Theodore Roosevelt. Neil Young. Prince. Vincent van Gogh. Florence Griffith Joyner. Danny Glover. Chances are, you didn’t know that these famous figures lived or are living with epilepsy. But chances are that you also have come into contact with someone who has epilepsy, whether you realize it or not, as 1 in 26 people worldwide are affected by this chronic neurological condition.

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, but for the approximately 3 million people in the United States, 50 million people worldwide, and for their caregivers and families, epilepsy awareness is 365 days a year. Knowing some facts about this common disease and having a basic knowledge of seizure first aid may help someone you know:

What is epilepsy? Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes people to have recurrent seizures. It can have different causes and can affect children and adults. Seizures can occur suddenly and involve brief changes in the electrical activity of the brain that can lead to convulsions, changes in behavior, and/or consciousness.
Epilepsy is not contagious. Epilepsy can be caused by genetics, brain trauma, autoiummune issues or metabolic causes. Sometimes there is no identifiable cause.
Not all seizures look the same: there are different type of seizures and don’t always involve falling down, shaking, and loss of awareness many people associate with an event. Someone having a seizure may appear to be staring into space, wandering, unable to answer questions, or may seem confused.
Not all seizures are due to epilepsy: seizures can be isolated events caused by other medical conditions like low blood sugar, fevers, infections, an head injuries.
People living with epilepsy can do the same things. Most forms of epilepsy can be controlled with medications and those living with epilepsy can play sports, have successful careers, and live up to the challenges of everyday life.
Epilepsy is not a mental illness. Seizure triggers can be different for each person and is not always strobe lights. Lack of sleep, stress, missing medications, and illness can be triggers.

If you encounter someone you think if having a seizure: (from the Epilepsy Foundation of America)

Stay with the person and start timing the seizure. Remain calm and check for medical ID
Keep the person safe. Move or guide away from harmful objects
Turn the person on his or her side if they are not aware or awake. Put something small and soft under their head, loosen tight clothes around the neck.
Do not put anything in the their mouth. Don’t give water or food until the person is awake
Do not restain.
Stay with them until they are aware and alert after the seizure. Most seizures end in a few minutes

Call 911 if a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, repeated seizure, difficulty breathing, person is injured, person does not return to their usual state, seizure occurs in water, or it it is a first time seizure.

While it is a manageable condition, epilepsy can involve more than just seizures for those living with this disease and their family and caregivers. Compassion and knowledge goes a long way.

To learn more about epilepsy or for videos about seizure first aid, visit the Epilepsy Foundation at: www.epilepsy.com.

By Dr. Catherine Mauss, DO
Gettysburg Osteopathic Family Health Center PC
28 Apple Ave, Gettysburg PA, 17325