Surviving the festive season if you have epilepsy.
Maria’s ‘Ten-Plus-One Valuable Tips’ on surviving the festive season:
1) If you are prone to photosensitive epilepsy as a result of: flashing fairy lights, sunlight bouncing off the water or through the trees, and even the tv or the computer screen, by covering one eye and turning away from the source of the light this may prevent a seizure from happening. Wearing wrap-around glasses may also help to avoid those glaring sun-rays.
2) Christmas is a stressful time of year and so find out what your stress triggers are and try to avoid them; be it mad late-night shopping trips, crowds of people, hot and sticky weather conditions or just the thought of coming together with family and friends. It is okay to adjust your social calendar in times of stress. Be kind to yourself to avoid unwanted seizures.
3) This festive season can be a time of over-indulgence and so go easy on those highly caffeinated soft drinks and alcohol. These can trigger seizures.
4) Be careful near the barbeque with those hot plates and glowing charcoals. Think safety all the time. There are some helpful tips to be found on ewct.org.nz....
5) Special care needs to be taken around any water activities. New Zealand has particularly high drowning rates and you are especially vulnerable if you have seizures. Swim with a buddy and avoid those activities that put yourself, and others, at risk. Take a look at: ewct.org.nz...
6) Late nights can play havoc on your body’s ability to cope with tiredness. Being tired is a seizure trigger and you may forget to take your medications, which is also a seizure trigger. If you are out late, set an alarm to remind you to take your morning meds.
7) If you take short walks in the sun, don’t forget to ‘slip, slop, slap and wrap’ to avoid getting burnt. If being hot is your seizure trigger, then find ways of keeping cool. You may like to invest in a portable fan.
8) If you are going away on holiday, make sure that you take plenty of your medications. Don’t be caught short without them, and risk becoming vulnerable to having seizures and possibly going into status epilepticus, which is a serious medical condition.
9) Keep these important telephone numbers close at hand.
10) Have fun! Do enjoy yourself, meeting friends and having fun is therapeutic and it makes us feel energised and happy to be alive. If you get a ‘dose of nature’ at the same time, then it doubles your chances of feeling great. Call a friend for a walk or a cuppa.
11) Check us out on Facebook: www.facebook.com...
or our website at www.ewct.org.nz...
Emergency (Police, ambulance and fire) 111
Healthline 0800 611 116
Poisons centre 0800 764 766
Waikato Hospital (07) 839 8899
Take special care and have a good and relaxing festive season.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
.
Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
-
85.6% Yes
-
13.2% No
-
1.1% Other - I'll share below
Do you have a most-hated intersection in Waikato?
New data has pinpointed Hamilton’s most dangerous intersections, including a high risk Cobham Drive turn off that a resident and driving experts believe should be shut for good.
While that turn into Grey St has resulted in the highest number of injuries, most crashes occurred at the bustling intersection of Te Rapa Straight and Wairere Drive.
Do you have a most-hated intersection in Waikato? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
What would you do if it was your job to fix Hamilton's CBD?
More alcohol restrictions, more lighting, busking rule changes and a whole lot of lobbying - these are some ways Hamilton leaders want to sort out the CBD.
Crime and anti-social behaviour in the area has been in the spotlight after recent news of a man defecating in the street near a city pub and another who flipped tables out the back of a bar after being found scrounging cigarette butts and asked to leave.
What would you do if it was your job to fix Hamilton's CBD? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
Loading…
