Running has become a big part of my life and a very common theme in this blog in the last year. It has had a very positive impact in my life, from making friends to eating better, being in better shape and doing things I never thought I would. I feel great running, even slowly. Probably the best part is that even though it takes a lot of effort and sometimes I get very tired, it has had no negative effects on my epilepsy, which was something I worried about in the beginning.
I knew I could still be active with epilepsy, I had been very active since the accident, I just didn’t know if running would be too much of a stretch or how much I could handle. As I started seeing how far I could go I was amazed to see I could handle it.
As I keep learning about this, through reading, asking questions and my own experience I have learned that running is not only safe but can even be beneficial for people with epilepsy. It improves cardiovascular health and reduces stress, which can be a trigger for seizures for some people. After going for a run when you’re stressed, you feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders and it doesn’t matter if you ran or jogged. Just being alone, burning off some energy thinking about something else, and most importantly, releasing endorphins, which boosts your mood and makes you happy. It also helps you be more social. In my experience running has allowed me to meet a lot of people, make friends and get out of my comfort zone.
It not only improves your mood but your health too. Studies have also shown that aerobic exercise like running could help reduce seizure frequency if your seizures are not controlled. It is also well known that running improves your physical health, it’s a good way to lose weight and tackles conditions that happen at the same time as epilepsy, like diabetes.
Apart from all the benefits, you should always take precautions when running if you have epilepsy, especially if your epilepsy is not controlled. People with more severe seizures should always modify their athletic activities by starting small, taking breaks and drinking enough fluids.
Other precautions for people with epilepsy are:
Run with a friend in case you have a seizure.
Avoid running on a treadmill if your seizures are not controlled.
Wear an epilepsy bracelet if you run alone.
Share your location with a loved one. Always let someone know where you will be.
Avoid running on busy roads. I avoid running on roads, period. Avoiding cars is always the best option, in my experience.
Stay hydrated and avoid running when it’s too hot outside.
The last three precautions apply to everyone, not just people with epilepsy. I always follow these, and urge everyone to do so too even if they don’t have epilepsy.
Running is a lot of fun but, like everything, you have to stay safe.
Unstoppable María 