Why does epilepsy occur at night?

Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
Updated on January 27, 2025
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Epilepsy that occurs at night is called sleep-related epilepsy. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, such as excessive fatigue, irregular sleep, menstrual onset, anxiety, depression, and more. Additionally, some patients exhale more carbon dioxide during sleep, causing hyperventilation and internal environmental imbalances, which can easily lead to abnormal discharges of brain neurons. When some patients experience symptoms of epilepsy at night, timely intervention and treatment are needed. First, patients should develop a good lifestyle, go to bed on time, get up on time, avoid staying up late, and avoid excessive fatigue. Furthermore, targeted medication should be given to prevent the onset of the condition. Common medications include lamotrigine, levetiracetam, carbamazepine, and sodium valproate. Besides, patients also need to maintain a good mindset and avoid tense and anxious emotions that could exacerbate symptoms.

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Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
1min 23sec home-news-image

What causes epilepsy in the elderly?

If a patient has no history of epilepsy but begins to experience epileptic seizures in old age, it is generally secondary epilepsy, also known as symptomatic epilepsy. All patients should have a clear cause, but with current diagnostic techniques, it is not always possible to find the cause. If the cause cannot be identified, it is called cryptogenic epilepsy. In such cases, it is generally necessary to improve diagnostic methods, such as cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cranial magnetic resonance angiography. The most common causes of epilepsy in the elderly are generally cerebrovascular disease, brain trauma, or encephalitis, and in some cases, brain tumors. Any disease that causes brain cell damage can potentially cause symptomatic epileptic seizures. If all imaging examinations fail to reveal any abnormalities, regular follow-ups are necessary to monitor for early-stage tumors that may not be detectable on imaging tests. Meanwhile, antiepileptic treatment should be administered, and routine blood tests, liver, and kidney functions should be regularly monitored.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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What are the dietary precautions for epilepsy?

People with epilepsy should avoid consuming stimulating beverages such as cola, Sprite, Red Bull, and coffee. They should eat more vegetables and fruits and less spicy and stimulating foods, paying attention to these dietary recommendations. Additionally, maintaining a regular lifestyle is important; avoiding prolonged use of electronic devices is advised as these, along with previously mentioned beverages like cola and Red Bull, can overexcite the brain and trigger epileptic seizures. It is also imperative to take anti-epileptic drugs regularly under the guidance of a doctor and not to miss any doses.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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Can epilepsy patients drink water frequently in their daily life?

Patients with epilepsy can often drink water in their daily lives, but they should avoid drinking water during the acute phase of a seizure to prevent aspiration. Patients with epilepsy generally need to take anti-epileptic drugs for a long time to prevent seizures, such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, etc. Drinking water frequently does not affect the patient's condition. Moreover, drinking water frequently helps to dilute the viscosity in the blood and lower blood lipids, thereby preventing cerebral vascular accidents. In addition to drinking water, patients with epilepsy can also eat more fruits and vegetables, which contain abundant vitamins and trace elements that nourish nerve cells. Furthermore, patients with epilepsy should avoid climbing heights and coming into contact with dangerous environments such as ponds and lakesides.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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What are the symptoms of epilepsy in children?

Seizures in children manifest in various forms, but they all share characteristics of sudden onset, sudden cessation, and periodic occurrence. Common types include grand mal seizures, absence seizures, and benign childhood epilepsy. During a grand mal seizure, the child suddenly loses consciousness, stops breathing, turns blue-purple, pupils dilate, limbs stiffen, hands clench into fists, followed by spasmodic convulsions, foaming at the mouth, with the episode generally lasting 1-5 minutes. Absence seizures in children present as sudden loss of consciousness, interruption of activity, staring or rolling of the eyes, but without falling down or convulsing, lasting 1-10 seconds, with consciousness quickly returning after the episode. Benign childhood epilepsy seizures often involve twitching of one side of the face, lips, or tongue, possibly accompanied by abnormal sensations in the area, inability to speak, drooling, generally with clear consciousness, with episodes occurring more frequently at night.

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Written by Yuan Jun Li
Neurology
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Does epilepsy have symptoms when it is not causing seizures?

When epilepsy is not active, there are no symptoms. Patients mainly show recurrent epileptic seizures, usually lasting three to five minutes. After the seizure stops, the patient does not exhibit any symptoms or signs. Clinically, epilepsy is categorized into primary and secondary types. For primary epilepsy, if a patient experiences more than two episodes, routine use of anti-epileptic drugs is recommended. The choice of medication varies depending on the type of epilepsy. Typically, monotherapy is preferred initially. However, if monotherapy is ineffective or causes substantial side effects, a combination of two or more anti-epileptic drugs may be used to try to control the seizures. In cases of secondary epilepsy, which often has a clear cause, the primary focus is on treating the underlying condition. This includes long-term cerebrovascular diseases like cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction, as well as conditions like encephalitis and brain tumors. Treatment should be tailored to the specific disease.