What triggers photosensitive epilepsy?
Photosensitive seizures are triggered by flashing or flickering lights. These seizures can also be triggered by certain patterns such as stripes. Photosensitive seizures can fall under several categories, including tonic-clonic, absence, myoclonic and focal seizures.
Can anyone have a photosensitive seizure?
For about 3% of people with epilepsy, exposure to flashing lights at certain intensities or to certain visual patterns can trigger seizures. This condition is known as photosensitive epilepsy.
Is photosensitive epilepsy genetic?
Photosensitivity, which is often associated with epilepsy, is a condition determined by gene transmission. Therefore, it may be present in several members of one family and is more active early in life.
Does blood sugar affect epilepsy?
Substantial changes in blood sugar—either low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)—can affect the excitability of nerve cells (neurons), allowing seizures to occur more easily.
Does sugar affect epilepsy?
Many seizures take place when blood sugar is low. Stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, sweets, soft drinks, excess salt, spices and animal proteins may trigger seizures by suddenly changing the body’s metabolism.
Why is purple the color of epilepsy?
Purple day was created in 2008 by Cassidy Megan, a young girl from Canada, who has epilepsy and wanted to get people talking about the condition. Cassidy decided to use the colour purple because lavender is recognised as the international flower of epilepsy.
Can high blood sugar trigger seizures?
Although it’s a common complication of diabetes, hyperglycemia can happen to anyone. If left untreated, high blood sugar can lead to hyperglycemia-related seizures.
What is a diabetic seizure like?
To recognize a diabetic seizure, look for symptoms such as staring into space, confusion, muscle weakness, loss of consciousness, or uncontrollable body movements.
What is photosensitive epilepsy?
Photosensitive epilepsy is a well-known condition characterized by seizures in patients who show photoparoxysmal responses on electroencephalography (EEG) elicited by intermittent photic stimulation.
What is the prevalence of photosensitivity in nonepileptic patients?
The prevalence of photosensitivity in nonepileptic individuals ranges from 0.5 to 8.9% of the population [ 4, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30] and is higher around the age of puberty. [ 31]
What are the causes of epilepsy?
Epilepsy may be the result of: In photosensitive epilepsy, genetics also plays a role. About one in 100 people in the U.S. have epilepsy. About 3% to 5% of those people have photosensitive epilepsy. Children and adolescents ages 7 to 19 are more likely to have photosensitive epilepsy. Girls are affected by the condition more often than boys.
What age group is most likely to have photosensitive epilepsy?
Children and adolescents ages 7 to 19 are more likely to have photosensitive epilepsy. Girls are affected by the condition more often than boys. But boys tend to have more seizures. That’s probably because they spend more time playing video games, a common seizure trigger. What Causes Seizures in People With Photosensitive Epilepsy?