Many people with epilepsy have identified certain things that seem to increase the number or severity of their seizures. Sometimes these connections are just coincidences, but in many cases a link has been proven between these factors (also called triggers) and the occurrence of seizures.

Which triggers will have the greatest effect on your seizures depends on what kind of seizures you have, and especially on the other things that make you an individual. Not every person is affected in the same way. Some people find a clear association between their seizures and some very unusual events. If you can identify the factors that have the greatest influence on triggering your seizures, you can help yourself a great deal by trying to avoid those things as much as possible. One way to identify the factors that pertain to you is by carefully keeping a seizure calendar or diary.

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, M.D.
Last Reviewed:12/15/06