Can epilepsy patients drink water frequently in their daily life?

Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
Updated on April 16, 2025
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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 Yuan Jun Li
Neurology
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What are the signs before the onset of epilepsy?

Before the onset of epilepsy, most patients do not exhibit any signs and can suddenly experience an epileptic seizure. Different types of epilepsy have different symptoms. For example, during a major seizure, symptoms can include limb twitching, eyes rolling upwards, frothing at the mouth, clenched teeth, loss of consciousness, and abnormal blood pressure, which can lead to severe falls and injuries. During a minor seizure, the patient mainly shows transient loss of consciousness, objects in hand may suddenly drop, unresponsiveness when called, and a vacant stare. Most patients do not fall, and the symptoms generally last for only a few seconds to tens of seconds. If autonomic epileptic seizures are considered, symptoms may include nausea and vomiting. Psychotic symptom seizures can present with hallucinations and delusions.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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What causes epilepsy in children?

The causes of epilepsy in children primarily include congenital factors and acquired factors. Congenital factors are mainly due to premature birth, difficult labor, umbilical cord around the neck, neonatal intracranial hemorrhage, drug factors, etc. Acquired factors mainly include brain trauma, central nervous system infections, cerebrovascular disease, intracranial tumors, and other causes. Therefore, when a child exhibits symptoms of epilepsy, it is necessary to promptly visit the department of neurology to conduct relevant examinations to determine the cause. The examination methods mainly include CT, MRI, EEG, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, etc. After identifying the cause, symptomatic treatment methods should be adopted to control the symptoms of epilepsy episodes. In clinical practice, controlling epilepsy is mainly achieved through drug treatment, with commonly used medications including carbamazepine, sodium valproate, gabapentin, etc. For some patients with refractory epilepsy, surgical treatments may also be used to control symptoms.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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What are the clinical manifestations of epilepsy?

Epilepsy is caused by abnormal discharges of brain cells, and the symptoms and clinical manifestations vary depending on the area of discharge. Main symptoms can include sudden loss of consciousness, rigidity followed by clonic convulsions, and may also involve cyanosis or purpling of the face, tongue biting, frothing at the mouth, urinary incontinence, dilated pupils, continuing for several seconds to minutes before stopping. This condition is called a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Some patients may also experience sudden brief loss of consciousness and interruption of ongoing actions, with a blank stare and unresponsive to calls. They may perform simple automatic actions like swallowing or chewing. Generally, there is no falling, and the patient has no memory of the episode afterwards. This type of seizure is known as an absence seizure. Additionally, some may experience rigidity and clonic convulsions in one limb or a localized area, etc.

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Written by Liu Shi Xiang
Neurology
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Why does epilepsy occur at night?

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 Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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Is primary epilepsy easy to treat?

Primary epilepsy is treatable. Primary epilepsy may be related to fetal asphyxia, ischemia, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or psychological stimulation during the fetal period. Primary epilepsy generally excludes intracranial space-occupying lesions, brain tumors, strokes, cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, encephalitis, meningitis, and other diseases. Primary epilepsy, through lifestyle, diet, and medication, is relatively easy to treat. Compared to secondary epilepsy, the treatment outcomes and prognosis are better. Patients with primary epilepsy can be treated with medications to control seizures and should avoid overexertion in their daily lives.