How to Prevent Seizures – Neurology Center For Epilepsy & Seizures

• April 14, 2022

While any person can have a seizure, people who have had two or more seizures without an identifiable cause are at higher risk of having additional seizures. Other conditions may also increase the risk of seizures. If you are at high risk for seizures or you have a child who is considered high-risk for seizures, you may be looking for seizure treatment New Jersey. Not all measures work for all people, and you may only be able to reduce the number of seizures rather than eliminate them. However, many people find the following things help reduce the number of seizures that they have.

Take All Medication as Prescribed

Anti-epileptic medications can be very effective at helping some people reduce or even eliminate seizures. The problem is that, once the seizures stop happening people often stop taking their medicines. That can actually cause withdrawal seizures. Trying to self-medicate by increasing dosages can also cause toxicity. That is why it is important to take the prescribed dose at the same time or times each day, and to follow your doctor’s instructions about what to do if you miss a dose.

Sleep

Lack of sleep is a big contributing factor to seizures. Getting enough sleep can help you avoid seizures and reduce overall stress. Helping your kid get enough sleep can be difficult, especially for older kids who naturally want to stay up later but have to wake up early for school days. Enforcing an early bedtime for you or your kids may seem difficult, but it could help reduce seizures.

Eat Regular Meals

Skipping meals can lead to hypoglycemia, which can trigger seizures in some people. Eating meals at regular times and having healthy snacks between meals can help reduce your risk of seizures.

Avoid Alcohol and Drugs

When your children are small, it is easy to keep them from drinking or taking recreational drugs. However, as much as parents may want to ignore it, drugs and alcohol are often part of teenage life. You need to make sure your children are aware that alcohol and drug use can contribute to seizures. In addition, they may have negative interactions with anti-seizure medications. Even for adults, avoiding these triggers can be difficult. However, they simply are not worth risking triggering a seizure.

Exercise

Exercise may be the single most-effective “medicine” that a doctor can suggest. It has overall health benefits that can tackle a variety of different conditions. While exercise is not directly linked to a reduction in seizures, it is linked to reducing stress levels. Stress is a known trigger for seizures, so incorporating regular exercise can help you manage that stress and avoid seizures.

Pay Attention to Fevers

While epilepsy and seizure disorders put people at high risk of having seizures, many children are at risk of having seizures if they have high fevers. If your child is experiencing a high fever, contact a medical professional for help on how to bring down body temperature.

Avoid Flashing Lights

Flashing lights are a commonly known seizure trigger. However, they actually only impact about 3% of people with epilepsy. If you have photosensitive epilepsy, you need to limit exposure to flashing lights. That can include video games.

Find a Good Neurologist

If you have epilepsy or another seizure-disorder, you need a pediatric neurologist to manage your care. A neurologist can investigate why the seizures are happening and help create a treatment protocol for you.

• previous post: Treatment for Epilepsy in New Jersey
• next post: How Much Can It Cost to Treat Epilepsy

How to Prevent Seizures

While there’s no one way to prevent a seizure, following a well-rounded treatment and management plan can help.

A seizure occurs due to abnormal or overactive electrical activity in the brain, which disrupts brain cells from effectively sending messages to each other.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you’ve had two or more seizures, your doctor may diagnose you with epilepsy.

If you have epilepsy, or another condition that puts you at risk of recurring seizures, it’s important to take preventive measures to stop them from occurring.

Follow these tips to keep someone safe during a seizure.

What to do

In the case of a seizure, you can help a loved one by:

• remaining calm
• placing a pillow or cushion under their head
• laying them on their side for protection if no cushioning is available
• creating space to avoid injuries by moving surrounding furniture and objects
• noting the time the seizure begins and ends
• staying with your loved one for the entire seizure — they can last a few seconds or up to 2 to 3 minutes

What not to do

It’s just as important to know what not to do if your loved one is having a seizure. You can avoid further complications by not:

• placing anything in their mouth in an attempt to prevent tongue biting — this may cause injuries
• moving them to another room
• restraining them
• leaving them alone

When to call 911

While not all seizures require emergency medical attention, you should call 911 or local emergency services if:

• it’s the first time this person has ever had a seizure
• a child has a seizure of any duration
• an adult has a seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes
• the individual doesn’t wake up after a seizure
• the individual experiences repeat seizures
• the individual is injured during a seizure
• the individual who had a seizure is pregnant

Was this helpful?

Keep in mind that there are different types of seizures that may affect different parts of your brain. Each person’s experiences with seizures may vary, too.

This information can also help reduce the chances of developing related conditions, such as:

• difficulty with thinking
• injuries
• death

Seizure prevention is dependent on an overall management and treatment plan, such as taking your prescribed medications and making lifestyle changes.

Talk with a doctor about incorporating the following measures into your overall treatment and management plan to help prevent seizures.

1. Take your medication as prescribed

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are prescription medications designed to help prevent seizures. It’s important to never stop taking these medications without a doctor’s approval — even if your condition seems to be improving.

In fact, not taking your medications properly puts you at risk of uncontrolled seizures.

Withdrawal seizures can occur if you skip medication. Medication toxicity from taking too much at a time can result in side effects, which may involve seizures.

2. Avoid consuming alcohol

Alcohol isn’t recommended for people with epilepsy, due to an increased risk of seizures. You may help prevent future episodes by avoiding alcohol.

If you’re experiencing alcohol misuse, be sure to talk with a healthcare professional about how to safely quit drinking.

3. Avoid substance misuse

In addition to alcohol avoidance, it’s important to avoid substance misuse as part of your seizure management plan.

Talk with a medical professional if you’re having challenges with using legal or illegal substances.

4. Practice stress management

Stress can be a trigger for seizures in epilepsy. It may help you reduce your risk of seizures if you manage your stress by:

• getting enough sleep
• exercising
• taking time to relax

5. Maintain a sleep schedule

Waking up and going to bed at the same time every day can help you maintain a sleep schedule.

Tiredness and short-term sleep deprivation are considered triggers for seizures, so regular sleep can help prevent them.

6. Keep a consistent meal schedule

Hypoglycemia from skipping a meal can cause a seizure, particularly for people with diabetes.

It’s a good practice to keep a consistent meal schedule and have fast-acting sources of glucose on you at all times if you have diabetes.

7. Avoid flashing lights

According to the Epilepsy Society, it’s estimated that about 3% of people with epilepsy have a rare form called photosensitive epilepsy. With this type of epilepsy, seizures may be triggered by flashing lights or contrasting patterns of light.

If you’re photosensitive, such exposure to lights could trigger a seizure immediately.

While AEDs can help prevent seizures, it’s also important to avoid flashing lights and images, as well as those in geometric patterns. Playing video games with rapidly flashing graphics may also trigger seizures in some people.

If you’re suddenly exposed to flashing lights or patterns, quickly cover one or both eyes with your hand. According to the Epilepsy Society, this may help prevent the onset of a seizure.

8. Protect yourself from head injuries

Head injuries can lead to a single seizure or recurrent seizures in someone who doesn’t have epilepsy. The related seizures may occur weeks, months, or even up to a year after the injury.

According to the CDC, 1 in 10 people ages 15 and older who were hospitalized for a traumatic brain injury go on to develop epilepsy within 3 years.

A head injury can also trigger a seizure in someone who already has epilepsy. So, it’s important to protect yourself from future head injuries and the possibility of more related seizures.

Wear a helmet when bicycling, skating, or playing contact sports. Talk with a medical professional about stability exercises to help decrease your risk of falls.

9. Pay attention to fevers

Some children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years may be at risk of developing febrile seizures. These are triggered by fevers of 101°F (38°C) or higher and may accompany infections.

Not every child with a high fever will develop a febrile seizure, and the episode may occur hours later.

Call 911 or local emergency medical services if your child has a seizure. Children with febrile seizures may be at a higher risk of having future episodes, so medication may be necessary to prevent them.

A few options are available for treating seizures. It’s important to work with a doctor to develop the right epilepsy treatment plan for you.

Medications

Prescription AEDs are first-line treatments for seizures. These drugs are also known as antiseizure medications or anticonvulsants, and they come in various types and brands.

Some AEDs treat partial seizures, for instance, while others treat more generalized ones.

AEDs can’t cure epilepsy, but they may help prevent future seizures. It’s also important to talk with a healthcare professional about possible side effects, such as:

• fatigue
• dizziness
• difficulty with thinking

Some AEDs may pose long-term health issues, such as increasing your risk of osteoporosis.

Devices

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 3 in 10 people with epilepsy either don’t have success with AED mediation or deal with bothersome side effects. For these people, implanting devices that send small electric currents to the brain may help prevent seizures. Options include:

• vagus nerve stimulation
• responsive neurostimulation
• deep brain stimulation

Surgery

If you’ve tried medications, devices, and other lifestyle changes but your seizures aren’t well-controlled, undergoing brain surgery may be an option. Common surgical procedures for epilepsy include:

• focal resection, or the removal of a known area in your brain where seizures begin
• disconnection surgery, or the removal of brain connections that cause seizures to spread from one side of the brain to the other

Not everyone who experiences seizures is a good candidate for surgery. Talk with a doctor about your options.

After you experience a seizure, your primary care doctor may refer you to a special type of neurologist known as a epileptologist. This type of doctor specializes in diagnosing, treating, and managing seizures.

Once you’ve had a seizure, you may be at risk of future episodes the rest of your life. A neurologist or epileptologist can help you come up with a seizure treatment and management plan. This likely includes:

• medications or other treatments
• lifestyle changes
• other preventive measures

It’s also important to check in with your neurologist or epileptologist if you’re concerned with medication side effects, or if you continue to have seizures despite taking AEDs. They may recommend an alternative treatment to help.

Due to the intricate nature of seizures, there’s no way to completely prevent them once you’ve had one.

But taking AEDs and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are strategies that can help.

It’s important to never stop taking medications on your own without consulting a medical professional. Contact your doctor if you’re not happy with your current treatment plan. Together, you can discuss next steps.

Leg cramps | causes, treatment, diagnosis and prevention

Leg cramps are common and can affect anyone at any age. This is an extremely uncomfortable sensation where the muscles in the legs contract involuntarily and cannot relax, which can cause severe pain and discomfort. Although seizures are rarely a serious problem, they can significantly affect a person’s quality of life, especially if they occur too often or during sleep. In this article, we’ll look at why leg cramps occur, as well as ways to prevent and treat them.

Contents

• Essence of pathology
• Varieties of convulsions
• Danger
• Causes
• Night cramps
• Diagnostics
• Treatment
• Prophylaxis

Essence of the pathology

When leg cramps appear, there are often unpleasant painful sensations, severe discomfort and inability to move. This phenomenon most often occurs in the elderly, pregnant women and professional athletes. Cramps are characterized by severe muscle spasm, in which muscle tissue becomes elastic and dense to the touch. Spasm can spread to the entire limb, but most often occurs in the calf muscles. If the symptoms appear regularly, are accompanied by pain and negatively affect the quality of life, you should consult a doctor to find out the causes of seizures and prescribe timely treatment.

Sign up for a consultation

Types of cramps

There are several types of leg cramps. First, idiopathic which appear without a specific cause, and secondary which can be caused by a variety of factors, both natural and pathological.

Depending on the nature of muscle contraction, convulsions can be divided into epileptic and non-epileptic . Epileptic seizures are manifested by the simultaneous activation of a group of neurons in the brain and excessive stimulation of peripheral muscles. Non-epileptic seizures may occur for other reasons.

There are also hereditary krumps, which are a more stable variant of idiopathic seizures.

What is the danger?

Many people think that leg cramps are something minor and do not go to the doctor about this. However, if a person suffers from cramps often, this can lead to complications, since cramps can be the first sign of an emerging pathology in the body. Although generalized epileptic seizures are very dangerous, persistent local muscle spasms can also indicate the initial stage of metabolic disorders that can lead to serious diseases such as diabetes mellitus arthritis varicose veins which can be fatal if not treated. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor if frequent cramps cause anxiety and interfere with a comfortable state.

Causes of leg cramps

Leg muscle spasms can be due to various reasons. One of them is the increased activity of the cerebral cortex, as well as a decrease in the nerve conduction of the fibers and the level of ATP in the blood. These processes can be caused by various factors, such as intense physical activity, traumatic brain injury, stressful situations and wearing uncomfortable shoes. However, the most common source of leg cramps is varicose veins . The diagnosis is carried out by a phlebologist who will help determine the factors that provoked the appearance of seizures in a particular case.

There are a number of common causes of daytime and nighttime leg cramps, including:

1. Deficiency, deficiency of vitamins and minerals that can occur due to dehydration, strenuous exercise or malnutrition. Symptoms can be caused by a lack of B vitamins and magnesium.
2. Hypoglycemia, which may occur in people with diabetes mellitus, especially when insulin is administered. Treatment should be carried out only by a specialist who will select an individual therapy regimen and dosage of insulin.
3. Excessive exercise, especially in athletes such as football players, basketball players and weightlifters.
4. Seizures can occur with thrombophlebitis and varicose veins, regardless of the stage of development of these diseases.
5. Atherosclerosis, which puts high pressure on the entire circulatory system, especially the heart and blood vessels. The basis of its development may be hereditary predisposition, unhealthy lifestyle, bad habits and high cholesterol.
6. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels can negatively affect blood flow and lead to swelling, pain and cramps in the legs both at night and during the day.
7. Hormonal changes can cause leg cramps in women during pregnancy, when taking oral contraceptives, during menopause, or during puberty during drastic changes in hormonal levels.
8. With increased stress on the central nervous system, frequent stress and sleep disturbances, muscle spasms can also occur, which can go away on their own after the cause is eliminated.

In addition to diseases, cramps can also be caused by other factors, for example:

1. When wearing beautiful but uncomfortable shoes with heels, which can lead to varicose veins and cause swelling and painful muscle spasms.
2. An unbalanced diet devoid of essential nutrients can lead to chronic digestive diseases and beriberi, which can also cause painful cramps.
3. Uncontrolled use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and pain medications can also cause seizures.

Nocturnal leg cramps

Often, leg twitching syndrome is characteristic of some diseases and can develop suddenly. Muscle spasms occur at night, causing discomfort during sleep. This condition can be short-term or long-term and is accompanied by muscle weakness after an attack. Chronic venous insufficiency is one of the common symptoms of this condition and the elderly and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable. In some cases, it may be a symptom of epilepsy or other neurological conditions. Even the most well-rested people experience twitching of the feet and toes at night, which can be caused by a deficiency of trace minerals such as sodium and others. Leg cramps can also occur when muscles are overloaded, dehydrated, or stay in one position for a long time. In most cases, such attacks are idiopathic, that is, they occur without apparent reason, and do not pose a health risk. However, they can be symptoms of serious diseases such as venous insufficiency or arterial dysfunction. Nocturnal spasms most often occur in the calf muscles and may be accompanied by sharp pain, tissue hardening, discomfort, redness and swelling, and muscle weakness.

Diagnosis may sometimes require a procedure using lower extremity fluid samples. To treat this symptom, it is often necessary to do moderate exercise and provide a good diet, including mineral elements and other micronutrients. Controlling body weight and wearing comfortable shoes can also help. In some cases, it is necessary to consult a surgeon to identify the cause of this condition. Nighttime attacks of leg cramps are often accompanied by heaviness in the legs and require timely treatment. If you experience such a symptom, you should not self-medicate and take any medication for seizures. It is necessary to contact a phlebologist in a timely manner to find out the cause of this condition.

Diagnosis

At the initial consultation with a phlebologist, it is necessary to tell in detail about the possible causes of seizures, their location and duration. The doctor will order a series of tests, including laboratory blood and urine tests, ultrasound of blood vessels, and electromyography, to find out the causes of spasms. Further treatment of leg cramps will depend on the results of the diagnosis.

Treatment

In order to receive a prescription for tablets for leg cramps, you need to see a doctor who will conduct a preliminary examination and find out why this condition has occurred. It is possible to stop an attack of seizures with medication, then a complex treatment is prescribed, which is designed to eliminate the occurrence of such a symptom. In most cases, treatment is carried out using conservative methods.

Depending on the occurrence, different groups of drugs may be prescribed, such as:

• multivitamin complexes;
• preparations for relaxing tense muscles;
• means for improving blood supply;
• painkillers.

In addition to medical treatment, a course of massage and physiotherapy can be prescribed. A phlebologist treats vascular diseases, an endocrinologist treats diabetes mellitus, and a neurologist or therapist treats lumbar sciatica and myositis. It is important to see a specialist on time, especially if muscle cramps occur more than twice a month.

Prevention

To prevent leg cramps, take the following steps:

1. Engage in moderate exercise, which strengthens muscles and improves blood circulation.
2. Follow a proper and nutritious diet, including foods rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamin D.
3. Control body weight, as excess weight can lead to muscle overload and increased tension.
4. Promptly treat concomitant diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disease and others.
5. Wear comfortable shoes that will not crush or squeeze your feet.
6. Stay hydrated and drink enough water to maintain normal electrolyte levels in the body.

Make an appointment

Leg cramps in the calf: causes, treatment and prevention

“Compressing the legs” is an everyday description of painful muscle spasms and cramps in the lower extremities. In some cases, spasms are not accompanied by pain, but only rapid rhythmic muscle contractions are observed. Muscles twitch chaotically, either contracting or relaxing.

Leg cramps develop as a result of various diseases and conditions, from electrolyte disorders to neurological disorders and hormonal imbalances. Therapists, neurologists, endocrinologists, phlebologists, etc. are engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of the causes of leg cramps (spasms themselves are not a disease), etc. It all depends on the nature of the problem.

Causes of cramps

Involuntary muscle contractions (leg cramps) are a symptom of various diseases and pathological conditions. In healthy people, painful spasms occur against the background of excessive physical exertion, uncomfortable body position, unsuccessful movement, but in such cases, convulsions do not recur. In diseases, a repetition of episodes is possible, as well as an increase in symptoms.

Crampy syndrome

Crampy develops against the background of a number of diseases (avitaminosis, cirrhosis of the liver, neurological disorders, etc.), hypothermia, intense physical exertion. The exact reasons are unknown.

The disease is accompanied by short-term muscle spasms in the calves. The intensity of convulsions in the lower extremities is different, the pain syndrome is pronounced. Most of the attacks occur at night.

Treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause of the pathology, as well as stopping the symptom. Doctors prescribe vitamins, minerals, anti-inflammatory drugs.

Flat feet

In flat feet, spasms of the lower extremities develop in response to uneven load distribution. Legs cramp during activity, less often at rest.

Spasms develop suddenly. Muscle contractions last from a few seconds to several minutes. After the attack, severe discomfort persists.

Treatment – orthopedic. The task is to achieve the correct distribution of the load on the lower limbs. Rarely resort to surgical correction.

Vascular diseases

Spasms (painful contractions) affecting the calf muscles occur in response to hypoxia and impaired energy metabolism in tissues. Seizures also develop as a result of such pathologies:

• varicose disease;
• endarteritis;
• atherosclerosis;
• thrombosis.

The clinical picture is complemented by sensations of heaviness and pressure in the legs. The phlebologist is engaged in the treatment of such conditions. Its task is to restore blood flow, venous-lymphatic outflow, eliminate inflammation, etc.

Endocrine diseases

Leg cramps are typical for thyroid gland pathologies (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus). Diabetes insipidus can be an indirect cause, since the patient loses a lot of fluid, and with it, electrolytes.

Clinic depends on the cause of seizures. Treatment is the task of the endocrinologist. It is carried out with the help of medications, replacement therapy is also indicated. According to the situation, surgical treatment is carried out (tumors, tissue injuries).

Fluid and electrolyte disorders

Cramping (painful contractions in the legs) may be a symptom of a deficiency or excess of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium. Seizures occur spontaneously and often recur. Seizures develop at night and last up to several minutes.

Treatment is the work of a therapist or other specialist (depending on the cause of the disorder). Restoration of electrolyte balance is carried out with the help of drugs, a therapeutic diet.

Hypovitaminosis

Most often, leg cramps develop in response to a lack of vitamins B1, B2, B6, D. Hypovitaminosis is accompanied by additional symptoms: reduced sensitivity of the lower extremities, burning in the legs, insomnia, dry skin, decreased vision, immunity. It all depends on the specific pathology.

Treatment is the work of the therapist. It is necessary to eliminate the primary disease, restore the level of vitamins and minerals in the body.

Intoxication

Convulsions are possible in case of poisoning with salts of heavy metals, vapors of volatile substances. Most often suffer laboratory workers, employees of hazardous enterprises. Intoxication occurs when using poisonous plants: belladonna, fly agaric, ergot. However, drugs are more often to blame. Painful muscle spasms develop as a side effect of certain medications.

Spasms occur after the influence of a substance on the body. Muscle contractions can be persistent – it can be difficult to remove them even in a hospital setting. Treatment – detoxification with drugs, observation. Many poisonings are life-threatening.

Pathologies of pregnancy

Muscle cramps may occur in pregnant women. Often cramps of the calf muscles develop as a result of hypovitaminosis, electrolyte imbalance. There are more threatening conditions: inferior vena cava syndrome, eclampsia.

Patients with recurrent muscle spasms are managed by OB/GYNs. They figure out why the problem has developed, prescribe treatment.

Other causes

There are other factors that cause cramps in the legs. Other causes of calf spasms include:

• alcohol intoxication;
• high body temperature;
• tumors of the central nervous system and endocrine system;
• jumps in blood pressure;
• traumatic brain injury;
• infections;
• dehydration;
• heat stroke.

This also includes leg injuries. Less commonly, the symptom occurs due to anemia.

Night cramps in the legs

Spasms at night develop with varicose veins, lack of trace elements, vitamins. They also occur with intense physical exertion, wearing uncomfortable shoes. There are more serious causes of night cramps. For example, epilepsy. To put an end to the question, you need to undergo an examination.

Why does the calf cramps – doctors should understand. The reasons are not always obvious. It is possible to understand why a symptom developed only after a thorough diagnosis. Diagnosis is by sighting or exclusion.

First aid for cramps in the legs

First aid is aimed at relieving an attack. To get rid of cramps, you need to:

• raise your legs above the level of your head;
• pull the toe up;
• if it doesn’t help, do a light massage of the calves and feet.

Actions to be repeated until improvement. After stabilization of the condition, it is worth taking a warm bath and moving around a little.

Diagnostics

The doctor evaluates complaints, collects anamnesis, prescribes general and biochemical blood and urine tests, if necessary, performs a toxicological test. An important role is played by instrumental research methods for establishing the cause of spasms: electromyography, EEG, ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities, MRI of the brain, organs of the endocrine system, etc.

Treatment

Treatment can be conservative or surgical. Surgical methods are used in rare cases.

Conservative therapy

Conservative treatment includes medication, physiotherapy, massage, exercise therapy. Relieve an attack, there is little tension in the muscles during convulsions. If nothing is done about the cause of the symptom, a relapse is likely. Attacks can be repeated and become more frequent. Medicines are selected individually.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment is possible with flat feet, varicose veins, vascular diseases, tumors. Surgical care is an extreme measure that is needed to restore the normal functioning of the body.

Prevention

There is no single approach to prevention, it all depends on the underlying disease. General recommendations might be:

• eat right;
• avoid hypothermia;
• avoid dehydration;
• give the body moderate physical activity, do not sit in one place;
• wear comfortable shoes;
• do not take drugs without a doctor’s prescription (especially diuretics, cardiac, hormonal).