Epilepsy: The Basics

Epilepsy is a condition that affects 3.4 million people in the United States.

About 3 million adults and 470,000 children and teens younger than 18 have epilepsy in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

So what is it? Where does it come from?

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder causing abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain. The disorder causes the brain to experience seizures. These seizures may affect thinking, consciousness or muscle activity in any or all parts of the body. Seizures are most often controlled by taking medication regularly.

What is a seizure?

When parts of the brain receive a burst of abnormal electrical signals, this can temporarily interrupt normal brain function and result in a seizure.

What causes Epilepsy?

There are multiple potential causes of epilepsy, including:

• An imbalance of nerve-signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters
• Tumors
• Strokes
• Brain damage from illness or injury

What to do if you think you have Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition that must be diagnosed by a doctor, so consider making an appointment if you have some/all of these warning signs:

• Staring
• Jerking movements of the arms and legs
• Stiffening of the body
• Loss of consciousness
• Breathing problems or breathing stops
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness
• Not responding to noise or words for brief periods
• Appearing confused or in a haze
• Nodding the head rhythmically, when associated with loss of awareness or even loss of consciousness
• Periods of rapid eye blinking and staring

What to do if you, or someone you know, experience symptoms of Epilepsy?

Call 911 if:

• The person has never had a seizure before
• The person has difficulty breathing or waking after the seizure
• The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
• The person has another seizure soon after the first one
• The person is hurt during the seizure
• The seizure happens in water
• The person has a health condition like diabetes, heart disease, or is pregnant

Lifestyle changes to consider to help alleviate epilepsy symptoms:

Modifying your lifestyle can make an impact on epilepsy symptoms.

• Take your medications as directed, and never change your dosage without the direction of a doctor
• Make sure you get an adequate amount of sleep each night, as a lack of sleep can trigger seizures
• Wear a medic alert bracelet to let emergency personnel know you have Epilepsy
• Exercise to help improve your health

If you have epilepsy, you should have at least one regular visit with your doctor a year. You should also visit with a Neurologist within 3 months if hospitalized or if you’ve had two or more emergency room encounters for epilepsy within 90 days.

For more information, visit the Epilepsy Foundation’s website.