Recognizing National Epilepsy Awareness Month

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month. Epilepsy is a disorder that causes seizures.

One in 26 people are diagnosed with epilepsy at some point in their lifetime. The disorder can affect anyone. In America, over half-a-million children have epilepsy.

People can get epilepsy from their genetics, meaning they’re predisposed to it, or it runs in families.

The disorder is essentially caused by changes in the brain and the brain’s activity.

When someone has more than one seizure, they can be diagnosed with epilepsy.

There are medications called antiepileptic drugs that can be used to help treat the disorder.

Dr. Ashley Cheek, a pediatrician at Memorial Hospital, says these drugs are quite effective in treating seizures. Some people with the disorder can even live seizure-free lives on the medication.

Dr. Cheek says raising awareness for epilepsy helps people recognize when someone is having a seizure. She also shares life-saving advice on what people can do to help in that situation.

“A seizure is abnormal movement or a loss of consciousness. It can be seen by foaming at the mouth or like a period of intense shaking of the extremities and things of that nature,” said Dr. Cheek. “And if you see that happening, what you need to do is, first of all, stay, you know, make sure the area is safe for the child. If the child’s unconscious, roll the child to the side and call 9-1-1.”

WTOC spoke with someone who has epilepsy. They shared that National Epilepsy Awareness Month is great because it erases stigmas surrounding the disorder.

“I believe there are a lot more people with epilepsy than people realize, and I would love for everyone to just be kind, considerate, and thoughtful of anyone who may have seizures or epilepsy,” said Tedra Cierra Ford.

For more information about epilepsy and how you can help raise awareness, you can visit the Epilepsy Foundation website.

Copyright 2024 WTOC. All rights reserved.