What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a common and serious neurological condition which affects the brain and nervous system. Seizures always start in the brain and are caused by many different underlying causes, including a person's genetics, a structural change in the brain or from other underlying conditions.

There are over 40 different types of seizure, and not all of them are physical which is why epilepsy can also be an invisible condition.

Anyone can develop epilepsy, at any time of life.

Epilepsy is usually only diagnosed after a person has had more than one seizure and not all seizures are due to epilepsy. Epilepsy can happen in people of all ages, races and social classes. Epilepsy is most commonly diagnosed in children and in people over 65. There are over half a million people with epilepsy in the UK, so around 1 in 100 people.

Causes of epilepsy

Different epilepsies are due to many different underlying causes. The causes can be complex, and sometimes hard to identify. A person might start having seizures because they have inherited epilepsy from one or both parents, a new change in a person's genes, a structural change in a person's brain or changes to the brain from certain conditions.

Learn more about the causes of epilepsy here

The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) announced some new names for seizures in May 2017. With ILAE updating their seizure classifications, it's vital that health care professionals and people with epilepsy understand the new classification system and the new terminology used.

Seizures are now divided into groups depending on:

• Where they start in the brain (onset)

• Whether or not a person's awareness is affected

• Whether or not seizures involve other symptoms, such as movement

• Depending on where they start, seizures are described as being focal onset, generalised onset or unknown onset.

Triggers are situations that can bring on a seizure in some people with epilepsy. Some people's seizures are brought on by certain situations. Triggers can differ from person to person, but common triggers include tiredness and lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and not taking medication. For some people, if they know what triggers their seizures, they may be able to avoid these triggers and so lessen the chances of having a seizure.

What's the difference between triggers and causes?

Triggers for seizures are not the same as causes for epilepsy. A trigger for someone to have their first seizure may be a stressful situation, but the underlying cause for that person to start having seizures may be quite different. Causes can be genetic or as a result of structural damage to the brain. See more about causes of epilepsy.

Everyone should know what to do when they see someone having a seizure.

Epileptic seizures can be divided into two main types: focal seizures and generalised seizures. Seizures can vary from one person to another and how people are affected and how they recover after seizures varies. How you can best help someone during a seizure depends on what type of seizure they have and how it affects them.

First Aid quick guide (This guide is particularly relevant for tonic clonic seizures where the person shakes or jerks)

Although seizures can be frightening to see, they are not usually a medical emergency. Usually, once the seizure stops, the person recovers and their breathing goes back to normal.

How to help if someone is having a seizure

• Try to stay calm.

• Look around - is the person in a dangerous place? If not, don't move them. Move objects like furniture away from them.

• Note the time the seizure starts.

• Cushion their head with something soft if they have collapsed to the ground.

• Look for medical jewellery or an ID card for information about what to do.

• Don't hold them down and don't put anything in their mouth.

• Try to stop other people crowding around.

• After the seizure has stopped, gently put them into the recovery position and check that their breathing is returning to normal. Gently check their mouth to see that nothing is blocking their airway such as food or false teeth. If their breathing sounds difficult after the seizure has stopped, call for an ambulance.

• Try to minimise any embarrassment. If they have wet themselves, deal with this as privately as possible.

• Stay with them until they are fully recovered. They may need gentle reassurance.

• Do not give them anything to eat or drink until they are fully recovered

When to call 999

Usually, when a person has an epileptic seizure there is no need to call an ambulance. However, always dial 999 for an ambulance if any of the following apply:

• you know it is the person’s first seizure;

• they have injured themselves badly;

• they have trouble breathing after the seizure has stopped;

• one seizure immediately follows another with no recovery in between;

• the seizure lasts two minutes longer than is usual for them; or you do not know how long their seizures lasted;

• if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes;

• after the seizure has finished they do not regain consciousness for 10 minutes or more;

• the type of seizure if unlike their “normal” seizures.

if you are unsure whether or not to call an ambulance you are better off to call one rather than risk not calling. If you need to make a call to the emergency services on an Android or iPhone device, there are ways to automatically send your GPS location to the emergency services at the same time.