Question 1

can i begin having seizures from playing video games?

Accepted Answer

Possible/not probabl: If your seizures can be triggered by rapidly flashing lights, this is a possibility but it is very rare.

Question 2

help docs! i'm trying to find out what causes video game seizures?

Accepted Answer

Strobe-like effect: The fluctuating lights and stimuli in a video game might act like a trigger to desynchronize brain rhythmical activity, and cause a seizure response in a susceptible individual who possesses pre-existing epilepsy.  If this describes you, see a neurologist and start an anti-epileptic medication, and your problem will be controlled.

Question 3

can video games cause seizures?

Accepted Answer

For some people, yes: There are some people who have a seizure in response to a particular flickering light frequency, which may be seen in video games or television.  It happens even when the eyes are closed (!)  These people have a generalized epilepsy, like juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

Question 4

can video games still give you a seizure if you don't have that type of epilepsy?

Accepted Answer

No: If you are not photo-sensitive / -triggered, then they should not.

Question 5

can someone only have a seizure from a video game if they have that type of epilepsy or all epilepsy ?

Accepted Answer

'trigger': Some seizures can be triggered by particular types of stimuli, including the flicker in old tvs or certain contrasts and movements on monitors. It is not that common, though eegs (brain wave tests) usually include a strobe light (flickering) at different frequencies to try to see if seizure-like events can be triggered.

Question 6

my 8 years old cousin had seizures and fever. he was playing video games for long time. can these cause seizures?

Accepted Answer

Possible: It is not too common but if someone has a seizure disorder it could provoke it depending on the graphics of the game. Fevers triggered by fevers are much more common BUT usually start around 6 months and end around 6. The fever is triggered by the sudden rise in temp associated with an infection. Having a first febrile seizure at 8 is unusual and a full workup is needed.

Question 7

recently i began having jolts , seizures, video eeg shows its non epileptic attack,are there any medication for this?i don't believe its psychological

Accepted Answer

Jolts: These may be myoclonic jerks. A neurologist is best qualified to evaluate you for diagnosis and treatment. Get checked to ensure that you don't have calcium or magnesium deficiency.

Question 8

i have a 16 year old male friend who got a concussion a few weeks ago. yesterday he had a seizure while playing a video game. what might this mean?

Accepted Answer

See a doctor: It's possible that the head injury is related to the seizure, especially if this was your friend's first seizure. This warrants an evauation right away.

Question 9

can you get seizures from video games? i recently fainted while at a restaurant, and i think i might have had a seizure. i had a strong headache previous to fainting - is it possible playing video games caused this?

Accepted Answer

It : It is hard to tell what happened from this quick description.  There are a few things i can suggest that may help you decide.  First, it is true that flashing lights can cause seizures in some people.  This is called photosensitive seizures and the seizures occur right away during the flashing lights.  They would not occur later in the day.  Second, many people will have some shaking when they faint.  This can look just like a seizure, but is just the body's response to fainting.  The trick is determining whether it was really a faint, also known as a "syncope".  A doctor can help decide that by asking you what you were feeling just prior to the event (people often remember they were blacking out or feeling like they were going to faint prior to a syncope.  That is almost never a seizure, even if there was shaking afterwards).  Third, having a bad headache is not a very common symptom leading into a seizure.  It certainly is possible, but other things are more likely.  I think the real question is was this syncope or seizure, and why did it occur?  If that headache was especially bad, like the worst or first headache ever, that could be a sign of something dangerous and you should talk to your doctor right away.   Even if the headache was not so concerning, if you have any doubt you should talk to your doctor about this event very soon.  Even if it was just a syncope.

Question 10

i saw a man post a video that he has lost his ability to walk and talk and he gets seizures after exercising. he said this is 5 weeks post covid. i just recently had covid and this made me extremely scared that i might develop this. is it possible?

Accepted Answer

: Do not believe what you see or read in social media. Long covid syndrome (prolonged symptoms after Covid-infection) does happen but if you had not have those symptoms when infected you would not have them after the recovery.

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Doctor answers about:

Jacksonian seizure video

A member asked:

Can i begin having seizures from playing video games?

A member asked:

Help docs! i'm trying to find out what causes video game seizures?

A member asked:

Can video games cause seizures?

A member asked:

Can video games still give you a seizure if you don't have that type of epilepsy?

A member asked:

Can someone only have a seizure from a video game if they have that type of epilepsy or all epilepsy ?

A member asked:

My 8 years old cousin had seizures and fever. he was playing video games for long time. can these cause seizures?

A member asked:

Recently i began having jolts , seizures, video eeg shows its non epileptic attack,are there any medication for this?i don't believe its psychological

A member asked:

I have a 16 year old male friend who got a concussion a few weeks ago. yesterday he had a seizure while playing a video game. what might this mean?

A member asked:

Can you get seizures from video games? i recently fainted while at a restaurant, and i think i might have had a seizure. i had a strong headache previous to fainting - is it possible playing video games caused this?

A member asked:

I saw a man post a video that he has lost his ability to walk and talk and he gets seizures after exercising. he said this is 5 weeks post covid. i just recently had covid and this made me extremely scared that i might develop this. is it possible?

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