CPD – The 7 Common Seizure Triggers and How to Avoid Them

Human beings use their brain to control the body. It acts as the control centre, allowing us to think, feel emotion, make decisions, and, most importantly, control the organs we have. However, when the brain function gets interrupted, it can be dangerous. One of the reactions is uncontrolled movement, such as seizure. To prevent that, you have to know the 7 common seizure triggers.

This reaction happens when there are bursts of electrical activity in the brain, which affects how it works. This can cause temporary changes in behaviours, feelings, movements, or even loss of awareness. When someone is in this condition, their body parts, such as arms and legs, suddenly stiffen and jerk.

What is the most common trigger for seizure?

There are many ways for you to catch spasms, but some of the 7 common seizure triggers are lack of sleep, stress, or alcohol. However, not everyone has the same triggers. Therefore, understanding the cause of spasms is important to improve your quality of life. In doing so, here are some reasons why you can get convulsions.

Lack of sleep

One of the 7 common seizure triggers happens when you are sleeping. During normal sleep-wake cycles, there are changes in the brain’s electrical and hormonal activity. When you lack sleep, there is an increased risk of spasms because it disrupts the function of the brain. Thus, this leads to an increase in abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Stress

As one condition that is unavoidable in our lives, stress can be one of the 7 common seizure triggers. Human beings are no strangers to the feeling of being overwhelmed and anxious, and it can release certain hormones that impact the brain. When you are feeling stressed, your brain releases cortisol, which can increase excitability in the brain. It influences the neurotransmitter balance and the heightened sensitivity of brain cells to stimulation.

Alcohol

When you are drinking, alcohol has a relaxing influence on the brain. Also, it can act as receptors called gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA receptors. These receptors are closely linked to the risk of having convulsions. As one of the 7 common seizure triggers, alcohol can make the nervous system become overly depressed. Therefore, it causes conditions that increase the likelihood of seizures.

Drugs

There are many kinds of recreational drugs, and each of them creates different effects. In addition, they have a direct effect on the brain and increase the chance of spasms from happening. As an example, cocaine can cause that within seconds, minutes, or hours after you are taking it. 

Moreover, drugs like amphetamines are the reason why drugs become one of the 7 common seizure triggers. When you take this, you will experience sleep deprivation, confusion, or psychiatric disorders. A very high dose can cause severe tonic-clonic episodes, heart attacks, or even death. It is because of the damage to the brain from the use of the stimulants.

Flashing lights

The 7 common seizure triggers include photosensitivity or sensitivity to flashing or flickering lights. Usually, it occurs due to high-intensity lights pulsating in a regular pattern. When people with this sensitivity get exposed to a flash at a frequency of between 15 and 20 flashes per second, they will have epileptiform brain discharges, which can be dangerous.

Periods

Women of childbearing age have an increase in convulsion, especially around the time of their monthly menstrual period. It often happens in the middle of the cycle around ovulation and about a week before the menstrual bleeding. When they are in their period, the brain produces oestrogen and progesterone. If those chemicals are not in balance, it causes spasms. This is why periods are one of the 7 common seizure triggers.

High temperature due to infection or illness

A high body temperature is one of the 7 common seizure triggers, particularly in children. The reason is because the brain is sensitive to temperature fluctuations. When it suddenly rises, the temperature can disrupt the balance of electrical signals for the brain to function. The ion channels in neurons will be disrupted, which will lead to abnormal firing patterns. Usually, this happens when the temperature reaches 38 degrees Celsius or above.

Food and drinks

You have to watch what you eat and drink because it is one of the 7 common seizure triggers. For example, when you lack sugar in your blood, your brain needs sugar for its activity, but if there is not enough sugar, it can lead to electrical disturbances in the brain. It works the same if you have too much sugar in your body.

Course Synopsis

The CPD – The 7 Common Seizure Triggers and How to Avoid Them course will help the participants to become aware of what can cause convulsion. Most importantly, to prevent the spasm from happening in the first place. In doing so, the learners will achieve learning objectives such as:

1. Recognising the 7 common seizure triggers
2. Understanding how each cause affects the brain
3. Developing prevention plan
4. Managing lifestyle factors
5. Responding to the seizure and how to mitigate it

As a result, the participants can be more prepared to prevent convulsions from happening. Not only is it beneficial for their comfort, but it can also help other people to overcome this condition. Moreover, they will create a safe space and supportive environment for themselves and other people in need.

Course Framework

From this training, the participants will have a better understanding of the 7 common seizure triggers and how each trigger affects the brain. Therefore, they can make prevention plans and create lifestyle changes to handle the convulsion. Also, have the skills and knowledge to respond to spasm. Throughout this programme, they will be learning about:

• Introduction to the 7 common seizure triggers
• Recognising personal causes
• Strategies for avoiding the stimulus
• Emergency preparedness and response

To enhance the experience, the CPD – The 7 Common Seizure Triggers and How to Avoid Them course requires the participants to be involved in activities. There are going to be interactive questions, demonstrations, and many others. Also, the materials for this course are made by lecturers who are experts in this field.

Admission Requirement

The CPD – The 7 Common Seizure Triggers and How to Avoid Them course is open for anyone interested in this training programme. Moreover, it is suitable for people who are living with epilepsy, caregivers, and healthcare workers, but it is not limited to them only. People should be able to avoid this condition by knowing the causes.

Raise your awareness about the 7 common seizure triggers with the CCM

Knowing the 7 common seizure triggers is important for managing and preventing convulsions. When there are factors that interrupt the brain function, it can lead to this condition. Those factors can be lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, or many others. Understanding these causes will reduce their exposure, which will lead to fewer seizures.

Therefore, the College of Contract Management provides training programmes like CPD – The 7 Common Seizure Triggers and How to Avoid Them. Throughout this lesson, you will gain knowledge and skills to recognise and manage the causes effectively. Whether for personal well-being or to support other people, this course will help you to take control of your health.

In the meantime, the CPD – The 7 Common Seizure Triggers and How to Avoid Them course is not ready yet. We are still waiting for the lecturer’s schedule and materials for this training. If there are any updates, they will be shared accordingly on this page. For any questions, you can ask the CCM team through email.