November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month in the United States. The focus of Epilepsy Awareness Month is to make people aware of the disorder and promote tolerance and overall understanding for the condition.

Approximately 200,000 new cases of seizures and epilepsy occur each year. Epilepsy affects people across all race, gender, age, and socioeconomic barriers. Although more than 2.5 million people in the U.S. are affected by epilepsy, many people are still unaware of what epilepsy entails.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which the brain cells create abnormal brain activity. This abnormal brain activity causes seizures. Seizures are characterized by various forms of jerking motions, loss of consciousness, confusion, and staring. The type of seizure is individual to the sufferer.

Epilepsy is defined by repeated seizure episodes. A person having an isolated seizure is not considered to have epilepsy.

Watching someone have a seizure can be a very uncomfortable or even scary event. There are some steps that you can follow to ease the stress of the situation.

Do not try to immobilize the seizure sufferer. Trying to keep the person still may seem like the right thing to do but can cause more injury.

Remove any objects that could further injure the seizure sufferer. This could include furniture, cords, or sharp objects.
Turn the seizure sufferer on his or her side. This side laying position will allow any secretions to flow safely from the sufferers mouth.

Never force open the mouth of a seizure sufferer.

Call 911 if the seizure episode lasts longer than 10 minutes. Most seizures are not life threatening. Use your own judgment in deciding when and if to call an ambulance. If in doubt, call!

Watch the seizure sufferer for at least 15 minutes flowing a seizure episode. Be sure to note any unusual activity. The seizure sufferer may be very tired or anxious following the seizure episode. Allow them to rest.

Epilepsy has often been looked at in a negative and judgmental light. Epilepsy is not a mental disorder or a contagious condition. Many epilepsy sufferers have been discriminated against in the job force. People suffering from epilepsy lead normal lives with the exception of seizure episodes.

Epilepsy sufferers will need to take daily medications to control the disorder. A daily medication regimen may reduce the risk of having seizures. It is very important for the epilepsy sufferer to follow the dosage instructions given by the health care provider.

Some people suffering from epilepsy may be able to function without the use of daily medication. This decision is made by the sufferer's health care provider. The decision to discontinue seizure medication is based on many factors including the length of seizure free periods, the intensity of the seizure episodes, and the presence of various other medical conditions.

There are many community events scheduled to celebrate National Epilepsy Awareness Month. For events scheduled in your area, contact your local epilepsy foundation.