Navigating the Holidays With Epilepsy: 5 Tips for a Safe and Joyful Season

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that produces recurrent seizures. A seizure is a change in the brain’s normal electrical activity that can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Doctors classify epilepsy into a number of different types.

Epilepsy is common. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that about 2.9 million US adults had active epilepsy in 2021, while some 456,000 US children 17 or younger lived with it in 2022.

At Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, board-certified neurologist Dr. Cory Lamar is specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and other seizure disorders. While many people with the condition live long and happy lives, for some, the holidays can present a number of challenges. We’ve got five solid tips to help you make it through.

What are the main classifications of epilepsy?

Seizures are classified as either focal or generalized, depending on how and where the seizure begins.

When seizures appear to result from activity in a single brain area, no matter which lobe it is, they're called focal seizures. They may present with either full or impaired consciousness.

Focal seizure symptoms may be confused with other conditions, including migraine, narcolepsy, or mental illness. That's why a thorough physical exam and follow-up testing are needed to determine if the symptoms resulted from epilepsy or another condition.

Seizures that appear to affect all areas of the brain are called generalized seizures. These are further divided into six subclasses.

1. Absence seizures

Previously known as petit mal seizures, symptoms include looking blankly into space with or without subtle body movements.

2. Tonic seizures

These seizures cause muscle stiffening and may affect consciousness, causing the person to fall.

3. Atonic seizures

Also known as drop seizures, these cause a loss of muscle control, causing the person to fall.

4. Clonic seizures

Clonic seizures cause repetitive or rhythmic muscle movements, especially of the neck, face, and arms.

5. Myoclonic seizures

These usually affect the arms, legs, and upper body and appear as sudden brief jerks or twitches.

6. Tonic-clonic seizures

Previously known as grand mal seizures, these are the most dramatic form of seizures. They generally present with a sudden loss of consciousness and body stiffening, twitching, and shaking. They sometimes cause bladder incontinence or biting of the tongue.

What are triggers?

Seizures may be triggered by environmental factors. These factors don’t cause the condition, but they may help provoke a seizure in those who have epilepsy. Most people don’t have reliable triggers, but there are factors that make a seizure easier to be triggered. These include alcohol, flashing lights, stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, and hormonal changes, among others.

5 tips for a safe holiday season

Seizures can be unpredictable, so how can you safely navigate the holiday season? Here are five tips for doing just that.

First, take your medication exactly as prescribed. One potential trigger for an epileptic seizure is failing to take the medication or taking too much of it. Being responsible about your dosing can mean a seizure-free holiday.

Second, despite all the late parties and crammed-full days of preparation, make sure you get enough good-quality sleep – at least 7-9 hours a night, every night. Lack of sleep can also serve as a trigger.

Third, alcohol is usually a staple at holiday gatherings, but you should abstain. Not only does alcohol not mix well with your medication, but it can serve as a trigger, as well. Opt for mocktails or fizzy water with lemon or lime.

Fourth, remember to drink; dehydration is yet another trigger. In addition, proper hydration allows your body to function at peak efficiency, and it helps counter the dry air produced by indoor heating systems.

Fifth, while many people set up flashing light displays for the festivities, flashing lights aren’t your friend and may trigger a seizure. Ask your host if they have a flashing display, and see if they’d be willing to turn it off while you’re there. There’s nothing shameful in asking for an accommodation.

Just because you have epilepsy doesn’t mean that you can’t have a safe and joyous holiday season, and Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, in Naples, Florida, can help you plan for it. Call our office at 239-667-5878 to set up a consultation with Dr. Lamar, or book online with us today.