Posted 1 Jun 2020 Facts about EpilepsyEpilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions. It causes problems with brain signals that result in frequent or infrequent seizures.A seizure is a sudden rush of electrical energy or burst that temporarily affects how the brain works. There’s a wide range of symptoms resulting from this activity and severities of seizures.Generally, children are more likely to develop epilepsy or adults who are over 60. This is also a chronic condition, which can sometimes improve over a period of time.Epilepsy symptomsThere are several different ways that people can be affected by seizures, which depends on the area of the brain that’s affected.Symptoms include: Fits (a period of uncontrollable shaking) Tensing (the whole body will become tense and stiff) Tingling feeling Loss of smell or taste Losing consciousness Awareness (staring into space)People can also faint or pass out and be unable to recall what happened.Treatment for epilepsyThere are treatments that are available through the NHS which can help people to have less frequent seizures or even none at all.Main epilepsy treatments include: Anti-epilepsy drugs (most common medicine/treatment for epilepsy) Surgery (remove a section of the brain causing epilepsy) Diet (Ketogenic to reduce seizures) Electrical device (helps to control seizures)Treatments will vary from one person to another depending on severity. Most treatment will be for life but can be for shorter periods if seizures cease.Epilepsy facts and terminologyCurrently, there are around 600,000 people in the UK living with epilepsy. This is a similar number to the number of people diagnosed with autism, and roughly 4 times greater than people with Parkinson’s.Facts about epilepsy It is a neurological condition that can happen to anyone at almost any age Every day there are approximately 87 people diagnosed with epilepsy in the UK Epilepsy affects roughly 1 in every 100 people Over 65’s: 1 in 4 people diagnosed with epilepsy is over the age of 65 Children: 1 in every 220 children will be diagnosed with epilepsy Types of seizures: there are approximately 60 types of seizure Social implications: people with epilepsy may suffer socially which can include loss of their driving license, job insecurity, educational issues, and social separation/anxiety Mortality: life expectancy is an average of 8 years lower than the national average according to Public Health England (PHE) figures from 2018 People living in deprived areas are 3 times more likely to die from epilepsy according to PHE Photosensitive epilepsy: roughly 3% of people with the condition are affected by flickering lights or flashing lights Seizure free: Approximately 52% of people with epilepsy don’t have seizuresTerminology for people with epilepsyAccording to research by the Epilepsy Society, the following are suggested terms to be used for people living with epilepsy: Condition: epilepsy is not an ‘illness’, it’s a condition Seizure: the term ‘fit’ is becoming less and less utilised by people living with epilepsy. The more common term now being used is ‘seizure’ and ‘epileptic seizure’ A person with epilepsy: people no longer wish to be called ‘an epileptic’ as it refers to them being the condition, rather than living with the condition. This is similar to the terms diabetic and asthmatic, which are also no longer deemed acceptable Victim/sufferer: refers to people being helpless, rather than managing the condition Grand Mal or Petit Mal: Now replaced by the medical terms which are more common, tonic-clonic and absent seizuresEpilepsy awareness eventsEpilepsy awareness day (Purple Day) usually takes place towards the end of March in the UK and people are encouraged to wear purple to raise awareness for epilepsyEpilepsy awareness week is also a national event in the UK that also promotes people to wear purple which is the color used to represent epilepsy. This event usually takes place towards the end of May each yearEpilepsy awareness month takes place in November each year and is a global event to help raise awareness for people suffering from the conditionEpilepsy charities and support (UK)Epilepsy Society Website: https://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk Helpline: 01494 601400 Address: CAN Mezzanine, 49-51 East Road, London, N1 6AHEpilepsy Action Website: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk Helpline: 0808 800 5050 Address: New Anstey House, Gate Way Drive, Yeadon, Leeds, LS19 7XYEpilepsy Research Website: https://epilepsyresearch.org.uk Telephone: 0203 096 7887 Address: CAN Mezzanine, 7-14 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YRYoung Epilepsy Website: https://www.youngepilepsy.org.uk Helpline: 01342 831342 Address: St. Piers Lane, Lingfield, Surrey, RH7 6PWNHS Choices – Living with epilepsy Website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/living-with/RELATED ARTICLES EPILEPSY LIFE INSURANCE EPILEPSY TRAVEL INSURANCE EPILEPSY HEALTH INSURANCE*references https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/press/facts About Latest Posts Daniel Sharpe-SzunkoManaging Director at iam|INSUREDDaniel is an extremely passionate and accomplished expert within the insurance and mortgage world. He has dedicated almost all of his 20+ years in the financial services industry to helping people with different needs and circumstances to get the best outcomes... Over the past two decades, Daniel has worked with some of the biggest financial services brands to help promote fairer treatment for people who are not classed as 'standard' by insurers or lenders. Daniel also works with numerous health and medical charities, as well as providing support for a number of events to help raise awareness for medical conditions in the UK.Email: [email protected]Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielsharpe-szunkoLatest posts by Daniel Sharpe-Szunko (see all) Post-Covid underwriting rules for life cover - July 20, 2021 Sarcoma awareness month 2021 - July 8, 2021 Covid update – Life insurance limits - May 24, 2021