Table of contents:
- Signs of seizures during sleep
- Understand the cycle of epileptic seizures during sleep
- Why do you have seizures during sleep?
- Prevent seizures at night
- Tips for staying safe while sleeping at night
If epileptic seizures recur during the day while you are on the move, there may still be people around you who can help. However, some people actually experience epileptic seizures at night, when they sleep. Seizures during sleep are usually not realized by the sufferer themselves so they can be dangerous. For that, it is imperative that you learn the ins and outs of the following sleep epileptic seizures.
Signs of seizures during sleep
Usually you only know that a seizure last night after your spouse, parent, or family member tells you. You can also wake up with a stiff and sore jaw and body muscles.
If the seizure is serious enough, you may fall out of bed or bump into things next to the bed. These things can indicate that you had a relapse last night.
Another sign is that you are sleepy all day long even though you think you have slept enough. It will also make it difficult for you to concentrate, remember, or think because last night you actually didn't get enough sleep.
Understand the cycle of epileptic seizures during sleep
There are people with epilepsy whose seizures will only recur at night while sleeping, but there are also those who have seizures during the day and at night. According to the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, if 90 percent of seizure episodes occur at night while you are sleeping, that means you have a condition called nocturnal seizures (nocturnal seizure).
When you fall asleep, your brain will enter a sleep cycle consisting of several stages. These stages start from semi-conscious, chicken sleep, deep sleep, until the end rapid eye movement (BRAKE). This cycle will continue to cycle three to four times a night.
From various reports, the times when you are most prone to seizures are when you enter the half-sleep stage, go to sleep, and when you are about to wake up. However, keep in mind that sleep seizures can also occur when you take a nap, not only when you sleep at night.
Why do you have seizures during sleep?
When a person is awake during the day, for example, brain waves are in a relatively stable state. However, when you sleep your brain waves become even busier because you have to go into various stages of sleep in just one to two hours' time.
Due to the increased activity of brain waves at night, the electrical signals responsible for sending commands to muscles, nerves, and other parts of the body go awry. This is what ultimately causes the seizures.
Prevent seizures at night
If you suspect you have frequent seizures while sleeping, check with a neurologist immediately. Your doctor may prescribe a stronger dose or type of antiepileptic medication to take at night. If you are currently taking antiepileptic drugs regularly, your doctor may change the dosage to be lighter during the day.
Lack of sleep will also trigger epileptic seizures. So, make sure you always get enough sleep every day. In addition, you must avoid various other epilepsy triggers such as excessive stress.
If sleep spasms are very disturbing and treatment from a doctor does not work to solve them, the doctor may recommend surgery. Surgery is usually a great way to stop sleep seizures so that you can sleep soundly again as usual.
Tips for staying safe while sleeping at night
For those of you who have or frequently experience seizures while sleeping, pay close attention to the following guidelines for maintaining safety at night. The reason is, during a seizure you may experience serious injury.
1. Choose a low mattress. Avoid bunk beds and mattresses that are too high.
2. Do not use the pillow too much or too high. This will increase the risk of choking or gagging when the seizure recurs. We recommend that you use a pillow that is a little low and stiff.
3. Keep tables or other objects away from the bed. To avoid bumping or bumping, do not place items or crockery near the bed.
4. Place a puzzle rug or mat on the side of the bed. To avoid injury if you fall, provide a soft carpet on the floor. If the child is very young, you can also attach railing (safety fence) on the edge of the bed.
5. Wear it headboard. So that your head doesn't hit the wall, attach it headboard or a board at the end of the headboard made of soft pads.
