Why - Why Epilepsy Society?

Hello all,

After my wife was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2015, she ran her first ever half marathon for an epilepsy charity in 2016. Flo smashed it and raised a tonne of money through the event.

10 years later, Flo and I are hoping to raise money for the UK’s leading provider of epilepsy services, Epilepsy Society - we have a target of £800 to raise between the two of us.

It’s Flo’s first half marathon since becoming a mum and my first official half so please donate whatever you can for this amazing charity.

Wish us luck, we are going to need it!

I have included some information on Epilepsy below - if you have the time, please have a read.

Thank you for your support, it is very much appreicated.

Flo and Jake

How could your money help?

A little about Epilepsy

What is it?

Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain that affects around 50 million people worldwide. It is characterised by recurrent seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary movement that may involve a part of the body (partial) or the entire body (generalised) and are sometimes accompanied by loss of consciousness and control of bowel or bladder function.

Signs & Symptoms

Characteristics of seizures vary and depend on where in the brain the disturbance first starts, and how far it spreads. Temporary symptoms occur, such as loss of awareness or consciousness, and disturbances of movement, sensation (including vision, hearing and taste), mood, or other cognitive functions.

People with epilepsy tend to have more physical problems (such as fractures and bruising from injuries related to seizures), as well as higher rates of psychological conditions, including anxiety and depression. Similarly, the risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than in the general population.

A great proportion of the causes of death related to epilepsy, especially in low- and middle-income countries, are potentially preventable, such as falls, drowning, burns and prolonged seizures.

Causes

Epilepsy is not contagious. Although many underlying disease mechanisms can lead to epilepsy, the cause of the disease is still unknown in about 50% of cases globally. The causes of epilepsy are divided into the following categories: structural, genetic, infectious, metabolic, immune and unknown. Examples include:

- brain damage from prenatal or perinatal causes (e.g. a loss of oxygen or trauma during birth, low birth weight)

- congenital abnormalities or genetic conditions with associated brain malformations

- a severe head injury

- a stroke that restricts the amount of oxygen to the brain

- an infection of the brain such as meningitis, encephalitis or neurocysticercosis

- certain genetic syndromes

- brain tumours

Treatment

Seizures can be controlled. Up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could become seizure free with appropriate use of antiseizure medicines. Discontinuing antiseizure medicine can be considered after 2 years without seizures and should take into account relevant clinical, social and personal factors.

What to do if someone is having a seizure

If you see someome having a seizure, there are some simple things you can do to help;

- only move them if they're in danger, such as near a busy road or hot cooker. If they are in a spafe space, do not try and move them

- cushion their head if they're on the ground

- loosen any tight clothing around their neck, such as a collar or tie, to aid breathing

- turn them on to their side after their convulsions stop – read more about the recovery position

- stay with them and talk to them calmly until they recover

- note the time the seizure starts and finishes

Thank you for your time and support

Jake