Epilepsy – introduction

Epilepsy is a term used to describe a tendency to have recurrent, unprovoked convulsions. The convulsions result from synchronised and excessive activations of neurons in the cerebral cortex. Some things make seizures more likely for some people with epilepsy. These are often called ‘triggers’. Triggers don’t cause epilepsy, but they make seizures more likely.

Not all people with epilepsy have seizure triggers. And the things that trigger one person’s seizures might not affect other people with epilepsy in the same way.

Here are some of the seizure triggers that have been reported by people with epilepsy:  

• Not taking epilepsy medicine as prescribed
• Feeling tired and not sleeping well
• Stress
• Alcohol and recreational drugs
• Flashing or flickering lights
• Monthly periods
• Missing meals
• Having an illness which causes a high temperature