Christmas is a time for family and friends to come together, celebrate and enjoy all that this seasonal cheer brings. However for some, both the excitement and stress of all that the festive season brings can have far worse consequences than feeling worse for wear the day after a few too many the night before.
Whether someone has their first ever episode or more frequent recurrences of seizures, Christmas for people with epilepsy isn?t always quite so care free.
Therefore we?d like to introduce you to our Christmas How-To Guide?produced in conjunction with some of our Epilepsy partners and aimed at those with epilepsy, those who know people who have epilepsy and for anyone else keen to understand more about the condition and what they could do to help someone one day.
Coping with the Excitement and Stress of Christmas
A range of trigger factors may happen throughout December, so this week the team here at Alert-it with information provided by Epilepsy Research UK would like to highlight potential risks at Christmas and what you can do to help avoid further possibility of seizures.
Christmas can be a hectic time for everyone, particularly trying to find the time to visit family members, gift shopping along with thousands of other people, let alone preparing Christmas lunch.
Both stress and excitement throughout the festive season is felt by the body so keeping the atmosphere calm and your routine stable can help prevent over excitement and sleep problems leading to seizures.
Avoid mad shopping sprees like the final days before Christmas when hundreds descend on your local high street in an attempt to find a bargain. All that pushing and shoving isn?t good for anyone; you don?t need that unnecessary stress in your life. Instead make sure you are organised and do any last minute ? or in fact all of your ? shopping online. You?ll find great discounts, often exclusive to the web, from the comfort of your own home. But if you must venture into town make sure you spread all your jobs and don?t try and get everything done all at once. Avoid breaking your daily routine and stop off for a spot of lunch to re-energise.
Christmas Decorations and Flashing Lights
Sadly these are relatively difficult to avoid for the 3% of people with photosensitive epilepsy high streets, shop windows and neighbours adorn buildings with flashing lights and other decorations at Christmas.? But did you know that those put up by public organisations in the UK have to comply with health and safety regulations? These state that they are not allowed to flash at the general rate which could cause a seizure for those who have photosensitive epilepsy.
If you are caught in the midst of blinking lights, don?t close your eyes as this could increase your risk of having a seizure. Instead cover one eye with the palm of your hand and turn away from the trigger. By doing so, you reduce the intensity and number of brain cells stimulated by the flashing light which can prevent a seizure from happening.
Be Safe This Christmas with our Guide
For a guiding hand to coping with epilepsy at Christmas, whether you have it yourself or not take a look at our How-To Guide?where you?ll find a wealth of information, case studies and useful tips. You can also find additional information by visiting? Epilepsy Research UK.