Several educational websites have posted a kind of epilepsy news that isn’t really news at all. Organizations in the US and the UK are combating common myths about epilepsy.

They’re correcting common misperceptions with accurate information about epilepsy, its causes, treatment, and what it’s like to live with this condition.

Some myths are very basic:

Here’s an item of epilepsy news that can’t be repeated too often. WebMD offers sound advice about how to respond when someone has a seizure.

The most important rule is this: Don’t panic. Seizures can appear frightening, but they only last a few minutes at the most. They look like a medical emergency, but they’re generally not. Help other people in the area stay calm, too, asking them to make room for the person who’s having a seizure.

Remember- Mother's Outrank Everyone!
 
If you have a child with epilepsy and the drugs simply are not working, you are likely searching for answers.  However, answers can be difficult to come by and that is why Arlene Martell wrote a book for mother’s who are dealing with this specific challenge.  Her E-book, Getting Adam Back, is an uplifting story that instills hope through her rendition about hers and her son's own personal triumph over epilepsy and autism.

Epilepsy statistics in the US and Canada reveal that it affects about 1% of the population. In the US, that’s nearly 3 million people and more than 300,000 in Canada. Every year, more than 200,000 US citizens and 14,000 Canadians learn they have this condition.

In both Canada and the US, one calendar month each year is designated as National Epilepsy Awareness Month. In March, Canadians wear a lavender ribbon and fragrant flower to draw attention to a disorder that affects more than 300,000 of their fellow citizens. In the States, November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, a tradition that began in 1970. Nearly 2.5 million Americans have epilepsy.

When you or someone you love has had a seizure for the first time, it can be frightening. Naturally, you want to know as soon as possible what caused it. But making a diagnosis of epilepsy often isn’t a quick process. Finding answers usually involves several exams and tests.

Injuries to the brain from trauma are a common cause of seizure disorders. When it comes to head injuries and epilepsy, the more severe the injury, the greater the likelihood of seizures.

Injuries to the front and sides of the brain are more likely to result in epilepsy. Between five and ten percent of people with traumatic brain injuries develop seizures as a result.

One of the best ways to help your child at school is to treat her seizure disorder like any one of a number of other conditions that children have. Here are some specific strategies for helping a child with epilepsy succeed in the classroom.

Some epilepsy news is sobering. Seizures and learning problems often go hand in hand. One expert estimates that nearly 50% of people with epilepsy also have a learning disability. According to The Hospital for Sick Children, both seizures and the medications used to treat them can cause learning problems.

Following a strict diet isn’t easy—but it helps reduce seizures. More and more evidence shows that a high fat, low carbohydrate ketogenic diet is an effective treatment for seizure disorders. This kind of epilepsy news is welcome, indeed!

How effective is changing what you eat at preventing seizures?