What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition that affects about 1 person in every 200 - so, if you experience epilepsy, you are not alone.

Epilepsy can be caused by injury to the brain, due to trauma (i.e. a car accident or a head injury) or brain infection. Epilepsy early in life can be caused by inherited disorders or due to problems during birth. In older people epilepsy may develop due to vascular disease, strokes, tumours and Alzheimer's disease. However, for many people, the cause of their epilepsy is never known.

When people talk about epilepsy the word seizure is often used. A seizure is the result of a temporary disturbance of the brain's electrical activity.

The brain is responsible for most bodily functions, and so as a result of the disturbed messages a person will experience symptoms.

The symptoms experienced by a person during a seizure depend on the part of the brain that is affected and how widely the seizure spreads. Seizures affect different parts of the brain in smaller or larger amounts, so how they affect one person will be very different to how it affects someone else.

Common symptoms include involuntary muscle movements, sensory disturbances and altered consciousness. Click through to find out more about types of seizure.

Most seizures last just a few seconds or a few minutes and the number of seizures a person has can vary from less than one a year to several a day. There are many different types of seizure, and everyone will experience epilepsy in a way that is unique to them.

Epilepsy can usually be well controlled with treatment.

Most people stop having seizures altogether when they get the medication that best suits their type of epilepsy and personal health circumstances.

Being told that you, or someone you know, has epilepsy can be frightening. There is a lot to learn about the condition, and everyone's experience of epilepsy is different. You probably have lots of questions about what is happening and why. Click to find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about epilepsy.

Epilepsy does not mean having to miss out on life. People with epilepsy can lead a full and active life, which includes going to school and work, having a family and taking an active part in leisure and social activities.