Madison Kwiecinski

Mvk5945@psu.edu

Managing Editor

November first marked the beginning of Epilepsy Awareness Month, meant to bring awareness and support to this neurological disorder that affects people of all ages. In the United States alone, there are an estimated 470,000 children who are affected by epilepsy.

Children are by no means the only demographic affected by this disorder. In the United States, 3.4 million people are living with epilepsy, and one out of every 26 people is expected to develop epilepsy within their lifetime. Additionally, one in ten people is expected to suffer a seizure at some point in their lifetime.

To clarify the point above, seizures are a symptom of epilepsy, but having a seizure in itself does not mean you have epilepsy. An epilepsy diagnosis is typically received after an individual suffers from two or more seizures that were unprovoked at onset.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can affect anyone regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity. Seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which can be the result of many things including infection, trauma, tumors, brain malformations or genetic traits. Genetic testing can be a method used to determine the cause of seizures, but it is often not a definitive answer.

If you are in the presence of someone actively suffering a seizure, it is important to note the steps you can take to ensure that person’s safety.  If an individual is seizing, remove all objects from the area around them to ensure the vicinity is safe and place a pillow underneath their head if available. Do not attempt to stop their movements or restrain the individual, instead permit the convulsions to occur.

In some cases, contacting emergency services may become essential if someone is undergoing an epileptic episode or having a seizure. If the seizures are repeated, the individual does not return to normal afterwards, if they suffer difficulty breathing, are injured, or if the seizures last longer than five minutes you should contact 911 as soon as possible.

For those who would like to learn more about the experiences of those who are diagnosed with epilepsy, the Epilepsy Foundation has launched a public awareness campaign to reduce the amount of stigma associated with the neurological disorder in celebration of Epilepsy Awareness Month. This awareness is being brought forward in the form of their campaign “Change Our Epilepsy Story” and it is a platform that encourages those diagnosed with epilepsy and their caregivers to share the struggles they have faced and challenges they have overcome.

Their website reads, “If we share our epilepsy stories, we can educate those around us, in turn, address[ing] the stigma surrounding epilepsy and seizures.”

The site then elaborates on how by sharing these stories, they are also working on educating the world. Informing more people about epilepsy and the proper way to address seizures can aid in making sure that when someone suffers a seizure, those around them are prepared with the knowledge to help.