Have you ever noticed that your seizures happen more often in relation to the weather? Well you are not alone. In Australia, many people report that their seizures are often related to hot weather conditions. Whilst this topic has not been studied in Australia, research in the northern hemisphere, limited studies have shown:
Obviously, as with many seizure triggers, this is individual for everyone and clearly the effect of weather on seizure risk is still not fully understood.
Most epileptic seizures occur unexpectedly and independently of known risk factors. There are many risk factors identified, and we also call them triggers. People with epilepsy report weather to be a major risk factor for epileptic seizures. [iv]
Triggers are circumstances that can bring on a seizure in some people with epilepsy. They differ from person to person, but not all people with epilepsy have seizure triggers.
And what triggers one person's seizures might not affect someone else with epilepsy in the same way.
Some commonly reported seizure triggers also include:
For some people, knowing their seizure triggers, means they may be able to avoid them and lessen the risk of having a seizure.
Triggers for seizures are not the same as causes for epilepsy. A trigger for someone to have their first seizure may be a stressful situation, but the underlying cause for that person to start having seizures may be quite different. Causes can be genetic or because of structural damage to the brain.
The latest epilepsy research carried out by experts in the US has looked into the issue of temperature-induced seizures, which remains a problem for many people around the world. They found that inserting a mutation into the genes of fruit flies that was similar to those found in people who experience febrile seizures led to the flies also having seizures. These experts have discovered new insights into the issue of heat-related seizures.
"What happens is the mutant neural (nerve) channels don't open and close properly. This effect is amplified at high temperature and this changes the ability of neurons to generate the appropriate electrical signals, leading to hyperactivity in the brain circuits".
"With this knowledge, the next step is to use this model to look for drugs that might reduce or eliminate heat-induced seizures."[v]
Whilst research related to weather and seizures has been limited, and based in the northern hemisphere, there is no scientific evidence that hot weather itself causes seizures to occur in people with epilepsy. In Australia it appears most people report that the heat, or becoming overheated, tends to increase the likelihood of seizures. Becoming severely overheated can cause seizures, but an average hot day is not in itself the culprit.
How heat may cause seizures
Obviously, heat can be a major contributor to dehydration. If someone is exposed to heat for a long period of time and does not drink enough fluid, this can cause dehydration which can increase the risk of a seizure in someone with epilepsy, sometimes later in the day. When fluid loss from the body (mostly perspiration) is greater than fluid intake, it causes a change in electrolytes – a drop in sodium (salt) and glucose (sugar) levels in the body. Ultimately, this can lead to low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) which can also trigger seizures for some people.
Not surprisingly, on the rare occasions when a person becomes severely overheated, they risk a higher chance of having a seizure (amongst other serious health issues). So, it is important for people with epilepsy to prevent becoming over-heated in the first place, which at it's worst, can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Sometimes though, people report seizures due to changes in weather (or environment). For instance, if a person enters a hot environment from a cold environment this could potentially trigger a seizure; however, the opposite remains true as well.
How to protect yourself from the heat
If hot weather or becoming overheated is a trigger for your seizures it does not mean that you must sit in front of the air conditioner all summer. It means that sensible preventative measures can be taken in order to ensure a happy and safe summer.
A few suggestions to help:
Ultimately, it is important to spend time both indoors and outdoors in the summer. We all need a bit of sunshine. Just be prepared and take appropriate measures to ensure you or your family don't get overheated or sunburnt.
What you can do:
Many people with epilepsy find that their seizures are triggered by various things, including temperature or barometric changes, certain lights and sounds, hormones and even sleep. Regardless of the cause, if heat is a seizure trigger for you, use caution in hot weather to reduce your risk of seizures.
Prepare your home for summer: https://www.redfin.com/blog/2016/06/how-to-prep-your-home-to-avoid-summer-hazards.html
Heat induced illness – First Aid: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/heat-related-illness.aspx https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/UserFiles/works/pdfs/2017-128.pdf
Products that can help keep you cool:
Cooling Vests https://www.icevests.com.au/
Nikki G temperature controlled clothing https://www.nikkigs.com.au/
Cooling towels https://runnerclick.com/10-best-cooling-towels-reviewed/
Cooling scarves https://gadgets-reviews.com/review/223-best-cooling-bandanas-wraps-scarves.html
[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22212986
[ii] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505018301768
[iii] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/epi.13776
[iv] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/epi.13776
[v] https://www.epilepsyresearch.org.uk/epilepsy-research-reveals-details-of-temperature-induced-seizures/
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