Exercise causing epilepsy?

CDC funded page

Not a CDC funded Page

Hey everyone, how are you all? My name is Josie and I have complex partial and simple partial seizures. I'm not sure if this might be a coincidence or not but I have noticed that the past few times when I have had a complex partial seizure it has been when I've been walking home faster than I normally would, just wondering if anyone else has had their seizures bought on by physical activity? Probably just a coincidence I know but I just thought I'd see if anyone else had experienced something similar. And completely off topic I'm getting the results of my MRI scan today so I'm a bit nervous! Just thought I'd tell you guys coz I don't know I find it helps to talk to people when you're scared! I'm from NZ you see but I'm doing my O.E. at the moment and have just been diagnosed with epilepsy and am all on my lonesome so I really appreciate having this website where I can at least have somebody to talk to! Anyway take care guys and look forward to hearing from yas

Comments

Hey Ninja, I have read

Submitted by wldhrt13 on Tue, 2006-11-07 - 06:43

Hey Ninja, I have read somewhere that exercise itself doesn't cause seizures but the hyperventilation that one can achieve through rigorous workouts can. On the other hand, athletes like Chanda Gunn are vigorous in their workout and do not have many problems. The document below discusses the issue. I have listed the link (source of information) below this article. Exercise-Epilepsy Interactions Epilepsy patients and their families are commonly concerned about seizures during exercise. Fear often results in overprotection, feelings of isolation, and needless activity restrictions. Thus, an understanding of how exercise affects both epilepsy and its electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates is essential. Seizures during exercise are rare, but there are a few reports of exercise-induced ictal events. One such report described three patients who had seizures during exercise (9). Two had generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and one had absence seizures. All three patients had normal resting EEGs and showed generalized epileptiform discharges when exercising. Seizures are most likely to occur after exercise (15 minutes to 3 hours after exercise). In two retrospective reports (10,11), 23% and 65% of children with epilepsy had an increase in epileptiform discharges on EEG immediately after exercise when compared to baseline. Moreover, Kuijer (12) correlated an increase of epileptiform discharges with a decrease in blood pH. This may explain why seizures are more common after exercise; however, confirmation studies are needed. There are no specific treatment strategies to counteract this effect. Epilepsy may improve with exercise. The literature demonstrates that epileptiform discharges on EEG decrease during exercise (10,11,13). Horyd et al (11) found reduced epileptiform discharges during exercise in 28 of 43 epilepsy patients. Nakken and colleagues (10) recently confirmed this finding in their study of 26 children with epilepsy. The investigators noted that 20 (77%) of the 26 children had fewer epileptiform discharges during 10 minutes of cycle ergometry. The mechanisms responsible for EEG improvement during exercise are unclear. Several points merit consideration. Hyperventilation is used during EEG recording to increase epileptiform activity. Paradoxically, compensatory hyperventilation during exercise improves the EEG. The underlying pathophysiology explains this apparent discrepancy. Hyperventilation during exercise, a response to increasing oxygen demand, prevents hypercapnia; hyperventilation during sedentary EEG recording causes respiratory alkalosis with resultant cerebral vasoconstriction and hypoxia. Beta endorphin release during exercise may also improve the EEG (14). Lastly, increased attention and awareness required during exercise may confer an antiepileptic effect. Van Linschoten et al (15) speculated that this increased mental concentration may reduce seizure frequency. How increased awareness might protect against seizures is unknown. Overall fitness and a feeling of well-being have been shown to help reduce seizure frequency. A study by Nakken and colleagues (16) revealed that patients felt better and improved their seizure control with regular exercise. One report suggests that exercise improves self-esteem and social integration regardless of seizure control (17). http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1999/03_99/sirven.htm ~pam

Re: Hey Ninja, I have read

Submitted by Jonzen on Tue, 2006-11-07 - 10:37

I agree with the statement below: "Overall fitness and a feeling of well-being have been shown to help reduce seizure frequency. A study by Nakken and colleagues (16) revealed that patients felt better and improved their seizure control with regular exercise. One report suggests that exercise improves self-esteem and social integration regardless of seizure control." Way back when I was in High School, the Doctor directed that I would have no contact sports of any kind, and that pretty much took me out of the social context and bonding with other boys. It made me feel alien. Now, at age 55, I have a personal trainer, and he pushes me hard 3 times a week. At first, when I started from no activity, I would have absence seizures fairly frequently during a time of stressing on a lift (holding my breath and not breathing through the lift) and / or times of lifts with fast repetitions. These days, 9 months later, it is rare for me to experience seizures during times of exercise. I think because I am more fit. Certainly I have more self-esteem and confidence! Sure, once in awhile I still experience the odd feelings and effects of a petit mal or absence seizure in the gym, but we work around it, honor it, and keep going when the seizure has passed. I think physical activity and cardio exercise has helped me. "Be kind to all that lives"