"Epilepsy is common, but how much do you know about it? Get the facts about this condition!
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes repeated seizures. There are many different types of epilepsy and many different kinds of seizures. Epilepsy can get in the way of life, mostly when seizures keep happening. To control their seizures, people with epilepsy may take medicine, have surgery, or follow a special diet. Here’s what you need to know:
#1 Epilepsy is common.
In fact, you probably know a few people with epilepsy. In 2015, about 3 million adults (age 18 and older) and 470,000 children (age 17 years or younger) had active epilepsy in the United States.1 That’s about 3.4 million people, which is more than the number of people who live in Delaware, Montana, and New Hampshire combined.2
#2 Seizures might look different than you expect.
What comes to mind when you think of a seizure? In the movies and on TV, they often show a person falling to the ground, shaking, and becoming unaware of what’s going on around them. That’s one kind of seizure, but it’s not the most common. More often, a person having a seizure may seem confused, stare into space, wander, make unusual movements, or can’t answer questions or talk. Sometimes it is hard to tell when a person is having a seizure, so it’s important to learn how to recognize different types of seizures.
#3 Seizure first aid is easy to give.
About 1 out of 10 people may have a seizure during his or her lifetime.3 That means seizures are common, and one day you might need to help someone. First aid for seizures involves keeping the person safe until the seizure stops on its own and knowing when to call 911 for emergency assistance.
It’s also important that professionals such as school nurses and other school staff, law enforcement, first responders, and childcare workers understand epilepsy and how to offer first aid. CDC supports training programs for these groups through a partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation..."Epilepsy
No comments:
Post a Comment