National Epilepsy Awareness Month

​Know the Facts

​As an epilepsy advocate, you’re going to interact with a lot of people and that’s great! But there are so many sources of information out there that it’s easy to get facts confused. Here’s a list of key talking points and statistics (provided by the Center for Disease Control and the Epilepsy Foundation) to use when spreading awareness:

Epilepsy is a Neurological Disorder

  • ​Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain with different causes, such as head  trauma, genetics, inflammation, infection, brain malformation, stroke, birth injury and more.
  • Epilepsy is the underlying tendency of the brain to prod sudden abnormal bursts of electrical energy that disrupt other brain functions and cause seizures.
  • Seizures come from the brain and are symptoms of epilepsy. Any brain can have a seizure.
  • There are different types of seizures. Some are convulsive seizures, and some are non-convulsive and can be as brief as a staring spell or a myoclonic jerk.

Epilepsy Can Change Lives

  • ​The impact of seizures and epilepsy can be significant in both children and adults.
  • Often children and teens with epilepsy find themselves feeling isolated and misunderstood; they may lose friends, may not be invited to birthday parties or may be ostracized or even teased or bullied at school.
  • Some people with epilepsy hide their disorder, which can lead to feelings of isolation, helplessness and even depression.
  • Adults with epilepsy oftentimes experience changes in their quality of life, such as mobility, relationships, employment, and social interactions.

Stats:

  • Epilepsy is NOT contagious. You simply can't catch epilepsy from another person. 
  • 65 million people worldwide are living with epilepsy. 
  • 3.4 million people and their families are affected by epilepsy in the United States.
  • 1 in 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy during their lifetime. 
  • 1 in 10 people will experience a seizure during their lifetime. 
  • ~150,000 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed each year in the US. 
  • 470,000 children have epilepsy. 
  • 336,000 children have at least one seizure annually. 
  • 110,000 estimated people in eastern PA are currently living with epilepsy. 
  • AT LEAST 1 million people in the US have uncontrolled epilepsy. 
  • There is still an urgent need for more research, better treatments, and a cure. 
  • In approximately 60% of epilepsy diagnoses, the cause is unknown. 
  • There is no cure for epilepsy, but there is a wide range of treatments. Treatments for epilepsy vary and include medicine, surgery, special diets, medical implants, and devices. 
  • A person cannot swallow their tongue during a seizure, so you should NEVER put anything in their mouth. 
  • 30% of people with epilepsy do not gain full control of their seizures and continue to struggle day-to-day with the threat of imminent seizures.
  • 13% of adults with epilepsy felt nervous, sad, or hopeless in the past 30 days. 
  • Epilepsy receives 10 times less funding than other brain disorders. 
  • 32% of adults with epilepsy can’t work. 
  • 29% of adults with epilepsy can’t use a car or public transit to get places. 
  • 21% of adults with epilepsy can't pay for medicines.
  • 3 in 10 kids who had at least one seizure in the past year live in homes without enough food.
  • 1 out of 1,000 adults with epilepsy and 1 out of 1,000 children with epilepsy will die each year from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).