From: drarwingnuttephd@gmail.com   
      
   Weird Epilepsy Triggers... | September 19, 2011    
      
      
      
   Here's a list of uncommon epilepsy triggers you may have experienced or know   
   about. Feel free to add to this list of the weird and the unknown...    
   Atmospheric Conditions    
   Changes in air pressure or any sudden action, (like arising from a prone   
   position too quickly), can act as an instant stressor. Like taking off or   
   landing in an airplane...going up or down on a fast elevator or escalator...    
   Barometric Pressure    
   Weather differences such as sudden changes in temperature, dark skies,   
   thunder, or bright, hot sunlight and humidity may be a definite trigger for   
   some.    
   Body Toxins    
   Exposure to toxins in our air, water or food, can cause everything from   
   vomiting, diarrhea, liver or renal failure, blood sugar levels, and   
   electrolyte imbalances. Constipation can be added to the list also. When these   
   things happen, all the toxins    
   already in our system build up. It also might be a side-effect of your drugs   
   or it may cause the effectiveness of your medications, but ether way, you are   
   at risk.    
   Boredom    
   You always thought you could be "bored to death" but it can also incite a   
   seizure. By being isolated, having no social interactions, diversions, or   
   recreational activities -- all that's left is to think about yourself and   
   anticipate when your next    
   seizure will come.    
   Casinos    
   The flashing lights and all the noise and hubbub at a casino -- ringing bells,   
   blaring music, -- is enough to give anyone a headache, no less a seizure.    
   Dental Problems    
   Have your teeth and gums checked regularly. Some of your medications just love   
   the calcium found in teeth and bones, making them fragile and prone to   
   breakages and disease. Dental disease can no longer be considered a minor   
   problem with just your gums    
   and teeth. Your state of health (especially the state of your immune system),   
   whether you still have amalgam fillings, the amount of mercury you've been   
   exposed to over time, and the amount still present in your body, directly   
   influence the number and    
   severity of your symptoms. You'll never achieve optimum health if you have   
   poor oral health.    
   Diabetes    
   People with hyperglycemia tend to have focal or local seizures. And those who   
   are hypoglycemic, tend to have tonic-clonic seizures. To keep your blood sugar   
   from fluctuating, eat a good breakfast when you wake up. Complex carbohydrates   
   will help start    
   your day and give you sustained energy throughout. Also, try to eat wholesome   
   snacks often during the day to keep your system balanced.    
   Grapefruit    
   It has been proven that grapefruit/juice/rind/skin can negatively affect some   
   medications. You are probably saying "but I thought these grapefruits were   
   good for me and my health?" Grapefruit juice provides many nutrients such as   
   Vitamin C, but chemicals    
   in grapefruit interfere with enzymes that break down certain medications in   
   your digestive system which, in turn, causes a high risk of bringing on   
   seizures. Tegretol in any form is one of the main anti-epilepsy medications   
   that grapefruit affects.    
   Hyperventilation    
   Sometimes in a stressful situation, it's the body's way of saying there is   
   confusion in the brain and it just doesn't know where to turn. Oxygen is not   
   getting to your brain and the hyperventilation expends vast amounts of energy.   
   You could be in shock    
   and this is where it is difficult to tell whether it is a response from an   
   over stimulated brain or a true seizure. But you could go on to have an   
   epileptic seizure following the stress and lack of oxygen. (For a long time,   
   hyperventilation has been used    
   as a means to provoke seizures. It's often used to trigger epileptiform   
   discharges and/or seizures during EEGs.)    
   Immersion in Hot or Cold Water    
   Anything done too suddenly (a quick change of any kind) can lead to a seizure.   
   Going from cold to a warm temperature, or going from a warm house to a bitter   
   cold day outdoors can shock your system. When having a bath it is best to have   
   the bath water    
   warm rather than hot as getting into a hot bath, along with the added humidity   
   present in the bathroom also may be enough to trigger a seizure. When   
   immersing yourself in cold water it is best to do this gradually and make sure   
   you have another person    
   with you to ensure your safety.    
   Low Blood Sugar Level    
   This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain   
   degeneration.    
   Migraines    
   People with epilepsy are more than twice as likely to develop migraine   
   headaches as those without seizures. Research showed that more than 20 percent   
   of people with epilepsy have migraines, compared to 11 percent of the general   
   population. And there's an    
   overlap in the two conditions. In another epilepsy study, about 16% of those   
   people who had migraines also experienced epileptic seizures before, during or   
   after a migraine.    
   Odors and Perfumes    
   Perfume directly affects the brain and has both a physiological and a   
   psychological effect upon our respiration and breathing, as well as upon our   
   moods and thoughts. Although our sense of smell declines with age, you need to   
   be aware that strong or even    
   subtle smells or perfumes can be one of your triggers for seizures. Sometimes   
   a person who has experienced some seizure activity brought about by a   
   particular odor may not discuss it because they think other people, even their   
   doctors, will think they're    
   crazy. But it's for real. And then there are other odors, much less enticing,   
   some of which include paint, hairspray, cleaning products, ammonia, kerosene,   
   car exhaust fumes, gasoline and solvents.    
   Mah-Jong    
   Apparently, playing this thinking game, which can require intense   
   concentration, can induce seizures. (You heard it first here!)    
   Music    
   Musicogenic epilepsy is a form of reflexive epilepsy in which a seizure is   
   triggered by music or specific frequencies. Sensitivity to music varies from   
   person to person. Some people are sensitive to a particular tone from a voice   
   or instrument. Others    
   are sensitive to a particular musical style or rhythm. Still others are   
   sensitive to a range of noises.    
   Overeating    
   Causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.    
   Ramadan    
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)