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Can exercise induce seizures?
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 07:00Comments
Re: Can exercise induce seizures?
Submitted by emma123 on Sun, 2012-06-17 - 15:40
Hi Michael K
I know this is an old thread but I was wondering if you ever managed to get your epilepsy under control when exercising? I joined just for advice cause i am having the same problem when i run!
Thanks
Emma
Hi Michael K
I know this is an old thread but I was wondering if you ever managed to get your epilepsy under control when exercising? I joined just for advice cause i am having the same problem when i run!
Thanks
Emma
Re: Can exercise induce seizures?
Submitted by Allina on Sun, 2011-03-13 - 13:31
My aunt tells me her epilepsy is well controlled with cardio exercise. I have also been told that for individuals with seizures that are triggered by sleep deprivation should exercise. I think if you really enjoy running and you don't want to give it up, run with a friend. If after that you find out that your seizures are somehow being triggered by the running, perhaps try a calmer exercise (Walking, yoga, etc.) Or something that isn't as dangerous to injure yourself from doing if you were to have a seizure during.
To tell you the truth, I'm no doctor, but I find that if I didn't have as much sleep the night before and I exercise, that extra strain on my body makes me a little "spacier" and I'm more prone to seizures. Now, I don't have grand mals (knock on wood) so it isn't as big of an issue (it still sucks!), but in your case it could be dangerous. It says on this website that getting enough sleep and getting the SAME amount of sleep are both equally as important. It also says that if you go to bed at different times each night, even if you get the same amount of sleep, it can trigger seizures because it affects the sleep cycle and the biological clock. I didn't know that!
Also, take a look at what you're eating. Perhaps it is not the exercise, but what you ate beforehand. Red 40 is a big big trigger for me, I can't eat anything with even a tiny bit of that without feeling awful. (Gatorade, and electrolyte levels are an issue someone else commented about on this site to someone else, if you are drinking these kinds of drinks when you exercise it could be this too).
Hope I helped!
AJ
My aunt tells me her epilepsy is well controlled with cardio exercise. I have also been told that for individuals with seizures that are triggered by sleep deprivation should exercise. I think if you really enjoy running and you don't want to give it up, run with a friend. If after that you find out that your seizures are somehow being triggered by the running, perhaps try a calmer exercise (Walking, yoga, etc.) Or something that isn't as dangerous to injure yourself from doing if you were to have a seizure during.
To tell you the truth, I'm no doctor, but I find that if I didn't have as much sleep the night before and I exercise, that extra strain on my body makes me a little "spacier" and I'm more prone to seizures. Now, I don't have grand mals (knock on wood) so it isn't as big of an issue (it still sucks!), but in your case it could be dangerous. It says on this website that getting enough sleep and getting the SAME amount of sleep are both equally as important. It also says that if you go to bed at different times each night, even if you get the same amount of sleep, it can trigger seizures because it affects the sleep cycle and the biological clock. I didn't know that!
Also, take a look at what you're eating. Perhaps it is not the exercise, but what you ate beforehand. Red 40 is a big big trigger for me, I can't eat anything with even a tiny bit of that without feeling awful. (Gatorade, and electrolyte levels are an issue someone else commented about on this site to someone else, if you are drinking these kinds of drinks when you exercise it could be this too).
Hope I helped!
AJ
Re: Can exercise induce seizures?
Submitted by MichaelK on Wed, 2011-02-23 - 23:25
Thanks for all of your input. I have learned that lack of sleep is one factor. Second, the type of exercise that you perform, such as weightlifting versus walking, can all make a difference. In addition, I have found a recent study of one of the five main organelles of the cell, the mitochondria, that may have a relationship to epilepsy. These are within the cells of your muscle tissue, causing interference with the communication between your cells and your brain via the spinal nerve system. More research is necessary, but it is another possibility why this may appear to be a problem. Some people with epilepsy, it seems, simply with their ability to do exercise.