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'Leisure time is important and
individual to us all, whether or not
we have epilepsy'
Living
a full and active life
To live full and active lives, and look after our physical and emotional wellbeing, we all need time to rest, relax and exercise. How we spend our leisure time is important and
individual to us all, whether or not we have epilepsy.
This page looks at some popular leisure activities, listed alphabetically, and suggests
how they can be made safer for people with
epilepsy. These are only suggestions, and
any decisions about leisure activities need to
be made on an individual basis.
Making
choices about leisure activities
Epilepsy is a very individual condition. How it affects you may be very different to how
it affects someone else. Most people with
epilepsy live full and active lives, and join in
the leisure activities that they want to.
Some people with epilepsy, especially if
they still have seizures, may have concerns
about the safety of some activities.
When thinking about leisure activities,
you could consider the following: what your
seizures are like, when they happen, and
whether you get any warning before they
happen. This may help to make sure you
make decisions based on your individual
situation. It also helps to avoid ‘blanket
restrictions’, for example saying that you
can’t join in an activity just because you have epilepsy.
When you are making choices on behalf of someone else, such as a child
or a person with learning disabilities, it is important to involve them in the decision as
far as possible. This helps ensure that they
are able to take part in the leisure activities
they want to, and are not restricted by their
epilepsy without good reason.
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Which
activities are safe for me to do?
This depends on you and your epilepsy.
People with epilepsy who do not have
seizures because of their medication may
not need the same safety measures as those
who still have seizures.
Some activities do not need to be
changed to make them safer for people
with epilepsy. Other activities, for example
swimming, may be made safer with some
simple measures.
One way to think about safety is to do
a risk assessment. This may look at what
the possible risks are for anyone doing the
activity, what it is about your epilepsy that
may affect these risks, and what can be done
to make the activity safer for you. See our page on seizures for further information.
Alcohol
The decision to drink alcohol is a personal choice. How alcohol affects someone with
epilepsy depends on the individual, if they
are taking anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) and
how much alcohol they drink. Alcohol can be
a trigger for seizures for some people with
epilepsy, and some people may be more
likely to have a seizure if they are hungover.
Alcohol can also disrupt sleep patterns,
which can make seizures more likely. It
is usually recommended that people with
epilepsy have no more than 1-2 units of
alcohol per day.
For most people who take AEDs, the
occasional alcoholic drink does not usually
cause a problem. However, alcohol can
make the side effects of AEDs worse,
and AEDs can also increase the effects
of alcohol. If you take AEDs, the patient
information leaflet that comes with your AEDs
may have information about drinking alcohol
with that particular medication.
Climbing, abseiling and hill walking
Everyone who does climbing, abseiling or hill
walking needs the right expert support and
safety measures, whether or not they have
epilepsy. In general, there is no reason to
avoid these activities just because you have
epilepsy.
However, it is important to assess the
possible risks for anyone doing the activity,
and then think about how your epilepsy may
affect those risks.
Climbing or abseiling with an instructor
who knows how your epilepsy affects you
means that they can help ensure your safety
and the safety of other people with you.
Cycling
All cyclists, whether they have epilepsy or
not, are advised to wear a cycle helmet
approved by British safety tandards. If you
have seizures, it may be safer for you to
avoid cycling on busy roads and to cycle with
someone who can help if you have a seizure.
DIY and gardening
If you have seizures and would like to do
your own home improvements, it may be
helpful to think about the type and frequency
of your seizures and the potential risks of
each job.
Knowing your own DIY or gardening
abilities may help reduce the risks of
accidents or injuries. If you are in doubt
about doing a job yourself, you may want to
talk to a professional such as an electrician,
plumber or gardener.
Go-karting and ATV quad biking
In the UK, a person does not need a driving
licence to drive a go-kart or an ATV (all
terrain vehicle) quad bike on private land. The National Karting Association (NKA)
recommends that a person should be
seizure-free for one year before karting.
They also recommend that karting venues
ask people to declare any medical conditions
that could affect their driving. However,
some venues may have their own policy
on whether people who have seizures are
allowed to drive on their circuits.
The British Off-road Driving Association
(BORDA) does not have specific guidelines
on quad bikes but most ATV venues would
expect you to sign a form to accept your own
liability if you have an accident.
It is recommended that anyone karting or
quad biking always wears a crash helmet.
Horse
riding
It is recommended that everyone wears an
approved BHS (British Horse Society) riding
hat when horse riding. If you have seizures
it is also recommended that you ride with
someone who knows what to do when you
have a seizure.
The organisation Riding for the Disabled has local groups around the UK and can offer
special facilities for people with disabilities.
Organised holidays
The organisation Phab runs clubs and holiday schemes around the UK, which bring
people with and without physical disabilities
together. Phab also produce a Holiday
Guide each year.
The Royal Association
for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR)
produces guides that list organisations which
provide holidays for people with disabilities.
Recreational
drugs
Taking recreational drugs has particular risks
for people with epilepsy. Amphetamines
(speed), cocaine, ecstasy and heroin have
all been shown to increase the frequency of
seizures.
Taking cannabis is also not advised if you
have epilepsy. Some reports claim cannabis
is not harmful, however other research
shows it can lead to an increase in seizures.
This may be partly because cannabis can be
made up of different compounds, and so the
effects on the brain can vary greatly.
For some people, using recreational
drugs could cause epilepsy to start. Using
recreational drugs can also increase the risks
of triggering mental health problems.
For more information about drugs, contact the confidential helpline, Frank.
Sex and relationships
Some people with epilepsy have problems
with sex or relationships. Problems such as
a low sex drive can happen for a number
of different reasons: anxiety, depression,
and the side effects of some AEDs can
all contribute. A relationship could also be
affected by how you or your partner feels
about epilepsy. Talking to your partner and
a doctor can help to find the right support
and treatment. For example, a doctor may
suggest a review of your medication or
identify where counselling might be helpful.
Skiing and snowboarding
Snowspor
t England (the governing body
for English snowsports) believes that
snowsports should be open to everyone,
whether or not they have a disability.
When considering a snowsport like skiing
it can be useful to think what the risk to your
safety might be if you were to have a seizure
on the slopes or skilift. You can help make
the sport safer for you by always skiing with
someone who knows what to do if you have
a seizure.
Team sports
Playing team sports such as football and
rugby do not necessarily need extra safety
measures for someone with epilepsy. As
with any sport that involves contact with other
people, there may be a risk of head injuries,
which could affect your epilepsy.
As with most activities, it helps to have
someone on the team or a coach who knows
about your individual epilepsy, and how to
help you if you have a seizure.
Travel and flying
Travelling by air
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 ‘jetlag’).
Seizures can also be triggered by excitement
or anxiety, which can affect some people
when they are flying.
If there is a chance that you might have
a seizure on the plane, it could be useful
for someone travelling with you to know
about your epilepsy and how to help if you
have a seizure. Or you might like to tell the
airline about your epilepsy when the flight is
booked. The airline can let the cabin crew
know about your seizures, and can give them
any information about your epilepsy that you
think may be important for them to know. The
airline may also be able to help with a special
seating request.
When travelling by air, it is recommended
that you keep your complete supply of tablets
(in the original containers) with you in your
hand luggage. This is important when going
through customs or in case your luggage
gets lost. Customs officials may ask you for
information about your medication, so it is a
good idea to carry written information from a
GP or specialist about your epilepsy and the
anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) you take.
It is recommended that you take enough
medication to cover your entire holiday, and a
few extra doses in case of any travel delays.
This is particularly important if you are
travelling outside the UK as your medication
may have a different name in other countries.
If you are travelling to a different time
zone you may need to gradually adjust when
you take your medication, so that you can
take it at an appropriate time of the day. Your
doctor or pharmacist may be able to help you
plan this.
Travel insurance
According to the Disability Discrimination Act,
holiday insurance companies are obliged
to look at each individual’s circumstances
before giving a quote. Having epilepsy
may mean that there is an increase in the
premium you pay but this will depend on the
type, frequency and severity of seizures you
have. Giving as much information about your
epilepsy and how much impact it actually has
on your life may help the insurance company
to give you an accurate and fair quote.
As with taking out any insurance policy,
it is worth contacting a number of companies
to get the best quote for your situation.
Most UK residents are entitled to free or
reduced cost emergency medical treatment
during short visits to other European Union
countries (plus Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway
and Switzerland). To get treatment you will
need to carry a European Health Insurance
Card (EHIC). An EHIC card is free of charge
and replaces the previous E111 form.
EHIC application forms are available at
the Post Office, by calling 0845 606 2030
or online at www.ehic.org.uk
Travel vaccinations
Travel vaccinations aim to protect against
infectious diseases when visiting some
countries. Most types of vaccine will not
affect a person’s epilepsy, seizure control,
or anti-epileptic drugs. However some antimalarial
medication can provoke seizures
and are not suitable for people with epilepsy. If you are travelling to a country where you
need to use anti-malarial medication, your
GP should be able to advise which antimalarial
medication will suit you best.
The Hospital for Tropical Diseases’
Travel Healthline gives recorded information
about anti-malarial treatments and general
travel health information for the public, call 020 7950 7799
(premium rate call charges apply).
The Department of Health website gives
general travel advice and useful travel links.
NSE’s Helpline also has information
about anti-malarial medication.
Flying a private plane
If you have epilepsy or a history of seizures, whether you can fly a private plane depends on the type of licence you need. To fly with
a Restricted National Private Pilot’s Licence
(no passengers) you must be seizure-free
for one year (or three years if seizures only
happen in your sleep). To fly with a National
Private Pilot’s Licence (with passengers) you
must be seizure-free and off anti-epileptic
drugs for 10 years.
For more information contact the Civil
Aviation Authority on 01293 573700.
Water
sports
Many water sports can be made safer for people with epilepsy, by taking the right
safety measures. This means considering
what risk the activity involves as well as how
your epilepsy affects you. For example, there
may be different risks for water-skiing than
for dinghy sailing if you have tonic clonic
seizures (convulsive seizures, where you are
unconscious).
Wearing a lifejacket is recommended for
most water sports. It is also important to have
someone with you who knows how to help if
you have a seizure. This could be a friend or
the instructor.
Kayaking and canoeing
The Institute of Sport and Recreation
Management (ISRM), says that there can
be risks for people with epilepsy who paddle
a kayak (sometimes called a canoe). If a
kayak overturns when the person in it has a
seizure they could be trapped underneath,
and their buoyancy aid could keep them
pressed up under the kayak.
Although this might be a risk for anyone
who falls out of or tips over a kayak, it is
more of a risk for people who have seizures
because they may be unconscious or only
partly conscious at the time. If the person
paddles an open canoe (sometimes called a
Canadian canoe) there is less risk of being
trapped underneath during a seizure.
Scuba diving
Scuba diving carries many associated risks
for anyone participating. The risks include
drowning, as well as conditions caused
by breathing various levels of oxygen or
nitrogen at depth.
Scuba diving is not recommended
for people who have seizures because of
the risk of having a seizure underwater.
Having a seizure underwater would almost
certainly be life-threatening, and may also
endanger the life of the diving buddy or
other companions. Once somebody has
well-controlled seizures on anti-epileptic
drugs (AEDs) the risk of further seizures is
reduced, but is never removed completely.
There may also be other risks associated
with diving if you take AEDs, but there has
been little research to investigate these.
The British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC)
(tel: 0151 350 6200) currently says that people must be seizurefree
for five years (or three years if seizures
only happen in their sleep), and off AEDs for
five years, before they consider scuba diving.
Swimming
If you have seizures, it is a good idea to swim
with someone who knows about the type of
seizures you have, and how to help you if
you have a seizure.
Swimming in the sea, a river, or other
open water may be more risky than in a
swimming pool because of currents, tides,
sudden changes in depth, and cold water. If
you have a seizure in open water, it may also
be harder for someone to see that you are
having a seizure, or to be able to help you.
If you are at a swimming pool, you could tell the lifeguards that you may need help
if you have a seizure. Some people swim
during quieter swimming sessions so it is
easier for the lifeguard to see them.
If you have a seizure in the water, a
lifeguard or friend can help you by supporting
your head above the water, and gently towing
you to a depth they can stand up in, or to
the poolside. They can then support you in
the water until the seizure stops. If near the
poolside, they should take care to stop you
hitting the side and injuring yourself during a
seizure.
It is important for someone to stay with
you after the seizure and check that your
breathing has returned to normal, and to call
for medical help if necessary.
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Yoga
Yoga can have a number of benefits
including improving a person’s fitness.
The deep breathing involved in many forms
of yoga aims to be relaxing. It is unlikely to
cause problems for people with epilepsy.
For more information
about other complementary therapies that may be helpful for people with
epilepsy, see complementary therapies.
Other
organisations
BREAK
Holiday Club for Disabled People
01263 823 170
Provides holidays and respite care for children, adults and families with
special needs.
Hospital
for Tropical Diseases
0207 388 9600
Recorded information about anti-malarial treatment (premium rate call
charges apply)
Medical
Advisory Service for Travel Abroad (opens new window)
Disability
Sport England (opens new window)
UK
Epilepsy Helpline: 01494 601400
Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm
©
The National Society for Epilepsy
March
2008
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