Patient's question:
My wife has a history of epilepsy. She had been preparing for a long time before deciding to have a child. Now she is three months pregnant and often feels inexplicably sad. Additionally, she says that sitting for long periods makes her tired and she wants to move around a bit. However, we are worried and don't know what activities are suitable for someone with epilepsy.Doctor's answer:
Patients with epilepsy can generally engage in normal physical activities to improve their physical fitness and boost their confidence in overcoming the disease. However, they should avoid strenuous and high-intensity sports, such as long-distance running, as running often leads to hyperventilation. Hyperventilation can cause excessive carbon dioxide to be expelled from the body, resulting in respiratory alkalosis, which may trigger epilepsy, particularly absence seizures and grand mal seizures. Additionally, high-intensity sports like football and basketball should also be avoided. Activities such as high-platform diving and ice skating are not recommended either, as they carry a risk of accidents if epilepsy is present.