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November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. I hope this post will provide information and facts about epilepsy, while also showcasing women blogging about life with seizures.
Here are some epilepsy facts from CURE Epilepsy...
- Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans of all ages – more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease combined. Almost 500 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed every day in the United States. Epilepsy affects 50,000,000 people worldwide.
- In two-thirds of patients diagnosed with epilepsy, the cause is unknown.
- Epilepsy can develop at any age and can be a result of genetics, stroke, head injury, and many other factors.
- In over thirty percent of patients, seizures cannot be controlled with treatment. Uncontrolled seizures may lead to brain damage and death. Many more have only partial control of their seizures.
- The severe epilepsy syndromes of childhood can cause developmental delay and brain damage, leading to a lifetime of dependency and continually accruing costs—both medical and societal.
- It is estimated that up to 50,000 deaths occur annually in the U.S. from status epilepticus (prolonged seizures), Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), and other seizure-related causes such as drowning and other accidents.
- The mortality rate among people with epilepsy is two to three times higher than the general population and the risk of sudden death is twenty-four times greater.
- Recurring seizures are also a burden for those living with brain tumors and other disorders such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, tuberous sclerosis, and a variety of genetic syndromes.
I found this video on a blog called My 3 Peanuts - It is a very informative video that explains exactly what happens during a seizure.
Understanding Epilepsy...
From The Epilepsy Foundation - Women and Epilepsy...
More than one million women and girls in the United States are living with seizure disorders. They face many unique challenges, from changes during the monthly cycle which may trigger seizures to concerns regarding pregnancy. Social factors leave them vulnerable to discrimination and abuse. Yet their plight and the manner in which they are affected has been largely ignored. As an important part of the Epilepsy Foundation's role in advocating for all people with epilepsy, we are committed to addressing the unique health concerns of women with epilepsy with our Special Initiative.
- Depression is a major risk for about one in three women with epilepsy.
- Women with epilepsy face epilepsy-related reproductive difficulties throughout their lives, including increased rates of sexual dysfunction, infertility and seizures related to the menstrual cycle.
- Despite risks, successful pregnancy is possible, but often inappropriately discouraged by health care providers.
- Long-term use of some antiepileptic drugs negatively affects bone health in women.
Women diagnosed with epilepsy face unique health issues that include reproductive problems, osteoporosis, excessive weight gain, and sexual dysfunction.
From Reagan Leigh - NEAM...
I thought I'd take a few moments to talk about how Epilepsy has affected our life. Well, it's pretty obvious after reading only a few posts, epilepsy affects every minute of every day for us. Since Reagan was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms at only 5 months old, our lives have completely changed. We essentially knew nothing about seizures or epilepsy and had NO clue the damage it could do to a newly developing brain. It's been challenging and frustrating and there's no doubt we HATE seizures but strangely enough there are ways in which Reagan's diagnosis has affected us in a positive way.
From Little Ladybug - Excuse me while I rant...
Just over a year ago we lost our only child, Karissa Renae, to Epilepsy. She was three and a half years old. The reason for this blog is three-fold. First, it is in memory of my sweet angel, Karissa, who is healed and complete and is in the presence of Jesus. Second, it is a place for me to express the many feelings and emotions that come with grieving the tragic loss of a child. Lastly, I hope to bring awareness to Epilepsy, a condition that effects over 3 million Americans and causes up to 50,000 deaths each year.
From Winda's Blog - Making it Through...
I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was five years old, caused by scar tissue on the left side of my brain after a difficult birth. It started with complex-partial seizures, where my right eye would twitch and I was incoherent. But after I was put on medication, the
