epilepsy 1 in 100

1 in 100Live with Epilepsy

Epilepsy Waterloo-Wellington

What is epilepsy?

• Epilepsy is a physical condition characterized by sudden, brief changes in how the brain works.

• It is a symptom of a neurological disorder - a disorder that affects the brain and shows itself in the form of seizures.

of all agesand femalesEpilepsy affects males

There are more than twice as many

people with Epilepsy in Canada as

the number of people with cerebral

palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple

sclerosis, and cystic fibrosis

combined

2X

• head injuries, trauma at birth or high fever, stroke, meningitis, abnormalities in the blood vessels of the brain, brain tumors, poisoning (from substance abuse)

What causes epilepsy?

65% • unknown causes

35%

Most of the time, epilepsy is not inherited.

The average number of

people that will learn they

have epilepsy, every day,

in Canada.

42

Epilepsy affects:• 11,000 people in Waterloo-Wellington

• 400,000 people in Canada

• 40 million people world-wide

It is estimated that 1 in every 1000 people with epilepsy will die from

Sudden Unexpected and Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

1 in every 1000 people

Currently there is no cure for epilepsy.

However, proper treatment of the condition can help control seizures and promote a full and functional lifestyle.

Can it be Cured?

How is it treated?

Through medication, vagus nerve stimulation, ketogenic diet (for children), or brain surgery.

Medications can help control seizures in 50-70% of people with epilepsy; however, they are not a cure and can often have side effects.

Many successful people have epilepsy

Florence Griffith Joyner

World record holder 100 and 200 m sprints

Lindsay Buckingham

Lead guitaristFleetwood Mac

Hugo Weaving

ActorLord of the Rings

Epilepsy is not a

PRINCE Singer with

childhood epilepsy

barrier to success

Chanda GunnGoalie for Women’s US hockey Olympic Team

SocratesPhilosopher

Harriet Tubman

African-American Abolitionist

Napoleon Bonaparte

Conqueror

It is a motivator Charles Dickens

Writer

George Frederick Handel

Composer and Musician

Julius Caesar

Leader Vincent van Gogh

Painter

Danny Glover

Actor & Activist

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Epilepsy is a disorder that affects a wide-range of people, from all walks of life ―

yet it is rarely talked about.

Epilepsy Waterloo-Wellington can help

Epilepsy Waterloo-Wellington is a community based agency whose team of caring members, volunteers, and staff are dedicated to improving the quality of life for those with epilepsy and their support network through counselling, education, advocacy, and public awareness.

www.epilww.com