International Epilepsy Day 2021
Today (Monday 8th February 2021) is International Epilepsy Day to help raise global awareness for people living with epilepsy.
iam|INSURED and epilepsy
We sadly lost a good friend in 2019 to epilepsy at the age of 36 from a head injury suffered during a severe seizure. This is something that is close to our hearts and we are incredibly grateful to the epilepsy charities who supported Paul’s family for many years.
Paul was a promising young golfer, a great friend, and a fantastic person. Epilepsy had a dramatic impact on his life and cost him a promising career in the sport that he loved. People don’t realise the impact that epilepsy can have on a person and their family.
About International Epilepsy Day
International Epilepsy Day has been running for many years and it is a joint initiative that was originally created by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). This is a global event that is held on the second Monday of February to help raise awareness for epilepsy around the world.
The two organisations (IBE & ILAE) are represented in over 120 countries around the world so this is a powerful event. The aim of the day is to help to raise awareness and shine a spotlight on the problems faced by people suffering from epilepsy, their families, and their carers all over the globe.
International Epilepsy Day 2021 (#50millionsteps)
A new campaign was launched ahead of this year’s International Epilepsy Day which was ’50 Million Steps for Epilepsy’. The aim was to step up awareness for epilepsy and in recognition of the 50 million people with epilepsy around the world.
According to the latest figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) there is an incredible 50 million people affected by epilepsy.
Causes of epilepsy include:
- Genetic disposition
- Head trauma
- Brain tumour
- Or unknown causes
Epilepsy can have a dramatic impact on the lifestyle of anyone diagnosed with the disease. The stigma that surrounds epilepsy can also be more difficult to deal with than the condition itself.
International Epilepsy Day 2021 happens on Monday 8th February this year and people are invited to join in counting their steps for epilepsy between Monday 4th January and Monday 8th February.
- Steps counter 50MillionSteps.org
- Share your steps on social media using the hashtag #50millionsteps
To find out more about this years amazing challenge you can visit 50MillionSteps.org which includes resources, guides, posters and social media graphics.
Latest Epilepsy Facts and Figures
| Facts | Figures |
| People currently living with epilepsy around the world today | 50 million according to WHO |
| Number of people living with epilepsy in the UK currently | Over 600,000 according to Epilepsy Society UK |
| Number of people diagnosed with epilepsy in the UK every day | Approximately 87 in the UK |
| Approximate number of people who will have epilepsy in their lives | 1 in 50 people will have epilepsy at some point (not all will be lifelong or chronic) |
| People with epilepsy who are affected by flashing lights (photosensitive epilepsy) | Only 3% of people with epilepsy are affected by flashing lights |
| Life expectancy for someone with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy | 2 years less than national average |
| Life expectancy for someone with symptomatic epilepsy | 10 years less than national average |
| Most common conditions linked to suffering from epilepsy (comorbidity) | 33% of people with epilepsy also suffer from depression and anxiety |
Epilepsy life insurance case study
Here’s an example of someone with epilepsy that we helped recently to get life cover to protect her two children and partner.
Rebecca contacted iam|INSURED in October 2020 looking for life insurance to protect her two children (aged 2 and 12 years), and her husband who also has diabetes.
Age: 35 (born 1986)
Smoker status: Non-smoker
Cover amount: £150,000
Term of cover: 40 years (to age 75)
Type of cover: Level term (family protection)
Premium: £26.02
Medical history
| Age diagnosed with epilepsy | 7 years of age |
| Cause of diagnosis | Cyst on the brain |
| Surgery | None |
| Absent seizures | Approx. 300/year |
| Grand mal seizures | None (last one at age 14) |
| Medication | Anti-epilepsy drugs (AED’s) |
| Other conditions | Asthma (diagnosed age 21) |
We were delighted to have got Rebecca the amount of cover that she needed to protect her family and keep within her budget.
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