What is epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common, neurological condition that affects the brain, causing recurring epileptic seizures. There are about 600,000 people who have epilepsy in the UK, averaging nearly 1 in every 100 people.

Anyone can have a seizure; this does not mean that they have epilepsy. But it’s usually considered to be epilepsy when the person has multiple seizures.

Various treatments exist for helping to control seizures, however despite this, approximately a third of people with epilepsy continue to experience seizures.

There are over 40 different types of seizures.

What is a seizure?

Our brain continuously sends and receives chemical and electrical signals throughout the body.

A seizure occurs when there is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain. It causes the electrical signals, that travel along nerves to the rest of the body, to misfire and temporarily mix up the usual messages and working of the brain.

Dependant on which area of the brain has been affected, a seizure can look and present itself very differently. Some people may become unconscious whereas others might remain conscious. Some people’s muscles might stiffen whereas some others might become floppy. Just like a fingerprint, a person’s seizure is individualised.