Seizures will impact your life. Period. Uncontrollable, or refractory, seizures can destroy it.
I have certainly covered non-pharmacological therapies for seizures in past blog articles. The list of things known to help improve brain health in seizure patients is quite long. If you’d like to read through past blog articles on these approaches you can begin by clicking here.
How many of these approaches has your neurologist discussed with you?
If the answer is “none,” then it’s probably time to find a new one.
In the meantime, we can add to the list of things that are good for your brain and subsequently, your seizures. This particular article reviews the power of exercise as an adjunct to the treatment of seizures. I remember a colleague telling me about a friend who had a Boston terrier who was epileptic. The owner found that, by throwing the dog on the treadmill every day, the dog remained seizure free.
Even if you’re not a canine, exercise has multiple benefits to seizure patients:
- Many anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) will cause low bone loss. Exercise can help counteract this bone loss.
- Stress is devastating to the brain and will increase seizure risk. Exercise can clearly reduce stress levels. This may be the most powerful effect of exercise.
- The Bhadori Leanness program consists of a short fast combined with exercise and has been suggested as a strong neuroprotective approach.
Overall, it is clear that exercise needs to be a critical part of the care plan for any patient with seizures. I have written frequently on the benefits of short burst aerobic exercise. You can read more about these this type of approach by clicking here.
Here’s the beauty. There is no interaction between any anti-epiliptic drug and exercise, with the exception of an increased risk of falls from the imbalance from some of the medications. So, if you’re not already exercising, what are you waiting for?