Epilepsy Talk
Heat is not our friend! | July 23, 2023
And it can trigger some pretty awful consequences.
Like the time I was gardening at high noon. (What was I thinking about?) I fell backwards, hitting my head on the walkway. And I couldn’t ask for help because I was out cold. Baking in the sun.
And I’m sure you have your own stories. About passing out, puking or just feeling like you’re as dizzy as if you were on a roller coaster ride.
An epileptologist explained that heat can trigger a seizure for some people because it’s firing up the neurons in the brain which can cause a seizure.
Some examples:
Heat Exhaustion (“Heat Stroke”)
Heat exhaustion, commonly known as heat stroke, is a condition caused by the body’s inability to keep itself cool.
The body stays cool by perspiring (sweating), as the perspiration evaporates.
On days that are especially hot and humid, extra moisture in the air causes perspiration to evaporate more slowly, causing your body temperature to rise.
If left untreated, heat stroke can cause different symptoms.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
The early symptoms of heat stroke are not terribly serious but should be considered a warning.
Earliest symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, fatigue and weakness, headaches, muscle cramps and dizziness.
As the condition worsens, you may experience not only seizures, but also high body temperature, the absence of sweating with very hot or flushed dry skin, a rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, odd behavior, confusion, hallucinations and disorientation.
And you could become comatose.
Hot Weather and Epilepsy
There is no scientific evidence that heat itself causes seizures to occur in people suffering from epilepsy.
Becoming severely overheated can cause seizures, but an average hot day is not in itself the culprit.
It’s mainly changes in weather that trigger epileptic seizures.
For example, someone who keeps his house very cool in the summer may go out into the hot weather, and the change in temperature may trigger seizure activity.
Summertime mean thunderstorms, and the lightning produced during such storms can also be a trigger.
Going from a dark room into the bright sunshine can cause seizures, too.
Dehydration and Epilepsy
Make sure you have plenty of fluids in your system if you have epilepsy.
Too much perspiration and not enough fluid intake can cause a drop in sodium and sugar levels (hypoglycemia), both of which have been known to cause seizures.
Also, sweating or urinating too much may cause too much of your seizure medication to be expelled from your body, lowering both your therapeutic medication levels and your threshold for seizures.
Anti-Seizure Medication Side-Effects
Certain anti-seizure medications, such as the drug Topamax, may cause side-effects that require more fluid intake.
For example, Topamax may cause decreased sweating and higher body temperature, which can prevent your body from cooling itself adequately.
Normally, the process of sweating and evaporation of sweat facilitates body cooling.
In extreme temperatures in excess of 90° F (32.2° C), the amount of heat produced, exceeds the cooling effect of sweat evaporation.
Likewise, if the humidity reaches 100%, evaporation of sweat is no longer possible, and your body loses its ability to dissipate heat.
Eventually, your body’s temperature rises, leading to severe dehydration, swelling of brain tissue, low blood pressure, organ damage, and possibly death.
What Should I Do if I Think I Have Heat Stroke?
Heat stroke traditionally is divided into three classic varieties:
Exertional heat stroke typically occurs in younger athletic individuals who exercise vigorously in the heat until the body’s normal thermoregulatory mechanisms are overwhelmed.
Classic heat stroke more commonly occurs in older individuals or in those with underlying illnesses who are exposed to extreme environmental temperatures and/or humidity.
Another less common type of heat stroke is sunstroke (heat stroke caused by direct exposure to the sun).
What Does the “Heat Index” Mean?
The heat index tells you how hot it feels outside in the shade.
It’s not the same as the outside temperature.
The heat index is a measurement of how hot it feels when relative humidity is combined with the effects of the air temperature.
When you’re standing in full sunshine, the heat index value is even higher.
A heat index of 90°F or higher is dangerous.
How Can I Prevent Heat Illness?
When the heat index is high, stay indoors in air-conditioned areas when possible.
If you must go outside, take the following precautions:
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat or using an umbrella.
Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more.
Schedule vigorous outdoor activities for cooler times of the day — before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m.
During an outdoor activity, take frequent breaks.
Drink water or other fluids every 15 to 20 minutes, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
If you have clear, pale urine, you are probably drinking enough fluids. Dark-colored urine is an indication that you’re dehydrated.
Having heat exhaustion or heat stroke makes you more sensitive to hot conditions for about a week afterwards.
Your doctor can tell you when it is safe to return to your normal activities.
Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat stroke is a medical emergency that may result in death! Call 911 immediately.
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to loss of water and salt from heavy sweating.
Signs include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, and heavy sweating.
Heat cramps are caused by the loss of body salts and fluid during sweating.
Low salt levels in muscles cause painful cramps.
Tired muscles — those used for sport and outside work — are usually the ones most affected by cramps.
Heat rash, also known as prickly heat, is skin irritation caused by sweat that does not evaporate from the skin.
Bottom line: Try to stay out of the heat. Or if you must, take the proper precautions.
Your body will thank you.
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Resources:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0601/p2133.html
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/heat_illnesses.htm
https://www.health.com/mind-body/6-things-that-can-trigger-a-seizure-even-if-you-dont-have-epilepsy
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/heat-stroke-symptoms-and-treatment#1
http://www.ehow.com/about_6574448_heat-seizures.html
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You are so right Phyllis but your article is one week late for me! I went cycling (leaving my air-conditioned home, ) on my very safe, but very heavy recumbent trike a week ago at midday when the temperature was 95F and I was not hydrated enough. Within 30 minutes I was soaked with perspiration and because of the humidity it couldn’t evaporate, it took me a further 30 minutes to get home by which time the damage had been done. I passed out having just finished a glass of iced water with electrolytes. It took me about four days to recover but I haven’t cycled since. What is it they say “there is no fool like an old fool ” I guess that describes me!
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Comment by Michael H — July 23, 2023 @ 10:02 AM
You’re not foolish, you learned from your mistake.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — July 23, 2023 @ 10:09 AM
A few years ago in the beginning of how to manage my seizures. I decided to sit in my jacuzzi which triggered a seizure. Thankfully my husband heard me and was able to pull me out of the jacuzzi to keep me from drowning. We promptly got rid of the jacuzzi.
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Comment by Deb — July 23, 2023 @ 1:13 PM
Phylis, maybe my experience will help me and others along their epilepsy journies. I’ve had epilepsy for 14 years now: tonic-clonic to be specific. I’ve never seen another person simply collaspe from heat and appear to be having a tonic-clonic seizure. Here’s what happened: I was walking through the park next to the river on about a 85 degree day. A man lay on the ground with his wife and daughter standing next to him. I wanted to help and introduced myself and said that I had epilepsy and asked what had happened. She said that they were walking along and her husband dropped and hit the pavement hard and began to shake all over. She immediately called 911. You could already hear the sirens. She told me that he had shaken for about a minute. I asked her if she had tried to put anything into his mouth. “No” was her response. I also asked her if she had tried to restrain him during the seizure. She shook her head no but turned him on his side because he was gaging. I had arrived when he lay flat on the pavement pouring in sweat. Nothing had come out while he was gaging. She and I held his hands. I asked him what he remembers. “All I saw was through a tunnel vision like state with colored lights. And that’s it.” He could squeeze both of our hands very, very gently. And then the paramedics arrive. The first thing they said was “let’s get him out of this heat.” I really was stuck in what I should or should not have done. Should you move a body that had hit the pavement hard? I was afraid there might be other damage done to his body if we managed to move his body that had hit the pavement. He was perspiring quite profusely. What could I have done differently? What advice can you offer me with your knowledge of epilepsy? Have others had the same experience? Thanks.
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Comment by George Choyce — July 23, 2023 @ 2:20 PM
You did the right thing and gave the wife confidence that she is also doing the right thing to keep her husband safe from further injury. Yes the heat didn’t help but I agree you didn’t know if he had any further injuries. I would only move him if there is immediate danger to his safely but other than that wait till EMS arrive.
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Comment by Deb — July 23, 2023 @ 6:43 PM
George, I think you did the right thing, directing the wife to turn him on his side, so he wouldn’t drown in his own vomit…gently holding his hands…and reassuring him. As far as moving a body, I don’t think you should unless there’s an obstruction in their way. Something a person might turn into and hurt themselves.
Mary Ellen Gambon and I had a similar incident on the train tracks on Penn Station in NYC.
A crowd was gathered around a poor homeless woman who was flailing around, having a grand mall.
First, we shouted for everyone to make way, move off and get an ambulance, station director, anyone.
It appeared she was going to fall on the train tracks, so we quickly moved her, despite her protests. (She was afraid she would lose the precious bag of her only possessions.)
So, she was struggling on her side (with us restraining her) when two lovely nurses arrived from Langone Epilepsy Center. (One of the best in the country.)
We took a very deep breath, imagining what could have and moved on.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — July 23, 2023 @ 2:43 PM
You never eat or drink anything with MSG’s, ASPARTARTAME’S NITRITES & NITRATES in them along with anything with ALUMINUM in it, even you generic AED’s that have them. As a teenager & younger I TRIED to tell both my parents & neurologists ”when I could speak up then” what happened to me in the HHH days with months that have NO R’s & except for my mom, they all thought I had no idea what I was talking about, & it all can still hold true today. It wasn’t until 1993 when I learned MORE about all these EXCITOTOXINS which in HOT, HAZY & HUMID days anyone eating or drinking them WILL have more seizures, headaches & anything else brain related that can go wrong. Isn’t it strange how the WHO experts says 2 weeks ago how ASPARTAME is maybe a root cause for CANCER for some MORE LIKE MOST people it is a carcinogen & EXCITOTOXIN as is MSG, but yet for over 55 years it has been known to cause seizures AFTER taking the place of saccharin in 1973, that DID cause seizures, just a different name for it is all it was, nothing then replaced anything but a NAME CHANGE. Oh an to have them in HOT HAZY & HUMID weather, they both are brain chemistry killers & destroyers, which for FDA, USDA, & AMA as long as BIG PHARMA makes their trillions, everything is just fine in their land of MONEY MAKING to them. I knew then in 1073 as well as 1964 & years in between what foods & drinks would do to any developing brain chemistry & younger human brains. But NOBODY cared then to listen as the same way it is today. BUT Xcopri may help for anyone with that very serious problem & concern/s.
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Comment by James D — July 23, 2023 @ 4:30 PM
How about after sitting in a hot tub? Worked at a fitness center. Night manager. Finished work. Sat in the tub. 102 degrees. Left work. Turned right out of parking lot. Red light down to my left. Really funny feeling. Passed out. Stopped car about two blocks. Fortunately, it was a quiet suburban street with no one around. Felt horrible for the next 12 or so hours. Hot tub bacteria soup. Was in the heat or something in the water? 56 years old then. 69 now. Take heavy duty meds now. This sucks!
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Comment by Charles Edward Miller — July 23, 2023 @ 10:36 PM
Hot bacteria soup, as you put it, is poison. Glad you didn’t have a car accident. You were lucky.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — July 24, 2023 @ 9:30 AM