can lightning cause seizures?

[archer]

does anone know if lighting can cause seziures?

[Bernard]

Do you mean if it hits you or just strikes nearby? I'm not aware of any definitive causation, but since stress is trigger for many people, I'd guess it is possible if lightening/thunder stresses you out.

[archer]

we had thuder stroms the other nigt and i ghad seziures so i wondered if their was a conection

[ZappedCanuck]

I can only speak from experience and not from any scientific data. However, my husband has brought it to my attention that when we come upon those huge transformer units on the side of the road that I've gone into a seizure before I even know that they're there.
Also, my seizure activity goes haywire prior to heavy storms, eh. The weather man will say beautiful and sunny, but if I start having clusters to the point of a Diastat, it's a given that there's foul weather moving in (regardless what they say on the weather channel). I've thrown the fact at my neurologist and my PCP and they suggested that maybe it's a change in barometric pressure.
Neuros themselves may not have a concrete explanation if they don't have enough patients with similar symptoms. Look at all the folks who are photo sensitive...... what if these people watch a lightning storm long enough, eh?
As much as you'd like a concrete answer, the case may be unique to your seizure types. If this is the case, document things as best as you can and then if you find a pattern make it known to your neurologist so that he/she can further investigate the matter. Best of luck to you, archer.

[Bernard]

I just posted about a recent article on cell phones exciting the brian cortex from the EMFs they put out. Guess what? Lightning also generates EMFs:

Several hundred volts of lightning induced emf are frequently measured in moderate electrical storms. In areas of severe thunder activity, higher levels have been measured.

[Herb]

Archer,

By way of my researching information relating to the VNS Therapy for TRD I come across various other sundry pieces of information. You might have interest in the following information relating to your posting regarding weather and Epilepsy.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...t_uids=8719923

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...t_uids=6527634

http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/cat...SEmagazine.pdf


Warmly,
Herb

[archer]

ty

[howdydave]

Howdy archer!

I would say:

Lightning per se -- no,

BUT...

If you were watching it or there wasn't much other light (like sitting next to a window without any lights on in the house), the flashing light might have been a trigger.

Flashing lights are often a trigger. (I used to need photogray glasses at work because of the florescent lights!)