There are many sufferers of epilepsy throughout the United States, but the sad fact is that many of these people do not get the adequate help they need because they do not recognize the condition, nor do they feel accepted by the general public. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by unprovoked seizures, manifesting themselves in convulsions, rapid changes in the mental state, rapid muscle spasms, and psychic symptoms like déjà vu. About 50 million people throughout the world have epilepsy at any one time, which means that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Americans are currently suffering from the disorder. Epilepsy Awareness Month is a time for people to educate themselves and their community about epilepsy, to empower those living with the condition so that these people can seek adequate care for their condition, and to encourage lawmakers and researchers to take strides to find a cure for the condition from which so many people suffer. November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, which gives the Epilepsy Foundation as well as people all across the country a chance to spread awareness of the condition.

Epilepsy can be defined as a neurological condition that, from time to time, disrupts the normal activity of the brain, producing brief disruptions to the electrical activity of the brain. The human brain functions because of the millions of tiny electrical charges passing between the nerve cells of the body and into the brain. A person affected by epilepsy may have this normal pattern frequently interrupted by bursts of electrical energy that are much more intense than the usual amount of electrical energy, creating a situation in which a person’s consciousness may be affected. In addition to this, muscle spasms can cause bodily movement to become uncontrollable and certain sensations may be dulled or removed for a short period of time. This is referred to as an epileptic seizure and they can vary in severity, frequency, and the time of day in which they occur. Some people may have epileptic seizures once or twice in a lifetime, while others may experience them several times each day, so there is no telling exactly how much a person with epilepsy may or may not actually suffer from epileptic seizures.

While seizures are a form of epilepsy, not all seizures point to the appearance of epilepsy. Drugs, high fevers, severe head injuries, and other disorders can all cause seizures that appear to be epileptic in origin, whereas they actually stem from another source. Sometimes people suffer from a single seizure and no source is ever found due to the elusive nature of seizures and the difficulty in diagnosing an event over which the victim has little control. Common misconceptions about epilepsy abound. Epilepsy does not involve fainting, a condition that is referred to as a narcolepsy and one that is frequently confused with epilepsy. Epilepsy and epileptic seizures are not caused by the holding of breath, and while some children may hold their breath until they pass out, this does not constitute epilepsy. Momentary confusion and forgetfulness, no matter how severe, does not constitute epilepsy either, nor is it catatonia, which is a mental disorder characterized by bizarre movements and stupor. Epilepsy is neither a cause of mental illness, nor is it a mental illness in and of itself, and the presence of epilepsy has no bearing on intelligence.

Epileptic seizures can be sparked by a variety of factors, including: lights that flash at a certain speed, the flicker of television screens or monitors, sudden loud noises or repetitive noises, consumption of alcohol, cigarette smoking, stress, headaches, menstruation, lack of sleep, having a bad day, and even sleep. It is important to note, though, that many people can experience epileptic seizures for seemingly no reason at all. Epilepsy can be life threatening if a person experiences status epilepticus, which is a prolonged seizure in which the person does not regain consciousness in between the seizures. Seizures that last anywhere from five minutes to thirty minutes, from most doctors’ estimates, are potentially life-threatening and should receive emergency medical attention whenever possible. If not immediately treated, these prolonged seizures can cause profound amounts of brain damage or death. Medicine is prescribed to treat epilepsy, not to cure it, and regularly taking this medicine prevents the most serious seizures in most cases. The most severe cases of status epilepticus take place when someone stops taking the medication.

About two million people in the United States suffer from epilepsy, and 75% of these people had their first seizures during childhood. That is why National Epilepsy Awareness Month is important: many parents of children would not know otherwise what their children are experiencing in the case of epileptic seizures, and spreading the word about epilepsy allows these parents to get the appropriate medication to help prevent seizures, especially the most severe cases. One of the things that the Epilepsy Foundation encourages everyone to do is to sign the petition that aims to stop discrimination against epilepsy sufferers and to improve their access to equal healthcare. By signing the petition and getting five friends to sign, each individual contribution paves the way for better healthcare for epilepsy sufferers, more funding for preventative epilepsy research, and other governmental actions that will ultimately improve the lives of over three million Americans, and potentially improve the lives of over 50 million people all across the world suffering from epilepsy.

There are plenty of events taking place all over the country in honor of National Epilepsy Awareness Month. Here you can find events taking place all over the country that will allow you to meet other people coping with epilepsy or to spread the word to the rest of the community if you do not happen to have epilepsy but would like to get involved with the cause. For example, the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia has a whole host of activities planned throughout the state, ranging from a Family Fun Day in Charlottesville to a Roanoke Epilepsy Awareness Stroll, so there are plenty of opportunities for Virginians to get involved in a good cause. In New York, the Zoey Wade Big Bash for Epilepsy Awareness will take place on November 22, courtesy of the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island, so if you can make it to that event, you are encouraged to attend. Of course, you do not have to wait for an official event to be planned in your area if there is none: feel free to take the initiative and join with millions of epileptics and non-epileptics in raising awareness for a condition that is often overlooked by lawmakers.

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month in the United States, a great time for everyone to get together for a good cause. While there are certainly plenty of troubles in the world today, one trouble that millions of people continue to face is epilepsy and the lack of attention being paid to the condition by lawmakers and healthcare workers alike. By signing the petition and taking part in educating your community, empowering epilepsy sufferers, and encouraging lawmakers to take action, you are doing millions of your fellow Americans a world of good, something which they would certainly do for you if you were in their shoes.