What Are the Causes of Seizures in Your Sleep?

Night seizures or nocturnal seizures occur at night, usually in those who already have epilepsy. During these night seizures they often don't realize they are having them. Sleep cycles can be disrupted in mild cases of night seizures. In more moderate cases, injury can occur.

Diabetes

Diabetes can cause seizures in your sleep. This can happen when a person with diabetes gets high or low blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels can rise at night time when a person does not follow their diet. Unhealthy snacking and overeating can lead to night seizures. When a person goes to bed, blood sugar levels can rise and a person may be unaware of it. This can cause a seizure to occur while sleeping.
Low sugar levels can also cause night seizures. This happens when you do not eat the right portions at dinner time and you skip a nightly snack. This causes blood sugar levels to drop. When blood sugar levels drop, seizures can occur.

Injury To The Brain

People who have suffered a brain injury can also experience night seizures. This is caused when part of the brain has been damaged by an injury such as car accident or blunt force trauma. These seizures occur because damage has been done. The part of the area that was damaged has a lack of blood flow which in return causes lack of oxygen to the brain.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy can also be a reason for night seizures. People who have epilepsy usually suffer seizures in their sleep. They normally show no signs of seizures other than tiredness the next day. Some people who have night seizures may awake and begin the sleep cycle all over again. Also thrashing of the arms and legs occur. Usually, these seizures can be controlled with medication.

Fever

Fevers are caused by infections, viruses and bacterias. When someone catches a high fever, sleep is natural. Sleep and rest are ways that our bodies fight the fever off. Sometimes a fever can spike. When this spike occurs while sleeping, it can cause a person to have a seizure. Fevers that spike to 104 or higher can cause a seizure to happen. Once the fever is under control, these seizures stop occurring.

Stress

Stress and epilepsy go hand in hand. When a person is stressed out during the day, their body can't relax at night and their brain doesn't shut down while sleeping. This stress in epileptics can worsen night seizures.

Symptoms

There are symptoms that occur when someone is suffering from a night seizure. These symptoms can be mild to moderate. One symptoms can be waking up at night. This happens multiple times for no reason. A person who awakes multiple times will be tired and fatigued the next day. Also, people who have night seizures may shake violently or bite their tongues. They have no idea that this is occurring until it's over. Sometimes incontinence happens.