Managing Your Epilepsy

Epilepsy does not mean that your life has to drastically change. Just like everyone else, maintaining a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle is important.

As a person with epilepsy, here are just a few additional measures to take:

• Take your antiepileptic medication at the right time - one of most common causes of uncontrolled seizures is people's failing to take their medication correctly. Medicines are removed from the body at a different rate depending on the type of drug, which means that if you forget to take them, the amount of medicine in the blood may not be sufficient to control your seizures.
• Make sure you get enough sleep - lack of sleep increases the risk of epileptic seizures, especially in people with certain generalised epilepsies. A regular sleep pattern, ensuring enough rest, is recommended, and estimated to be between seven and ten hours a night (depending on your age).
• Try to limit your workload and stress - stress can trigger seizures so activities that help to reduce your stress levels can help. Try to take time and pleasure in preparing good food for yourself, your family and friends.
• Keep active - only certain high-risk sports are not advised if you have epilepsy (mountain climbing, paragliding, hang-gliding, diving etc.). The majority of well-run leisure activities and sports are possible and highly recommended. You will have many activities to choose from, and will have the opportunity to meet new people. If your seizures are well controlled, and you are able to tolerate your treatment there should not be any effect on your sporting performance.
• Avoid stimulants such as coffee, alcohol or drugs and noise, especially if they trigger your seizures. Excessive use of alcohol is toxic for the neurons and can also affect sleep patterns, which may lead to further seizures. Some drugs may affect the way your epilepsy medicine works which could increase the risk of seizures. If you are being put on other medication for other illnesses remember to inform your epilepsy specialist.
• Arrange a regular review with an epilepsy specialist if you notice any change in the type of frequency of the seizures you experience. Also do not be afraid to talk to your specialist of things that are affecting you - they could be a reason for any change in the seizures you are experiencing. Make a note of anything you wish to discuss.