While
most people with seizures can travel safely by airplanes
, guidelines of the Aerospace Medical Association do recommend that people with uncontrolled seizures not travel by commercial airliner. An airline may ask for a letter from your doctor that you are okay to fly.
Does flying trigger seizures?
Approximately 1 in every 39 000 airline passengers presents with an in-flight medical emergency, and
about 6% of these are seizures
. Patients with epilepsy have shown an increase in seizures during the first few days after a flight.
Can you go abroad with epilepsy?
Having epilepsy does not usually prevent people from being able to travel by air
. However, some people’s seizures are triggered by being very tired (which could happen because of long journeys or ‘jet lag’).
Can I travel with epilepsy medication?
If you take epilepsy medication,
bring enough to cover your entire trip
— plus some extra doses in case you encounter travel delays. Keep your prescriptions in their original containers with the labels clearly visible.
Is epilepsy a disability?
Is Epilepsy Considered A Disability?
Epilepsy is considered a disability
and it has a listing in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book. For epilepsy to qualify for disability benefits, it must meet the criteria of the Blue Book listing. There are different listings for epilepsy in the Blue Book.
Can epilepsy go away?
It isn’t common for epilepsy to go away on its own
.
Long-term, recurring seizures usually can be controlled with treatment, which often includes taking medication. About 70 percent of people with epilepsy can control their seizures with medications or surgery.
What benefits can I get for epilepsy?
The federal government offers financial assistance and health insurance to people with epilepsy who qualify. The two primary financial assistance programs are
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
. These programs are administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Can you live a normal life with epilepsy?
Most people with epilepsy live a full life
. However, the risk of early death is higher for some. We know that the best possible seizure control and living safely can reduce the risk of epilepsy-related death.
What happens if I have a seizure on a plane?
When the seizure stops, help the person into a resting position in a single reclining seat. If the seizure continues for more than about 5 minutes or is immediately followed by another one, tell the flight attendant that the person may be experiencing a medical emergency and may need emergency care.
How long after seizure can you fly?
The IATA guidelines say that if you have had a tonic-clonic seizure
less than 24 hours
before your flight, you will need medical clearance to be allowed to fly. If your seizures are generally well controlled, you should not usually need medical clearance.
Can car rides trigger seizures?
Driving: The same type of conditions with flickering lights – that might trigger a seizure at the fireworks –
may occur with driving either at night or riding in a car along a line of trees with low setting sunlight
, creating that flickering or dappled light effect.
What causes non epileptic seizures?
NES is most often caused by
mental stress or a physical condition
, including: A heart condition that causes fainting. Diabetes or other metabolic disorders. Emotional pain.
How do you travel with a seizure?
- See your doctor. …
- Make a medication plan. …
- Carry identification. …
- Be proactive in communicating. …
- Bring a travel partner. …
- Get enough sleep. …
- Wash your hands. …
- Get vaccinated.
What causes epilepsy?
When epilepsy is diagnosed in older adults, it’s sometimes from another neurological issue, like a stroke or a brain tumor. Other causes can be related to
genetic abnormalities, prior brain infection, prenatal injuries or developmental disorders
. But in about half of people with epilepsy, there’s no apparent cause.
How do you get around with epilepsy?
People who live in urban areas are usually able to get around by
public transportation using subways, buses, trains, or taxis
. Many cities and towns have “paratransit” services for people who can not use the typical public transportation or when buses or trains are not available.
Can I join the Army with epilepsy?
Living with Epilepsy
According to the Department of Defense,
the military discriminates against people with epilepsy
because it wants military people to be available for worldwide service at any time and with few limitations.
Does epilepsy worsen with age?
The incidence of any type of seizure increases substantially over the age of 60
, commonly due to other neurological conditions such as dementia or stroke.
What jobs can epileptics have?
People with epilepsy are successfully employed in a variety of jobs that might be considered high-risk:
police officer, firefighter, welder, butcher, construction worker
, etc.
Does epilepsy shorten life span?
Reduction in life expectancy can be up to 2 years for people with a diagnosis of idiopathic/cryptogenic epilepsy, and the reduction can be up to 10 years in people with symptomatic epilepsy
. Reductions in life expectancy are highest at the time of diagnosis and diminish with time.
Is epilepsy a disability UK?
Epilepsy is a physical, long-term condition and
people with epilepsy are protected under the Equality Act, even if their seizures are controlled or if they don’t consider themselves to be ‘disabled’
.
Does epilepsy affect memory?
Any type of epileptic seizure could potentially affect your memory, either during or after a seizure
. If you have lots of seizures, memory problems might happen more often. Some people have generalised seizures that affect all of the brain.
What epileptics should avoid?
- Not taking epilepsy medicine as prescribed.
- Feeling tired and not sleeping well.
- Stress.
- Alcohol and recreational drugs.
- Flashing or flickering lights.
- Monthly periods.
- Missing meals.
- Having an illness which causes a high temperature.
What jobs can I not do with epilepsy?
If you have seizures, you may not be able to do jobs that risk your safety or the safety of other people. These include:
jobs that involve driving
.
working at heights, near open water or fire
.
How many hours should a person with epilepsy sleep?
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
. The majority of SUDEP cases occur during the night.
Is epilepsy a mental illness?
Epilepsy is not a mental illness
. In fact, the vast majority of people living with epilepsy have no cognitive or psychological problem. For the most part, psychological issues in epilepsy are limited to people with severe and uncontrolled epilepsy.
What are the warning signs of epilepsy?
- Temporary confusion—often described as a “fuzzy” feeling.
- A staring spell.
- Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs.
- Loss of consciousness or awareness.
- Psychic symptoms—out-of-body feelings or not feeling “in the moment”
- Memory lapses.
