Can Holiday Lights Trigger Seizures In People With Epilepsy?

 It’s well known within the epilepsy community that some people with epilepsy have the added complication of having their seizures triggered by certain events. There is an endless list of potential triggers, with some being more common than others. 

One of the most talked about triggers is “photosensitivity”, which refers to a type of epilepsy that 3-5% of people with epilepsy have. If a person has photosensitive epilepsy then their seizures can be triggered by visual patterns.

Examples would be stripes of contrasting colors, intense strobe lights, and even something as mundane as a TV screen. Of course there are many other specific examples, far too many to list here. But we are going to be talking about a specific potential trigger today, which is holiday lights!

Holiday lights are something that most simply enjoy without a second glance but for people with epilepsy it can be a lot more complex than that. So in honor of how the holiday season can affect people, in more ways than one, let’s talk about the answer to the question posed in the title of this post.

The Short Answer Is Yes, Holiday Lights Can Trigger Seizures

Any light that flashes between about 16 to 25 times per second is more likely to trigger a seizure. But it’s worth noting that some people’s tolerance is lower, so even 3 flashes per second could result in a seizure for some.

Typically the flash rate for holiday lights is under 2 per second, therefore they wouldn’t necessarily trigger a seizure in a photosensitive person. But a variety of issues could arise such as a malfunction or several circuits running together, that could cause the rates to go up.

But there are other factors at play as well, such as the color of the lights. This varies from person to person, but some people with photosensitive epilepsy find that they’re triggered more often by certain colors or color combinations. Particularly saturated red and the color combination of red and blue seem to be a problem for many.

Additionally, the person’s field of vision may play a role in whether or not they have a seizure as well. For instance, if they see the flashing lights from a distance then it’s less likely to cause a seizure than if they’re up close to the lights and it’s covering more of their vision. And seeing the flashing with both eyes is also more triggering than taking them in with only one eye.

But There Are Precautions People With Photosensitive Epilepsy Can Take To Be Safer During The Holiday Season…

It’s important that people with photosensitive epilepsy learn about things they can do to minimize the danger presented by flashing holiday lights; because although they’re able to make sure nothing that triggers them is in their own homes, it’s impossible to avoid holiday lights in other places.

Stores, front yards, friend’s houses, and nearly everywhere outside of the home are lit with holiday lights during this time of year. So here are some ways to cope with that, and hopefully avoid having a seizure because of it…

The first precaution, and possibly the most difficult one, is to try and avoid situations in which you’d be exposed to a lot of flashing holiday lights. This isn’t always possible, but cutting down on exposure where you can is always helpful. 

The second precaution is for if you’re exposed to holiday lights that appear to be flashing too much for you. Close or cover one eye, and turn away from the lights. If necessary, then also remove yourself completely from the environment.

You should never open and close your eyes rapidly or close both eyes, because both of those things will heighten your risk for a seizure instead of preventing it.

Additional Notes About Having Epilepsy During The Holiday Season…

Aside from Christmas lights, there are other types of triggers for people with epilepsy that occur during the holiday season as well. One of the biggest being stress. Although the holidays can be fun and provide us with an excuse to get quality time with our loved ones, there’s a good deal of stress associated with the holidays as well.

Stress isn’t good for anyone but for people with epilepsy, it could be an even bigger deal. So any calming techniques the person has learned can come in really handy this time of year; meditation, exercise, and proper nutrition are all things to try!

And speaking of nutrition, another holiday season trigger is food. Many people have more sweets around the holidays, but too much sugar could cause seizures in some individuals. And alcohol consumption, which is another common trigger, goes up near the holidays as well.

Conclusion…

My daughter has epilepsy, and Christmas is one of her favorite times of year. So I’m by no means saying that because of these triggers, epileptic people can’t enjoy their holidays. Quite the opposite actually!

But I do think it’s important to raise awareness for the unique circumstances people with epilepsy have when it comes to this time of year, to help make the world a more understanding place.

Happy Holidays everyone!