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MCC Daily Tribune

International Epilepsy Day

International Epilepsy Day is a special awareness day that takes place on the second Monday in February to shine a light on the challenges faced by people living with epilepsy. It takes place on February 13 this year. Epilepsy, also known as seizure disorder, is the fourth most common neurological disorder and one of the oldest-known medical conditions. The condition causes electrical activity in the brain to stop for a short time, which leads to recurrent seizures. Even though 65 million people in the world live with epilepsy, there is still some stigma around the disease. International Epilepsy Day exists to educate the general public about epilepsy and to teach people how to provide better care for people living with the disorder.

HOW TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL EPILEPSY DAY

  1. Attend an event

    Hundreds of events take place all around the world. You can use the hashtag #InternationalEpilepsyDay to find an event close to you, where you can get some much-needed information about the disease from experts and listen to people living with epilepsy share their experiences

  2. Donate

    You can donate money to the Epilepsy Foundation on International Epilepsy Day. This money will accelerate therapies for seizures and maybe fund research to finally find a cure for epilepsy.

  3. Wear purple

    Purple is the official awareness color of epilepsy, so you can add a splash of the color to your outfit on International Epilepsy Day. You can dye your hair purple, use some purple nail polish or wear a purple tie — the point is to have some purple somewhere on your body.

5 LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT EPILEPSY

  1. Marriage, terminated

    Until 1971, epilepsy was considered grounds for the annulment of marriage in the United States.

  2. It can hinder driving

    People living with epilepsy are at twice the risk of being involved in a motor vehicular collision and in some countries, a person must be free from seizures for up to three years before they can be allowed to drive.

  3. Not all seizures involve jerking

    During seizures, some people simply wander around, and appear vacant and confused.

  4. It has a patron saint

    Saint Valentine is recognized in the Christian world as the patron saint of people living with epilepsy

  5. Prince had it

    The popular musician, Prince, is just one of many celebrities and public figures who suffered from epilepsy

WHY INTERNATIONAL EPILEPSY DAY IS IMPORTANT

  1. It breaks a culture of silence

    When people speak about epilepsy, it is often in hushed tones, as if talking about the disease out loud would summon a seizure. This culture of silence means that there is a lack of information and a lot of misinformation about the disease. International Epilepsy Day works to erase the stigma surrounding epilepsy and provide some helpful information about it.

  2. Too many people die of epilepsy

    Every year, more than one in 1,000 people die suddenly due to epilepsy. Part of this is because, in many countries, they do not receive appropriate treatment because people, even medical professionals, do not have enough information about how to treat the disease.

  3. It allows people to find a community

    People living with epilepsy can often feel alone or alienated in their experiences. International Epilepsy Day helps them find a community of people like them who can understand their experiences and provide support for them.

 

International Epilepsy Day - National Today -  https://nationaltoday.com/international-epilepsy-day/

Sarah Benedict
MCC Wellness Council
02/13/2023