Great question! Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are episodes that look like epileptic seizures but aren't caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They're often triggered by emotional or psychological stress rather than physical causes like sleep or blood sugar changes.
The direct link between PNES and Show Full Answer
Great question! Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are episodes that look like epileptic seizures but aren't caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They're often triggered by emotional or psychological stress rather than physical causes like sleep or blood sugar changes.
The direct link between PNES and poor sleep or low blood sugar isn't well established. However, both of those factors are known seizure triggers in general, and they can make it harder to tell what's causing an episode. Poor sleep is a well-known trigger for epileptic seizures. Sleep deprivation can disrupt the brain's normal activity and lower the seizure threshold, making seizures more likely. Low blood sugar can also cause seizure-like episodes that may be mistaken for epileptic seizures or PNES. Getting the right diagnosis is really important here.
Because PNES, epileptic seizures, and episodes caused by low blood sugar can all look similar, a thorough evaluation by a neurologist — including video EEG monitoring — is the best way to figure out what's actually going on. It's worth bringing up both sleep quality and any blood sugar concerns with a doctor.
September 24
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