seizure lifestyle tips for patients

Overview

A seizure is a sudden, temporary change in brain activity. It can cause changes in movement, awareness, feelings, or behavior. Seizures can happen once or many times. When a person has repeated seizures, it may be called epilepsy, but not everyone who has a seizure has epilepsy.

Seizures are fairly common. About 1 in 100 people in the UK has epilepsy, and many more people may have a single seizure at some point in their lives.

Seizures can happen at any age. They are most often first diagnosed in childhood or after age 60, but anyone can be affected.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Stiffening or jerking movements of the arms or legs
• Staring blankly and not responding for a few seconds
• Confusion or feeling 'foggy' after the event
• Losing awareness or memory of what happened
• Unusual sensations like strange smells, tastes, or tingling
• Falling suddenly without a clear reason

Symptoms in children

• Brief pauses in play or staring into space
• Jerking movements of the arms or legs
• Not responding when spoken to for a short time
• Repeating movements, such as lip-smacking or blinking
• Odd smells or tastes before the event

Symptoms in older adults

• Sudden confusion or memory lapses
• Staring spells that may be mistaken for 'daydreaming'
• Falls or injuries without warning
• Unusual sensations, such as tingling or dizziness
• Changes in awareness that may look like fainting or stroke

Causes

Main causes

• Epilepsy, a condition that causes repeated seizures
• Head injury or brain injury
• Stroke or problems with blood vessels in the brain
• Brain infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis
• Very high fever in young children
• Low blood sugar, low oxygen, or electrolyte imbalance
• Alcohol withdrawal or heavy alcohol use
• Recreational drug use or drug withdrawal

Risk factors

• Family history of epilepsy or seizures
• Previous head trauma
• Not getting enough sleep
• High stress levels
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Certain illnesses that affect the brain

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• Any first ever seizure
• A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
• Repeated seizures without recovery in between
• Seizure with injury, breathing trouble, or in water
• Seizure in pregnancy or in someone with diabetes

Book a routine appointment if:

• You have been diagnosed with seizures but notice a change in how often or how they happen
• You have concerns about side effects of your medicine
• You need a review of your seizure management plan

Diagnosis

A doctor will ask what happened before, during, and after the seizure. They may ask about family history, look for triggers, and do a physical and neurological exam.

Tests that may be done

• Blood tests to check for infections, sugar levels, or chemical imbalances
• Electroencephalogram (EEG), which records brain wave activity
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain
• Sometimes, heart tests to rule out fainting caused by heart problems

What to expect at your appointment

You may be referred to a specialist, usually a neurologist, a doctor who treats brain and nerve conditions. Most tests are painless. If you can, bring a trusted person who saw the seizure, or a video of the event if it was safely taken. That information can be very helpful.

Treatment

Treatment focuses on controlling seizures, reducing triggers, and helping you stay safe. For many people, a combination of medicine and lifestyle changes works well.

Self-care at home

• Take all prescribed medicines exactly as directed
• Keep a regular sleep routine and avoid sleep deprivation
• Learn your personal seizure triggers and try to avoid them
• Wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a seizure information card
• Make your home safer by securing sharp corners and avoiding unnecessary climbing or stairs
• Keep a seizure diary to track patterns and share with your care team

Medical treatments

Doctors may recommend anti-seizure medicines, also called anti-epileptic drugs. These are chosen based on the seizure type, your age, and your overall health. The goal is to find the lowest effective dose with the fewest side effects. In some cases, a special diet, such as the ketogenic diet, or brain stimulation therapy may be suggested under specialist supervision. Never change or stop any treatment without speaking to your healthcare provider.

When is surgery considered?

For a small number of people whose seizures do not improve with medicines, brain surgery may be an option. A specialist team can decide if this is safe and suitable by finding the exact part of the brain where seizures start.

Living with this condition

Living with seizures means learning what helps you stay steady. Keep a routine, tell trusted family, friends, or colleagues what to do if you have a seizure, and carry a simple plan with emergency contacts. You can still study, work, and travel with proper planning.

Lifestyle tips

• Aim for a consistent sleep and wake schedule, even on weekends
• Take medicines at the same time each day
• Avoid heavy alcohol and recreational drugs
• Manage stress with deep breathing, gentle activity, or hobbies you enjoy
• Avoid known triggers, such as flashing lights if they affect you
• Carry a resilient contact card or wear a medical alert ID

Diet and exercise

Eat regular, balanced meals and stay hydrated. Exercise is generally safe and beneficial; activities like walking, swimming with a buddy, or riding a bike with a helmet can be enjoyed with safety steps. Avoid extreme dehydration, exhaustion, or activities where a sudden seizure could cause serious injury unless your care team agrees.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Living with seizures can bring anxiety, low mood, or worries about independence. These feelings are normal, and you deserve support. Talk to your care team about counselling or peer support. If you ever feel hopeless or have thoughts of harming yourself, reach out to your local crisis service or emergency help right away.

Prevention

Many seizures cannot be completely prevented, but you can lower the risk by taking prescribed medicines, keeping a stable sleep schedule, avoiding triggers, and managing stress. For fever-related seizures in children, treating the fever may help, though it cannot always prevent them.

Vaccines

There is no vaccine that prevents seizures directly. However, routine vaccines protect against some infections, like meningitis, that can cause seizures as a complication.

Screening programmes

There is no routine screening test for seizures in the general public. If you have risk factors, your doctor can help you monitor your health and manage conditions that might lead to seizures.

Complications

If left untreated

• Repeated seizures can affect memory and learning
• Falls or accidents during a seizure can cause bruises, fractures, or head injuries
• Prolonged seizures can rarely cause brain damage or be life-threatening
• Seizures while swimming or driving can lead to drowning or road accidents

Long-term outlook

With the right treatment and support, many people with seizures lead full, active lives. Some children and adults can become seizure-free for long periods, and some children outgrow certain seizure types. It is a journey, and you do not have to walk it alone.

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