Epilepsy (2024)

FAQs

Epilepsy? ›

Epilepsy happens as a result of abnormal electrical brain activity, also known as a seizure, kind of like an electrical storm inside your head. And because your brain controls so much, a lot of different things can go wrong. You may have periods of unusual behaviors, feelings and sometimes loss of awareness.

Many people with epilepsy can conduct a normal life. However, patients who have had epilepsy for a long time or whose epilepsy is difficult to control are at higher risk for unemployment. They may also need assistance in their daily life activities.

About 6 out of 10 people diagnosed with epilepsy can become seizure free within a few years with proper treatment. Many of these people will never have any more seizures. For the rest of the people, some will have occasional breakthrough seizures or side effects of medicines and others will have uncontrolled seizures.

Symptoms of epilepsy

uncontrollable jerking and shaking, called a "fit" losing awareness and staring blankly into space. becoming stiff. strange sensations, such as a "rising" feeling in the tummy, unusual smells or tastes, and a tingling feeling in your arms or legs.

But just because epilepsy has its challenges, doesn't mean that independent living is impossible. Some people may live on their own, alone or with immediate families. Others may need a more structured or supervised living arrangement.

It's certainly possible that the severity and frequency of seizures can increase as a person gets older. However, it's also entirely possible that epilepsy can get better with age, whether that's due to the natural changes in the body during the ageing process or through improved treatment.

You will usually need to be seizure free for 12 months before you can start driving again. However, if your seizure happened because of your doctor advising you to change or stop your medicine, you might be able to start driving again sooner than this.

Epilepsy can qualify as a disability, according to the SSA, if your condition is severe enough that it prevents you from being able to work. But while a doctor's diagnosis may qualify you as having a disability through other programs, the SSA will require additional documentation on your symptoms and treatment.

People with uncontrolled seizures should avoid dangerous activities like scuba diving, rock climbing, skydiving, hang gliding, and mountain climbing. These sports require full concentration, and any episode of loss of consciousness may lead to injury and possible death.

Epilepsy and seizures can develop in any person at any age. Seizures and epilepsy are more common in young children and older people. About 1 in 100 people in the U.S. has had a single unprovoked seizure or has been diagnosed with epilepsy. 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime.

What foods should you avoid if you have epilepsy? ›

Levels of sugar in your bloodstream may affect seizures in some people. If you have a sudden spike or crash in blood sugar, this could cause seizures. This is why it is generally best to avoid high sugar, processed foods such as cookies, cakes, candy and white bread.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which a person has two or more unprovoked seizures that occur more than 24 hours apart. A seizure is an excessive surge of electrical activity in the brain that can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on which parts of the brain are involved.

Theodore Roosevelt: Throughout his life, Roosevelt suffered from epilepsy and was prone to epileptic seizures, but that did not hold him from his convictions. Upon the end of the Spanish-American war, he was elected governor of New York in 1898.

Epilepsy need not have a negative impact on your relationship with your partner. How, and how much epilepsy affects your relationship will depend on several factors, such as the type and frequency of seizures, responsiveness to medication, and the impact on everyday life and work.

There is strong evidence that people who achieve seizure freedom (either through medication, surgery, or 'growing out' of their epilepsy) have the same life expectancy as anyone else. The risk of an earlier death is higher among people whose seizures are not controlled.

Drink in Moderation

Many people with epilepsy are at a high risk of seizures after drinking three or more alcoholic beverages. Research indicates that adults with epilepsy may have one or two alcoholic drinks a day without triggering their seizures or causing changes in the blood levels of their seizure medications.

The social, emotional and physical ramifications can certainly take their toll. Many wonder if they'll ever lead a “normal” life again. Well, a “normal” life is still possible. That is to say, someone diagnosed with seizures can still do the same daily functions as someone without epilepsy.

Activities such as rock climbing, skydiving, and bungee jumping should be avoided due to the potential for injury if a seizure occurs. Water activities such as swimming alone, scuba diving, and surfing should also be approached with caution, as a seizure while in the water can be life-threatening.

It is estimated that up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated. The risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than for the general population.