trigger a seizure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trigger a seizure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in medical or psychological contexts to describe an event or action that causes a seizure to occur. Example: "Certain flashing lights can trigger a seizure in individuals with epilepsy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The late hours could trigger a seizure, he said.

The New York Times

The number of diagnoses has risen in recent decades with the growing popularity of flashy video games, which can trigger a seizure.

Science Magazine

As a second hypothesis has been suggested a causal unidirectional relationship, for instance in case of migraine can cause cerebral ischemia or cerebral damage, and consequently epilepsy, or in the case of "migralepsy", where migraine aura can trigger a seizure.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Eichenwald said Friday that more than 40 people have sent him strobing images knowing they could affect his epilepsy and trigger a seizure.

Huffington Post

Ravegoers are often told to drink plenty of water, but some drink too much, which can cause sodium levels to crash and trigger a seizure that can hamper breathing.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

After a 3 month investigation, the FBI this morning arrested the man who assaulted me using a strobe on twitter that triggered a seizure.

Huffington Post

We first injected 4, 6, 15 and 30 nmol of QA into the striatum of young (2 2.5 months old) and old (>1 year old) C57BL/6J mice to identify a single dose that could be applied to both age groups without triggering a seizure, yet induce a measurable number of degenerating neurons.

ASN Neuro

Subjecting eas flies to a brief mechanical shock (bang or vortex) triggers a transitory seizure that persists for several seconds, but then the flies recover.

Communicative and Integrative Biology

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which uses a far higher current than tDCS to trigger a full-brain seizure, gained in popularity by the nineteen-forties, but was generally considered a last resort for only the most serious cases.

The New Yorker

Two weeks after being fully kindled, WT mice were killed either 3 h after a single stimulation, which was given to trigger a class 5 seizure, or without any further stimulation.

Cerebral Cortex

Bernard [Sumner, Joy Division guitarist] told me that my father used to drink before performing, which may explain his on-stage fits, because alcohol is a seizure trigger.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about medical conditions, use precise language. "Trigger a seizure" is appropriate when describing a specific factor that initiates a seizure event in a susceptible individual.

Common error

Avoid using "trigger a seizure" when referring to general risk factors. Instead, reserve it for describing a specific event or stimulus that directly leads to a seizure in a given instance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trigger a seizure" primarily functions as a verb phrase. It describes an action that initiates a seizure event. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing various factors that can lead to a seizure.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

58%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "trigger a seizure" is a verb phrase correctly used to describe an event or stimulus that initiates a seizure. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is accurate and acceptable in written English and often used in medical and psychological contexts. It's commonly found in scientific literature and news reports, making it suitable for a neutral audience. While grammatically sound, it's best used when a direct causal relationship between the trigger and the seizure can be established. Related alternatives like "induce a seizure" or "cause a seizure" can provide variations in tone or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

induce a seizure

Replaces "trigger" with "induce", offering a more clinical or formal tone.

cause a seizure

Substitutes "trigger" with "cause", providing a direct and simple alternative.

elicit a seizure

Uses "elicit" instead of "trigger", suggesting a response is drawn out.

provoke a seizure

Replaces "trigger" with "provoke", implying a strong stimulus leading to a seizure.

set off a seizure

Replaces "trigger" with the phrasal verb "set off", which means to initiate or start something, especially a chain of events.

bring on a seizure

Uses the phrasal verb "bring on" instead of trigger, suggesting the seizure is hastened or caused by something.

spark a seizure

Replace trigger with "spark", creating the image of an event starting suddenly.

precipitate a seizure

Substitute "trigger" with "precipitate", it's more formal and emphasize the suddenness or abruptness of the seizure's onset.

initiate a seizure

Use "initiate" instead of "trigger", more formal term that emphasizes the beginning of the seizure.

generate a seizure

Replace trigger with generate, that means creates or produces, which changes the emphasis to the production of the seizure.

FAQs

How can I use "trigger a seizure" in a sentence?

You can use "trigger a seizure" to describe specific events or factors that initiate a seizure in someone with a seizure disorder. For example, "Flashing lights can trigger a seizure in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy."

What are some alternative ways to say "trigger a seizure"?

Alternatives include "induce a seizure", "cause a seizure", or "elicit a seizure", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "result in a seizure" instead of "trigger a seizure"?

While "trigger a seizure" describes the action of initiating a seizure, "result in a seizure" focuses on the outcome. Therefore, "result in a seizure" can be used when describing something that leads to a seizure as a consequence but does not directly initiate it. Choose "trigger a seizure" if the focus is on the direct initiator.

What's the difference between "trigger a seizure" and "caused by a seizure"?

"Trigger a seizure" describes what initiates or starts the seizure, whereas "caused by a seizure" refers to the effects or consequences resulting from the seizure itself. They represent cause and effect, respectively.