Epilepsy Awareness Day - Purple Day

(http://www.purpleday.org/)

Today is Epilepsy Awareness Day or also known as purple day. Do you know what Epilepsy is?  It is a condition of the brain that is characterized by recurrent seizures. Approximately one in ten people will experience at least one seizure during a lifetime. A single seizure, however, is not epilepsy. Epilepsy is a condition that is defined by multiple seizures. Besides being a condition of the brain,Epilepsy is also is a seizure disorder. A fact is that Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders, which has an estimated 50 million people worldwide who has epilepsy. approximately one percent of the general population has epilepsy (About Epilepsy, n.d.).You can read more about Epilepsy here.

Purple Day was created by Cassidy Megan who herself has epilepsy. Her goal is to get people talking about epilepsy in an effort to dispel myths and inform those with seizures that they are not alone. The Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia came on board in 2008 to help develop Cassidy's idea which is now known as the Purple Day for epilepsy campaign (Purple Beginnings, n.d.).

Some facts about Epilepsy are (Quick Facts, n.d.):

• There are approximately 2.2 million Americans living with epilepsy
• Epilepsy is NOT contagious. Epilepsy is NOT a disease. Epilepsy is NOT a psychological disorder.
• There is currently no “cure” for epilepsy. However, for 10-15% of people with epilepsy, the surgical removal of the seizure focus – the part of brain where the person’s seizures start – can eliminate all seizure activity. For more than half of people with epilepsy, medication will control their seizures. Additionally, some children will outgrow their epilepsy and some adults may have a spontaneous remission.  

Some famous people who had or suspected of having had epilepsy are (Quick Facts, n.d.):

• Julius Caesar 
• Thomas Edison
• Harriet Tubman  

Some celebrities who have epilepsy are (Ellis, M., & Krucik, G. , 2017):

• Lil Wayne
• Danny Glover
• Neil Young
• Susan Boyle
• Rick Harrison
• Prince

Here is what you need to do if you're with someone and they are having a seizure: 

(http://www.purpleday.org/quickfacts)

Lastly, an acronym for tonic-clonic seizures is ACTION:

A	Assess Assess the situation – are they in danger of injuring themselves? Remove any nearby objects that could cause injury
C	CushionCushion their head (with a jumper, for example) to protect them from head injury
T	Time Check the time – if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes you should call an ambulance
I	IdentityLook for a medical bracelet or ID card – it may give you information about the person’s seizures and what to do
O	OverOnce the seizure is over, put them on their side (in the recovery position). Stay with them and reassure them as they come round
N	NeverNever restrain the person, put something in their mouth or try to give them food or drink (Take epilepsy action campaign, 2017).  References: About Epilepsy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.purpleday.org/aboutepilepsy Ellis, M., & Krucik, G. (2017). 13 Celebrities with Epilepsy. Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/celebrities-epilepsy#1 Purple Beginnings. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.purpleday.org/aboutus Quick Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2017, from http://www.purpleday.org/quickfacts Take epilepsy action campaign. (2017). Retrieved March 25, 2017, from https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/campaigns/take-epilepsy-action

<3 Amanda