For individuals who experience seizures, understanding the safety of water activities, particularly swimming, is important. While swimming offers numerous health benefits, knowing the relationship between water environments and seizure activity is crucial for safety.
Is Swimming a Direct Cause?
Swimming itself does not directly cause seizures. However, certain conditions or activities in or around water can trigger seizures for individuals prone to them. Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. While swimming isn’t a cause, the environment can present factors that lower the seizure threshold for some individuals.
Individuals with epilepsy should discuss swimming with their neurologist to assess seizure control and receive personalized guidance. The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) permits swimming for individuals with epilepsy at a neurologist’s discretion, provided appropriate safety precautions are followed. This balances the health benefits of physical activity with the need to mitigate potential risks.
Swimming-Related Seizure Triggers
Specific factors in aquatic environments can trigger seizures. Sudden changes in water temperature, particularly immersion in very cold water, can increase seizure likelihood. Conversely, unusually hot water, such as in a hot bath, can also be a trigger, especially due to increased humidity.
Another potential trigger is hyperventilation, which can occur during intense swimming, breath-holding games, or even due to anxiety. Hyperventilation leads to a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which can alter brain activity and provoke seizures, especially in those with absence epilepsy. Physical exertion itself can also be a trigger for some individuals, particularly if it leads to extreme fatigue, dehydration, or low blood sugar. While exercise is generally beneficial for people with epilepsy, overexertion can sometimes lower the seizure threshold.
Flickering light reflections off the water’s surface can trigger seizures for individuals with photosensitive epilepsy. This type of epilepsy is characterized by seizures induced by flashing or flickering lights or specific visual patterns. Awareness of this trigger is important in water environments.
Minimizing Risk in Water Environments
Taking specific precautions can significantly reduce the risk of water-related incidents for individuals prone to seizures. It is always advised that individuals with epilepsy never swim alone. Swimming with a buddy or ensuring one-to-one supervision by a responsible adult who is aware of the individual’s condition and strong enough to assist is crucial. Informing lifeguards at supervised pools about the individual’s epilepsy can also provide an additional layer of safety.
Wearing a brightly colored swimsuit or a swimming cap can enhance visibility, making it easier for supervisors to spot someone in the water. For those in open water environments like lakes or rivers, a properly fitting life jacket is highly recommended. Maintaining good seizure control through consistent medication adherence and avoiding known triggers like sleep deprivation or extreme fatigue before swimming also contributes to safety. Additionally, choosing supervised pools over open water where temperature and conditions are more controlled can reduce risks.
Responding to a Water-Related Seizure
Should a seizure occur in water, immediate and calm action is essential. The first step involves supporting the person’s head to keep their face and airway above the water. If possible and safe, gently guide the person to a shallower area or remove them from the water as quickly as the seizure activity allows. Once out of the water, place the person on their side in the recovery position to help ensure a clear airway.
Check for breathing, and if the person is not breathing or breathing abnormally, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately. Calling for emergency medical help (e.g., 911) is necessary, even if the person appears to recover, as inhaling water can cause lung or heart complications. It is important to stay with the person until they have fully recovered and emergency services arrive. Do not attempt to restrain their movements or place anything in their mouth during the seizure.