How Poor Sleep Quality Impact Seizure Frequency In Individuals With Epilepsy? Doctor Explains

Sleep hygiene is crucial for effective management, as understanding how sleep disturbances impact seizure activity can help reduce frequency. Dr. Lomesh Bhirud, a neurologist at Ruby Hall Clinic, highlighted the importance of improving sleep quality and addressing sleep disorders in epilepsy management, highlighting its impact on seizure frequency.Epilepsy and sleep share a complex, bidirectional relationship. Poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation significantly increase seizure frequency in individuals with epilepsy. For this reason, sleep hygiene has become an essential component of epilepsy management. Understanding how sleep disturbances impact seizure activity can help reduce seizure frequency through better sleep habits.Improving sleep quality and addressing sleep disorders may enhance the quality of life for individuals with epilepsy by reducing seizure recurrence. Recognizing that sleep is a critical part of epilepsy management can lead to more effective treatment and long-term improvements. In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr. Lomesh Bhirud, Neurologist and Neuro-Interventionalist at Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune, discussed the impact of poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation on seizure frequency in epilepsy.

How Sleep Deprivation Increases Seizure Frequency?

1. 1. Lowered Seizure Threshold: Sleep deprivation significantly lowers the brain's seizure threshold. It disrupts normal electrical activity, making neurons hyperexcitable and more prone to seizures in the absence of restorative sleep.
   2. Disrupted Sleep Architecture: Sleep consists of different stages, including deep sleep (slow-wave sleep) and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. These cycles are essential for stabilizing brain activity. Sleep deprivation disrupts this balance, increasing the risk of seizures, particularly in sleep-related epilepsy.
   3. Increased Risk of Nocturnal Seizures: Many epilepsy patients experience seizures linked to specific sleep stages. Poor sleep quality or frequent nocturnal awakenings correlate with a higher frequency of nocturnal seizures, making sleep disorders a crucial factor in seizure management.
   4. Reduced Effectiveness of Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs): Sleep deprivation alters the body’s metabolism and absorption of anti-epileptic drugs, potentially leading to breakthrough seizures in patients who were previously well-controlled on medication

1. Cognitive and Emotional Impacts: Chronic sleep deprivation increases stress, anxiety, and cognitive impairment—factors commonly seen in individuals with epilepsy. High stress levels and poor emotional regulation can further contribute to seizure susceptibility.
2. Circadian Rhythm Disruptions: The body's internal clock regulates sleep-wake cycles and brain excitability. Irregular or insufficient sleep disrupts this natural rhythm, increasing the likelihood of seizures.

Controlling Sleep To Reduce Seizures

Since sleep quality plays a crucial role in seizure control, individuals with epilepsy should prioritize good sleep hygiene:

1. Maintain a Regular Sleep Schedule: Going to bed and waking up at consistent times helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, reducing the risk of seizures.
2. Treat Sleep Disorders: Conditions like Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are common in epilepsy patients and can cause sleep fragmentation, leading to increased seizure activity.
3. Limit Stimulants and Screen Time: Reducing caffeine intake and minimizing screen exposure before bedtime can improve sleep quality.
4. Create a Restful Sleep Environment: A dark, quiet, and cool sleeping space promotes deeper, more restorative sleep.
5. Consult a Neurologist: If sleep problems persist, discussing potential medication adjustments with a healthcare provider can help optimize seizure management.

By addressing sleep-related factors, individuals with epilepsy can improve both their overall well-being and seizure control. Source: english.jagran.com, Priyanka Munshi