Ways to Prevent Seizures

Seizure disorders, or epilepsy, can be a devastating condition for those who suffer from it. It is a condition comprised of multiple types of seizures, each with their own symptoms, triggers and treatments. No two people will react the same to a certain medication, and though there are a plethora of treatment options available, it can take months or years for the right course of treatment to be found. There are ways to prevent seizures: you simply need to familiarize yourself with your condition.

Ask Questions

• When you are first diagnosed with epilepsy, ask any questions you may have regarding your condition, as this will help you learn how to prevent future episodes. Ask your doctor exactly what type of epilepsy you have: Is it Juvenile Myoclonic, Partial Seizures or Generalized Seizures? There are more types than this, and you may suffer from a combination of more than one type. With this information, your doctor can alert you to the common symptoms that accompany your type. Also ask about your medication, its dosage, its rate of effectiveness, and any side effects it may produce. One of the most important questions to ask in regard to your medication is how long it takes to become effective. This will help you judge whether or not the medication is working properly.

Stay in Close Contact

• Whether you have just been diagnosed or have been living with epilepsy for a period of time, staying in contact with your doctor increases your chances of fewer seizures. If you find that your medication is not working within the time frame specified, or was working and now you are experiencing breakthrough seizures, you need to call your doctor immediately and alert him of the changes in your condition. She may easily rectify the situation by either adjusting your dose to a level that is therapeutic, changing your medication to one that is better suited to your condition or adding a medication to your treatment plan. These changes can help prevent or reduce the number of seizures that you suffer.

Determine Your Triggers

• Most people with epilepsy have specific triggers that cause a seizure. Though they may be different for everyone, some of the most common triggers include stress, anxiety, fatigue and bright, flashing lights. To help you determine your triggers, keep a record in a journal of each of your episodes and the incidents that occurred just prior to the episode. Over time you will begin to notice a pattern developing. This pattern will help you avoid the triggers you have identified, thus helping you prevent future epileptic episodes.

Take Your Medication

• Some people begin to feel as though they don't need their medication every day once the number of episodes they experience begins to decrease. Quite the opposite happens though. Most seizure medications require two to four weeks to buildup to a therapeutic level in your body. Once it has reached this level, you need to continue taking it at its prescribed dose to maintain this therapeutic level. If you begin missing doses, your levels decrease and seizures occur. In addition, some medications have withdrawal symptoms which occur when they are stopped suddenly. Among these symptoms is the increased risk of having a seizure.

Use Relaxation Techniques

• Stress plays a major role in the onset of a seizure. If you begin experiencing the symptoms of a seizure and realize one is about to take place, try some relaxation techniques that may help relieve your stress. This, in turn, helps prevent your seizure. Begin by closing your eyes and focusing on something that calms you. While doing this, breathe deeply in and out of your nose.

  Another option, especially if you have children, is to take yourself into a dark, quiet room and lay down. Though you may be worried that a seizure will still occur, thinking about it will only cause you more stress. Therefore, clear your mind and enjoy the quiet.