Epilepsy Awareness Month

Did you know that November marks National Epilepsy Awareness Month? Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological problem in America.

When we talk about epilepsy, it’s often in terms of incidence and prevalence. The incidence of epilepsy refers to the number of new cases of epilepsy within any given period of time. The prevalence of epilepsy refers to the number of people who have epilepsy at any given point in time. This will include both new onset cases of epilepsy and those who have had epilepsy for a number of years.

These two different numbers are significant because not everyone has seizures or epilepsy for the same amount of time. Some have epilepsy that goes away, while others will live with epilepsy for their entire life.

Currently, the average incidence of epilepsy each year in the US is estimated at 150,000 cases, or 48 per every 100,000 people. Incidences of epilepsy is higher among young children and older adults.

Over a lifetime, 1 in every 26 people will develop epilepsy at some point in their lives. In the US, the total number of people with epilepsy, usually ranges from 1.3 million to 2.8 million.

Seizures are the only symptom of epilepsy that you can see. There are a variety of different types of seizures, and the symptoms of each can affect people differently. Most seizures last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Individuals experiencing a seizure may be alert or lose consciousness. They may not remember what happened during the seizure or even realize they had one.

Seizures that make someone fall to the ground or cause their muscles to stiffen or jerk out of control are easy to identify. However, many seizures do not involve these obvious reactions and are much more difficult to recognize. Some seizures cause a person to stare into space for a few seconds, while others may consist of a few muscle twitches, or a bizarre smell or visual disturbance that only you can feel.

It’s important to discuss any concerns you have about seizures with your healthcare provider. If you would like to learn more about different awareness months and health conditions, like us on Facebook to stay updated on our informative posts.