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What Causes Seizures During Long Flight Journeys?
Question: Over the past 15 years, I had 3 episodes of seizures during long trans-ocean flights. These 3 episodes occurred after gaps of approx 6 to 7 years.The circumstances leading to these episodes were very similar: (a) long flights, (b) very little sleep over the preceding 48 hours; (c) being emotionally distraught, (d) stress leading up to the flight (delays, lost luggage etc.) and (e) moderate alcohol consumption leading to dehydration. My doctor says that I should not worry about this, but she did not recommend any tests. I am very healthy otherwise: normal bp, hear rate, blood sugar etc. and very much physically active. I am 43 year old male. Shall I worry or request a second opinion. I never had seizures in any other situations.
Brief Answer:
Get examined by a neurologist and investigated as advised
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
People having seizures are prone to predisposing factors like exertion, sleep deprivation, fever.
You need to get eeg as soon as possible after seizure for documentation.
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy may be one type of epilepsy which may have absence spells, early morning myoclonic jerks and generalized tonic clonic seizure precipitated by sleep disturbances and stress.
Sleep deprived eeg may be diagnostic in such cases.
Visit and consultation with a neurologist will be helpful.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Get examined by a neurologist and investigated as advised
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
People having seizures are prone to predisposing factors like exertion, sleep deprivation, fever.
You need to get eeg as soon as possible after seizure for documentation.
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy may be one type of epilepsy which may have absence spells, early morning myoclonic jerks and generalized tonic clonic seizure precipitated by sleep disturbances and stress.
Sleep deprived eeg may be diagnostic in such cases.
Visit and consultation with a neurologist will be helpful.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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