Does epilepsy cause sleep problems?
Unfortunately, sleep disorders are common in people diagnosed with epilepsy. There are several types of sleep disorders linked to epilepsy. Insomnia: Having difficulties falling and staying asleep is common in people diagnosed with epilepsy, with between 24 and 55% having insomnia12.
How many hours of sleep does a person with epilepsy need?
There is a significant relationship between sleep deprivation and seizures in people with epilepsy. While individual sleep needs vary, the recommended amount of sleep for children is 10 to 12 hours per day, for teenagers 9 to 10 hours, and for adults 7 to 8 hours.
How can lack of sleep cause a seizure?
One explanation is that sleep changes the way electrical activity happens in our brains. If your sleep is disturbed or you do not get enough sleep, then this could cause an imbalance in electrical activity – and therefore make it more likely that you will have a seizure.
What is sleep related epilepsy?
Nocturnal seizures are seizures that happen while a person is asleep. They can cause unusual nighttime behavior, such as waking for no reason or urinating while sleeping, as well as jerking and shaking of the body. Nocturnal seizures are usually a type of seizure called a tonic-clonic seizure.
How does lack of sleep affect your epilepsy?
If you have epilepsy, lack of “good sleep” makes most people more likely to have seizures. It can even increase the intensity and length of seizures. Some forms of epilepsy are especially prone to sleep problems.
Can a person with epilepsy have a sleep study?
Standard EEG recordings for epilepsy do not evaluate sleep disorders. Most people with epilepsy do not have a sleep disorder, but if you are someone who has both epilepsy and a disorder such as sleep apnea, you probably should have a sleep study. In this test, you will sleep in a laboratory.
Can a person with epilepsy have a seizure?
Yes, it can. Seizures are very sensitive to sleep patterns. Some people have their first and only seizures after an “all-nighter” at college or after not sleeping well for long periods. If you have epilepsy, lack of “good sleep” makes most people more likely to have seizures. It can even increase the intensity and length of seizures.
How does epilepsy affect your quality of life?
Losing sleep can affect the mood and quality of life for people with epilepsy. In fact, one of the most common complaints in people with epilepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness.
How does epilepsy affect sleep?
Epilepsy starts in the brain, the same part of your body that regulates your sleep. In addition to recurring seizures, people with epilepsy also experience sleep issues that further disrupt their daily lives, including nocturnal seizures, insomnia, sleep apnea, and daytime fatigue.
Does sleep paralysis feel like a seizure?
Sleep Paralysis can be a symptom of Narcolepsy, Sleep Apnea or a form of small seizure. If it is the seizure, there are medications to minimize episodes. Read More. The associated symptoms with the following disorder are confusional wakefulness, sleep paralysis, nightmares and night terrors.
Is it normal to sleep after a seizure?
It is not uncommon for a victim to want to sleep after a seizure. Sleeping is fine, but you should be sure the victim has regained consciousness after a seizure and before falling asleep. If the victim has another seizure without regaining consciousness after the first one, call emergency services immediately.
What causes seizures during sleep?
Alcohol intoxication and drug abuse can also trigger seizures while sleeping. Nocturnal seizure can occur as a result of alcohol or drug withdrawal. Brain infection such as meningitis can also trigger episodes of seizure while sleeping.