About Epilepsy
Epilepsy affects more than 3 million Americans and is the most common neurological disorder in children. Epilepsy, also known as a seizure disorder, is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. Seizures occur when clusters of nerve cells in the brain signal abnormally. The normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions and behavior or sometimes convulsions, muscles spasms and loss of consciousness. The majority of seizures are not emergencies. Few people know that epilepsy can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time. When a person has two or more seizures unrelated to causes such as alcohol or drug withdrawal, they are considered to have epilepsy. Epilepsy has no age, racial, social, sexual or geographical boundaries. Ten percent of the American population will experience a seizure in their lifetime. Approximately 200,000 new cases of seizures and epilepsy occur each year. Epilepsy results in an estimated annual cost of $15.5 billion in medical costs and lost or reduced earnings and production.
The cause of epilepsy is unknown in 70 percent of cases. The remaining 30 percent of cases are symptomatic and may be caused by a variety of factors including brain trauma or birth injuries, severe head injury, brain tumors, a brain infection or stroke.
Many people with epilepsy struggle to overcome low self-esteem and the stigma that is often attached to the disorder. Epilepsy is a highly misunderstood condition in the United States. Lack of knowledge about epilepsy can be damaging to people with the condition. In fact, people with epilepsy often experience discrimination due to the public’s lack of understanding. According to a recent nationwide survey, three-quarters of people with epilepsy (76 percent) and nearly all healthcare professionals (90 percent) feel that the general public is not well-informed about epilepsy.
A majority of people with epilepsy and healthcare professionals agree that the ultimate goal of epilepsy treatment is to achieve complete freedom from seizures, combined with minimal drug-related side effects. Current treatments for epilepsy include: Antiepileptic Drugs (AED): AEDs can decrease the frequency and intensity of seizures. The medication’s purpose is to keep the blood level high enough to prevent seizures, but not so high that it causes excessive sleepiness or other unpleasant side effects. o About 30 percent of people with epilepsy will need a long-term antiepileptic drug treatment to control their seizures. o Up to 70 percent of epilepsy patients gain complete control of their condition with AEDs. o Seventy-five percent of people who are seizure free on medication for two to five years can be successfully withdrawn from medication. Surgery: Surgical removal of seizure-producing areas of the brain has been an accepted form of treatment for more than 50 years when medicines fail to prevent seizures. o Surgery may be considered after AEDs fail to decrease seizures. o Postsurgical seizure-free rates vary. Vagus Nerve Stimulation: A programmable pulse generator implanted in the upper-left chest sends bursts of electrical energy that are directed into the brain via the vagus nerve, a large nerve in the neck. o A magnet may be used to give extra stimulation at the onset of a seizure to try to shorten seizure length. o Approved in adults and children older than 12 with partial seizures who are resistant to AED treatment. Ketogenic Diet: Very high in fats and low in carbohydrates, makes the body burn fat for energy instead of glucose. o Introduced almost 80 years ago. o The diet helps two out of three children who are tried on it. o It may prevent seizures completely in one out of three children.