Neurologist: How Everyday Things Can Trigger A Seizure

Living with the possibility of a seizure can feel unpredictable. It often brings a sense of uncertainty about when or why one might happen. But what if you could gain a bit more control by understanding the subtle factors that might influence them?

“Did you know that seizures can sometimes be triggered by everyday things?” asks Pooja Patel, M.D., neurologist and the director of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) at Marcus Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health,in a recent Baptist Health Instagram reel. “Seizures can have many different triggers and identifying yours can be key to managing them.”

Understanding these triggers is a powerful step toward managing your health, she adds.

For some people, it can be sleep deprivation or missing a medication. And for others it might be bright lights, dehydration or stress. Everyone's triggers can look a little different.”

Pooja Patel, M.D., neurologist and the director of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) at Marcus Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health.

Pooja Patel, M.D.

What is a Seizure?

A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in your behavior, movements, feelings, and levels of consciousness. The brain's nerve cells, or neurons, typically communicate by sending electrical and chemical signals across synapses. When there’s a sudden, abnormal surge of electrical activity, it disrupts this normal communication, resulting in a seizure.

Not all seizures look the same. Some people might experience convulsions, known as a tonic-clonic seizure, which is what many people picture when they think of a seizure. However, others are much more subtle. A person might stare into space for a few seconds, experience jerking movements in an arm or leg, or feel confused.

Having a single seizure doesn't automatically mean you have epilepsy. Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by two or more unprovoked seizures. High fevers, head injuries, or other medical issues can also cause a one-time seizure. Regardless of the cause, understanding what makes them more likely to occur is crucial.

Common Everyday Triggers

The concept of a "seizure threshold" is important here. Think of it as a tipping point. Everyone has a seizure threshold, but for individuals with epilepsy or a predisposition to seizures, that threshold is lower. Certain internal and external factors can lower this threshold even further, making a seizure more probable.

Dr. Patel explains that these triggers can vary significantly from person to person. “For some people, it can be sleep deprivation or missing a medication. And for others it might be bright lights, dehydration or stress. Everyone's triggers can look a little different.”

Let’s break down some of the most common everyday triggers.

1. Missed Medication
For individuals diagnosed with epilepsy, medication is the cornerstone of treatment. Antiseizure medications work by stabilizing the electrical activity in the brain. Missing even a single dose can disrupt this stability, significantly increasing the risk of a breakthrough seizure. It’s essential to take medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Setting daily alarms or using a pill organizer can help you stay on track.

2. Lack of Sleep
Sleep is when your brain recharges and resets. When you're sleep-deprived, your brain is fatigued, which can make it more prone to abnormal electrical activity. Both a lack of sleep and irregular sleep patterns can lower your seizure threshold. Aiming for 7-9 hours of consistent, quality sleep each night is a powerful, non-medical way to support brain health.

3. Stress
Emotional stress is a well-documented seizure trigger. When you're stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol, which can affect brain function. While avoiding all stress is impossible, developing coping mechanisms can make a big difference. Practices like mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or gentle yoga can help manage your body's stress response.

4. Illness and Fever
Being sick puts your body under physical stress. A fever, in particular, can be a potent trigger, especially in children. The metabolic changes that occur when your body is fighting off an infection can alter brain activity and increase seizure susceptibility. During an illness, it’s important to rest, stay hydrated, and manage the fever with guidance from your healthcare provider.

5. Dehydration and Nutrition
Your brain needs a steady supply of nutrients and hydration to function correctly. Skipping meals can lead to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can trigger a seizure. Similarly, not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance, disrupting the brain's delicate electrical system. Prioritizing regular, balanced meals and consistent hydration is a simple yet effective strategy.

6. Flashing Lights (Photosensitivity)
Though it’s one of the most well-known triggers, photosensitive epilepsy is relatively uncommon, affecting a small percentage of people with epilepsy. For those who are sensitive, exposure to flashing or flickering lights—like strobe lights, video games, or even sunlight filtering through trees—can provoke a seizure. If you are photosensitive, wearing polarized sunglasses or avoiding environments with flashing lights can help.

How to Identify and Manage Your Triggers

So, how do you figure out what your specific triggers are? The key is observation and tracking. Dr. Patel advises a proactive approach: “These factors can lower your seizure threshold making it more susceptible to occur at that particular time. It's important to track your seizures and know particularly what you were doing before and when it happens.”

Start a seizure diary. This can be a simple notebook or a dedicated app on your phone. After a seizure occurs, or if you feel an aura (a warning sensation), take a moment to log key details.

Consider the following when keeping track of each episode:

• Date and time of the seizure.

• What you were doing right before it happened.

• How you were feeling (stressed, tired, anxious).

• How much sleep you got the night before.

• What you ate and drank that day.

• If you missed any medication.

• Your environment (e.g., were there bright lights, was it hot?).

Over time, patterns may begin to emerge from your log. Sharing this information with your neurologist is incredibly valuable. It can help them fine-tune your treatment plan and provide personalized advice for managing your lifestyle.

“Identifying small clues like skipping a meal or staying up too late can offer big points of impact,” Dr. Patel emphasizes. “The more you learn about your triggers it is easier to stay one step ahead.”