National Epilepsy Week 2022

National Epilepsy Week 2022

Next week is National Epilepsy Week, so we wanted to help raise awareness about epilespy and some things to be aware of regarding epilepsy.

Supported by Epilepsy Action, National Epilespy Week has hopes of gathering support and improving the lives of everyone affected by epilepsy. Epilepsy affects over 600,000 people in the UK currently.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder that produces abnormal signals in the brain that result in seizures. These electrical bursts in the brain that cause seizures can result in symptoms such as:

  • Jerking and/or shaking (sometimes called a ‘fit’)
  • collapsing
  • becoming stiff
  • losing awareness and staring blankly into space
  • strange sensations for example, rising feeling in tummy, change in taste/smell, tingling in arms and/or legs

Epilepsy can start at any age, but usually start in childhood or over the age of 60.

According to Epilepsy Action:

Electrical activity is happening in our brain all the time, as networks of tiny brain cells send messages to each other. These messages control all our thoughts, movements, senses and body functions. A seizure happens when there is a sudden, intense burst of electrical activity in the brain, which causes the messages between cells to get mixed up. The result is an epileptic seizure.

 

What to do when someone has a seizure

Epilepsy Action has lots of great resources including resources and courses specifically for schools. Please read their information on their website.

How to help spread awareness

On social media, like, follow and share @epilepsyaction or use the #EpilepsyAwareness, #EpilepsyWeek or #purpleday hashtags.

 

 

 

 

 

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