HEALTH MATTERS
EVERY day 87 people in the UK are diagnosed with epilepsy and 20 of those will be people over the age of 65.
Epilepsy is a common condition but is misunderstood by many, which is why during National Epilepsy Week (20-26 May) I want to raise awareness of the condition and offer tips for if you witness someone having a seizure or ‘fit’.
Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures, anyone can have a seizure, although having one doesn’t always mean you have epilepsy. Seizures can start at any age but usually start either in childhood or in people over 60. Epilepsy is often a lifelong condition but can sometimes get slowly better over time or stop altogether.
An epileptic seizure happens when there is a sudden burst of intense activity in the brain, causing a temporary disruption to the way the brain normally works. There are many different types and they affect people in different ways, depending on which part of the brain is involved.
A common myth is that if you have epilepsy then flashing lights can trigger a fit. While this is true for around three per cent of people with epilepsy, for the vast majority seizures seem to happen randomly or have other triggers such as stress or drinking alcohol.
It can be scary to witness someone having a seizure but you shouldn’t panic as there are some simple things you can do to help, such as:
Cushioning their head if they’re on the ground
Loosening any tight clothing around their neck
Staying with them and talking calmly until they recover
Noting the time the seizure starts and finishes.
Call an ambulance if it’s the first time someone has had a seizure, if it lasts for more than five minutes, if they don’t regain consciousness afterwards or are seriously injured during the seizure.
If you would like to talk to someone about the condition, Epilepsy Action has a helpline that offers confidential, personal advice on 0808 800 5050. It also has a website full of useful resources at epilepsy. org.uk.