Lately there have been articles in the NY Times, Newsweek and the Huffington Post on the staggering number of people affected by epilepsy and the broad impact this disorder has on so many people.

What is Epilepsy?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), “Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally.” This means that when those clusters of nerve cells in the brain signal in a way they aren’t supposed to, the rest of the body reacts in a way it’s not supposed to as well. Doctors refer to this reaction as a seizure. But not everyone who has a seizure has epilepsy. And because everybody is different, there are many different reactions that are classified as seizures. This can include muscle spasms, strange sensations, vivid emotions and even loss of consciousness.

You might be surprised to learn how many people are living with and dying as a result of epilepsy.

Did you know?

1.   Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder in the US after Alzheimer's and
stroke according to the Epilepsy Foundation of America.

2.   Epilepsy and seizures affect 3 million Americans of all ages. That's more than the entire
population of most large cities including Philadelphia or Chicago. It’s also DOUBLE the number
of people known to be affected by autism.

3.   Epilepsy affects 50 million people worldwide. That's more people than were living with HIV/
AIDS in 2008 according to UNAIDS.

4.   200,000 new cases are diagnosed in the US each year. That’s about the same number of
people who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

5.   According to the Epilepsy Foundation of America, about the same number of people die from
seizures as die from breast cancer.

6.   More than 20 percent of the 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year are children under the
age of 15.

7.   Every two minutes someone is diagnosed with epilepsy in the US.

8.   In 70 percent of the cases diagnosed, no known cause is found. Yep you read that right, 70
percent.

9.   There are over 40 different types of seizures. Not all of them involve convulsions.

10.   The mortality rate is 2 to 3 times higher among people with epilepsy. Oh yeah, and the risk of
sudden death is (brace yourself) 24 times greater.

So don’t be surprised if you know someone with epilepsy considering these numbers. And think
about these stats the next time you see an ad for breast cancer awareness.

These statistics are available via the Epilepsy Foundation of America and UNAID, WHO and
NINDS.

Jessica Keenan Smith, founder of Living Well With Epilepsy, is an author, blogger, and an
expert in niche marketing. Jessica has lived with epilepsy for more than 25 years and Living
Well has become resource to the more than 50 million people worldwide affected by epilepsy.
Jessica’s writing can also be found on Feministing.com, SheWrites.com, Exhalezine.com and
GoodDaysBadDays.net among other news outlets. She is an active member of the Society of
Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and her work includes essays, articles, blog
posts and picture books. In addition, she speaks on living with epilepsy, making the most of
social media, and other topics.