I've been posting some facts on my facebook page everyday in november for epilepsy awareness month. Here are the 7 that I have so far.
November is Epilepsy Awareness month.
Epilepsy fact of the day #1 Did you know that epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans of all ages – more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease combined. Almost 500 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed every day in the United States. Epilepsy affects 50,000,000 people worldwide.
Epilepsy fact #2
Recurring seizures are also a burden for those living with brain tumors and other disorders such as cerebral palsy, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, tuberous sclerosis, and a variety of genetic syndromes.
Epilepsy fact of the day #3 - Famous people with epilepsy include Julius Caesar, Socrates, Alexander the Great, Tchaikovsky, Van Gogh, Dostoyevski, Dickens, Dante, da Vinci, Mozart and Alfred Nobel.
Epilepsy fact #4 of the day:
Did you know that seizure response dogs are a special type of service dog, specifically trained to help someone who has epilepsy or a seizure disorder.
Due to the differing needs between each case, every potential seizure dog receives specialized training. Tasks for seizure dogs may include, but are not limited to:
~Summoning help, either by finding another person or activating a medical alert or pre-programmed phone
~Pulling potentially dangerous objects away from the person's body
"Blocking" to keep individuals with absence seizures and complex partial seizures from walking into obstacles, streets, and other dangerous areas that can result in bodily injury or death
~Attempting to arouse the unconscious handler during or after a seizure
~Providing physical support (and the secondary benefit of emotional support, although this is not legally considered a task.)
~Carrying information regarding the dog, the handler's medical condition, instructions for first responders emergency medication and oxygen
Additionally, some dogs may develop the ability to sense an impending seizure. This behavior is usually reported to have arisen spontaneously and developed over a period of time.
Epilepsy fact of the day #5: Epilepsy can develop at any age and can be a result of genetics, stroke, head injury, and many other factors.
Epilepsy fact #6: Historically, epilepsy research has been under-funded. Federal dollars spent on research pale in comparison to those spent on other diseases, many of which affect fewer people than epilepsy.
Epilepsy fact of the day #7: For many soldiers suffering traumatic brain injury on the battlefield, epilepsy will be a long-term consequence.
I also have posted this PSA that I found on youtube
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=htt...QGK9zsaAQG2TNqcmLHug3HXJTeruuDSKh03mWpBN3KFsw