests, blood tests can be used to test for many different allergens such as pollens, mould, food and pet dander. Both types of testing methods are helpful in diagnosing allergies to food, airborne allergens and insect venom.

• The traditional blood test for allergies is called the radioallergosorbent test, or RAST. This test — and others like it — measure the amount of a specific antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE) in your blood. IgE is the substance behind allergic reactions. IgE levels are typically higher in people who have allergies. However, in certain situations, your doctor undoubtedly will recommend a blood test if: You're taking a medication that interferes with skin test results, and it's not practical or safe for you to stop taking it. Some medications including antihistamines and some antidepressant medications can interfere with the results.

Aspartame and/or Artificial Sweeteners

This sweetener is 200 times sweeter than sugar.  Used in 9000 products including diet drinks, low joule and ‘no added sugar’ goods, confectionery, chewing gum and medications.  The US Food and Drug Administration have received more complaints about this additive than any other.  Reported effects include headache, mood alteration (anxiety, agitation, irritability and depression), insomnia, fatigue and dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms and allergic reactions.  US research suggests a link also to brain tumors.  Diet drinks containing it are banned for US Air Force Pilots.  There are many other problem causing ingredients including preservatives in foods, artificial colors and flavors, exposure to any toxins. 

Other drugs

Withdrawal from sedative and hypnotic drugs including minor tranquillisers, sleeping pills and illegal drugs can be a problem, as can combining these drugs with antiepileptic medication. Legally prescribed drugs may lower seizure threshold. It is important to tell your doctor about all the medications you take. And this includes telling him or her about any over the counter herbal or vitamin supplements that you are taking or planning to take including eating grapefruit or drinking some varieties of unusual fruit drinks.

Grapefruit

It has been proven that grapefruit/juice/rind/skin can negatively affect some Medications.  You are probably saying ‘but I thought these grapefruits were good for me and my health?’  Grapefruit juice provides many nutrients such as Vitamin C but chemicals in grapefruit interfere with enzymes that break down certain Medications in your digestive system.  This causes a high risk of bringing on seizures. Tegretol in any form is one of the main anti-Epilepsy Medications that grapefruit affects.

Tea and Coffee

Are you drinking De-caffeinated teas and coffees, or herbal teas?  In our research for these, we came across several warnings that the decaffeination process could be more harmful than the actual caffeine.  Instead it is better to have that morning coffee and limit your de-caffeinated ones during the day. Coffee, tea and drinks with cola contain caffeine.  It may not be a trigger for everyone but it is certainly one to think about. Green Teas contains more anti-oxidants which will help your Immune System fight free radicals and so decrease Oxidative Stress which is one of the major causes of degenerative diseases.

Water

Water is good for us, but can we drink too much?  Yes, it seems we can.  Especially while you are taking your medications you could ask yourself the question “am I washing them right out?”  It is best to spread your fluid intake over the day.  Your body needs a balance of salt and water.  Be cautious of drinking your water from plastic bottles, do not leave them lying around in the heat.

Low Sodium Levels or Hypoglycemia

Some of your medications may tend to lower your sodium levels.  It would be worthwhile to have these checked by your medical provider, and if this a problem for you ask them for suggestions of how you can overcome this.  Sodium levels being too low can once again lower your seizure threshold.  Getting this checked, along with your calcium/magnesium/vitamin D and sugar levels regularly is a good tip for your overall health and wellbeing.

Shock

Sudden shock or extreme pain or an incident has occurred and your body has just gone into shock.  Some people are more sensitive than others and while your brain is looking after the incident by sending the body into shock, (which may look like an Epileptic Seizure but instead is a non-Epileptic one) a true Epileptic Seizure may follow. A myoclonic seizure is a sudden, brief, shock-like muscle contraction.  These can be generalized or partial -http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Epilepsy/Myoclonic-Seizures.aspx?articleID=6977&categoryID=EP-nh2-02c

Some shocks can be caused by extreme heat, hyperthermia, mental stress or bad news, or even the pain of a ripped toenail can all trigger a seizure. For some this can be Epilepsy originated for others just a one-off coping mechanism.

Dental Problems

As is mentioned in many publications, illness of any kind plays around with your seizure threshold.  Your mouth is a famous place for harboring germs and poison.  What does this do?  Once again it makes your Immune System have to work twice as hard until there is very little defense left.  Have your teeth and gums checked on a regular basis.  Some of your medications just love the calcium found in teeth and bones making them fragile and prone to breakages and causing disease.  Dental disease can no longer be considered a minor problem with just your gums and teeth.  It is a disease of the body and can contribute to many serious health issues, including heart disease.  Your state of health (especially the state of your immune system), whether you still have amalgam fillings, the amount of mercury you’ve been exposed to over time, and the amount still present in your body directly influence the number and severity of your symptoms.  You will never achieve optimum health if you have poor oral health.

Infections

Infection is a sign your immune system is at its lowest and your defense system is no longer working efficiently.  Having a good defense mechanism, including a healthy immune system is imperative so that your body can cope and recover.  Fever and infections not only means that your immune system is not working as it should, but also that your seizure threshold levels have been now reduced. Children are particularly likely to have more seizures when they develop infections such as tonsillitis and earache. This is possibly due to high temperature and usually eases within a few days. In children under the age of 5 years, fever from any cause may sometimes initiate a generalised seizure, causing great alarm. These "febrile convulsions" are similar to tonic-clonic seizures, but are much briefer. The tendency seems to run in families. In infants and in small children under the age of 18 months, febrile seizures must be investigated especially with a view to excluding meningitis. In older children (up to the age of 5), seizures always linked to fever are unlikely to have a serious underlying cause unless abnormal physical signs are present


Low Blood Sugar

Have you ever been asked for or checked for signs of diabetes?  When your blood sugars are low this can make you both weak and dizzy, and so starting the worrying process that a seizure is about to emerge.  Another stress has just happened. A way to correct this can be by eating a good breakfast upon awaking.  Preferably  low GI and comprising of complex carbohydrates for extra energy will help start your day and give you sustained energy.  It is also advised that you eat wholesome snacks often during the day which will keep your system balanced.  No matter what you do or what your triggers are, everything in your life should be well balanced.

Odours and Perfumes can be Triggers for Seizures

Perfume directly affects the brain and has both a physiological and a psychological effect - an effect upon our respiration and breathing, as well as upon our moods and thoughts. If you are pregnant, suffer from Epilepsy or heart problems, you should consult your health practitioner before using essential oils. Also keep them away from children. Not everyone has the same sensitivity to a particular odour. Feeling ill from odours is a symptom reported by approximately one-third of the population.

And although our sense of smell declines with age you need to be aware that strong or even subtle smells or perfumes can be just one of your triggers for seizures. Triggers do not cause seizures but provoke the onset of a seizure or cause a seizure in a patient whose epilepsy is under control. It is possible that sometimes a person who has experienced some seizure activity brought about by a particular odour may have been reluctant to discuss their experiences because they were afraid other people, even their doctors, might think them crazy.

If you pick up an obnoxious odour, you frown. Your frown face is there for a reason and anybody looking at you would know that you’d smelled something that you’d found really quite unpleasant and to beware. The nose and its sense of smell are very crucial to your food warning system. Smelling anything that is unpleasant to you can make you become tense and irritable until you are free of its influence. As the finest natural perfumes can help make you feel good and to elevate your consciousness, or calm your mood. But there are also odours which are heavy, stifling, damaging to our cells and depress our consciousness. These odours which make you frown can cause irritation to your brain and nervous system to the extent that even brain damage or mental derangement may result. Herbal essential oils though often quoted as being “natural” are not necessarily harmless. People suffering from epilepsy or any form of seizures should be careful with the below essential oils, as well as those individuals who have a family history of Epilepsy, or anyone suffering with a fever.

The essential oils of many plants contain epileptogenic compounds. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12609386?dopt=Abstract

Essential oils distilled from common plants are widely sold for use in aromatherapy and massage. Some are taken orally as medicines. Even some essential oils taken from herbs and commonly used in cooking, such as rosemary and sage, contain concentrated amounts of certain compounds that may cause seizures. Even when absorbed through the skin and not just via the mouth these compounds can be harmful. Herbal medicines are being used by an increasing number of patients who often do not tell their doctor that they are doing so. This may be fraught with danger as there are a vast number of potential interactions between these two classes of agents which may have dreadful consequences. For example, primrose oil should not be used together with anticonvulsants (which are used to prevent epilepsy) because it may mean the patient is more likely to have seizures.

A survey of the literature shows essential oils of 11 plants to be powerful convulsants. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10460442?dopt=Abstract

Below are some which may trigger irritation and caution is to be used.

Camphor White (Cinnamon Camphor) - Can be used to care for oily or spotty skin and also as an insect repellent. Also used in detergents, soaps, disinfectants, deodorants, room sprays etc. Warning: Camphor should be used sparingly and completely avoided by those suffering from Epilepsy.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) - Eucalyptus essential oil is extracted from Eucalyptus globulus of the Myrtaceae family and is also known as Tasmanian blue gum or blue gum
Precautions - Eucalyptus oil should be used with care and people with high blood pressure and Epilepsy should avoid it. Excessive use of this oil may cause headaches. There are hundreds of species of gum trees and eucalyptus oil contains prussic acid, so perhaps this variability depends upon the species of tree from which the oil is made

Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare) - Has a sweet aniseed-like aroma which makes it pleasant for skin care. For massage where there is cellulite and for the digestive system, especially the dreaded wind. Good for breast firming massage and to promote milk production, use sparingly. Warning: Fennel can be a skin irritant. Do not use it on young children. Do not use if pregnant. Do not use if suffering from Epilepsy.

Hyssop (Hyssopus Officinalis) - Sacred to the Greeks and the Hebrews where Hyssop brooms were used to clean out sacred places. Warm and vibrant, can promote alertness and clarity of thought. When used in a fragrance can protect rooms from infection. Used to treat colds and flu, helps heal bruised skin. Warning: Powerful oil not to be used when pregnant, suffering from Epilepsy, or high blood pressure.

Rosemary (Rosemarinus Officinalis) - A popular oil in Aromatherapy where it revives, warms, stimulates and restores. Excellent for refreshing tired muscles, feet and mind, allowing concentration. Perfect in Pre and Post sports rubs to maintain suppleness. Helps combat water retention and cellulite. Good hair tonic. An ideal pick-me-up. Combats fatigue and clears stuffy atmosphere. Warning: Do not use Rosemary when pregnant, have high blood pressure, or have Epilepsy. It may also cause irritation of the skin.

Sage (Salvia Officinalis) - A useful regulator of the central nervous system. May help with menstrual and digestive disorders. Warning: Do not use Sage when pregnant or suffering from Epilepsy.

Clary Sage - Through its healing physiological effects, some people have reported a loss of depression, a feeling of euphoria and inner tranquillity, soothing to the body, mind and spirit. It can also revitalize you to more energy, and a brighter outlook on life. It is often used as a bath oil or massage oil and for menstrual cramps and PMS. It has been also useful to relieve throat and respiratory infections. Avoid it completely if you have Epilepsy.

Olfactory hallucinations coupled with feelings of deja vu occur in "uncinate seizures" - partial seizures with olfactory symptoms are often called uncinate seizures - and sometimes there is a generalised intensification of smell.

Women, particularly women of reproductive age, have a more acute sense of smell than men. The smell sensitivity of most women varies across the menstrual cycle. Our sense of smell declines as we get older. Food will also seem to lose its flavour as this affects our sense of taste. By the age of 80 there will be 80% of people who have some major smell dysfunction and 50% are "anosmic" – meaning no sense of smell.

Not only do we lose our sense of smell as we age, we also lose the ability to discriminate between smells.  The process of smelling an odour begins with odorant receptors that are located on the surface of nerve cells inside the nose. When an odorant receptor detects an odour molecule, it triggers a nerve signal that travels to a way station in the brain called the olfactory bulb. Signals from the olfactory bulb, in turn, travel to the brain's olfactory cortex. Information from the olfactory cortex is then sent on to many regions of the brain, ultimately leading to the perceptions of odour and their emotional and physiological effects.

Other possible triggers

There are other possible triggers with some that are unique to certain people. For example some unusual stimuli which have been known to trigger seizures include the colour yellow, brushing of teeth, the smell of glue and sounds such as the telephone ringing or the sound of a siren or other strident persistent noise.

Using a tooth brush

Brushing teeth can trigger epileptic seizures in people with damage to a small, specific spot in the brain, Australian researchers have discovered. Using head scans, the researchers discovered that all three patients had a lesion in the somato-sensory part of the brain, which is close to the hand and speech motor areas. The rhythmic act of brushing teeth sends an electrical signal to a part of the brain which has a particular lesion and causes jerking sorts of seizures. This type of epilepsy is extremely rare.

Sunlight

Sunlight in itself is unlikely to trigger a seizure. But sunlight seen in flashes when walking past a railing fence, or shining through a pattern of leaves, or seen through slatted blinds, or reflected in wet surfaces could trigger a seizure in people who are photo-sensitive. Always wearing sunglasses with polarised lenses when in sunlight for people with photosensitive epilepsy can help to minimize the risk of triggering a seizure. The lenses work by removing reflected horizontal light. Discuss this with your optician.

Patterns

Some patterned materials or wallpapers, or any patterns with sharp contrast particularly stripes may trigger a seizure in photosensitive people.

Ceiling fans

People with photosensitive epilepsy may also be affected by the light seen through a fast-rotating ceiling fan. Therefore, one with a slow rotating motion is advisable.

Flashing Christmas tree lights

Flashing or flickering Christmas tree lights should be avoided for people with photosensitive Epilepsy. As all lights have to comply with health and safety regulations before going on sale the flicker should not be at a rate that will trigger a seizure.

For all Triggers that may affect you, avoiding them is recommended, and relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, breathing exercises or aerobic exercise might be options worth trying. Make sure you let others know what your particular Trigger is and keep your Immune System healthy. These will all go a long way toward minimizing your seizure activity.

If you have any Triggers not mentioned on this page then the webmaster would be pleased for you to share that information and add it to the list.