Epilepsy

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a long-term (chronic) disease that causes repeated seizures due to abnormal electrical signals produced by damaged brain cells. A burst of uncontrolled electrical activity within brain cells causes a seizure. Seizures can include changes to your awareness, muscle control (your muscles may twitch or jerk), sensations, emotions and behavior. Epilepsy is also called a seizure disorder.

Who does epilepsy affect?

Anyone, of any age, race or sex, can develop epilepsy.

How common is epilepsy?

In the U.S., about 3.4 million people have epilepsy. Of this number, 3 million are adults and 470,000 are children. There are 150,000 new cases of epilepsy in the U.S. each year. Worldwide, about 65 million people have epilepsy.

What are seizure triggers?

Seizure triggers are events or something that happens before the start of your seizure. Commonly reported seizure triggers include:

Stress.

Sleep issues such as not sleeping well, not getting enough sleep, being overtired, disrupted sleep and sleep disorders like sleep apnea.

Alcohol use, alcohol withdrawal, recreational drug use.

Hormonal changes or menstrual hormonal changes.

Illness, fever.

Flashing lights or patterns.

Not eating healthy, balanced meals or drinking enough fluids; vitamin and mineral deficiencies, skipping meals.

Physical overexertion.

Specific foods (caffeine is a common trigger).

Dehydration.

Certain times of the day or night.

Use of certain medications. Diphenhydramine, an ingredient in cold, allergy and sleep over-the-counter products, is a reported trigger.

Missed anti-seizure medication doses.

Precautions for Epilepsy:

Medication Compliance: Take prescribed anti-seizure medications regularly and as directed by your healthcare provider.

Adequate Sleep: Maintain a regular sleep schedule and ensure you get enough sleep each night to reduce seizure triggers.

Avoiding Triggers: Identify and avoid seizure triggers such as stress, flashing lights, sleep deprivation, alcohol or drug use, and specific foods or medications.

Safety Measures: Use safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet during activities that pose a risk of head injury.

Seizure Action Plan: Develop a seizure action plan with your healthcare provider and share it with family, friends, and coworkers.

Medical ID: Wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace indicating that you have epilepsy and providing emergency contact information.

Avoiding Activities: Avoid activities that may increase the risk of injury during a seizure, such as swimming alone or operating heavy machinery.

Regular Medical Follow-ups: Attend regular medical appointments to monitor your condition and adjust treatment as needed.