Living with epilepsy can be overwhelming and difficult, but you are not alone. Epilepsy Living with epilepsy, with the right education, can be manageable and living freely. At Foothills neurology we have a staff dedicated to providing you with tips and treatment to improve your quality of life and get you on track.
Epilepsy in the World
Epilepsy is a prevalent and common neurological condition that affects 65 million people worldwide, with over 2 million people living in the United States with epilepsy. While even 1 in 3 people live with uncontrollable seizures because no available treatment works for them, many others are able to manage their condition with medication or other therapies. With 150,000 new cases being added each year, epilepsy continues to impact individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Increased awareness, early diagnosis, and access to proper care are essential. Ongoing research is helping to improve treatments, offering hope for better seizure control and quality of life.
Self-Monitor
When you have epilepsy its important to self-monitor. This means keeping track of your seizures, mood shifts, side effects of treatment and other symptoms. If you know how often you have seizures and the environments and possible triggers, treatment will be easier, and a doctor can better diagnose your triggers. There are various apps and ways to track your epilepsy making it easier to remember when you have seizures and pinpoint triggers. Another great way to self-monitor and ensure someone is always there for you is to invest in a seizure dog. Not only will they be your best friend and companion but also know when to alert and warn you of an oncoming seizure.
The epilepsy foundation has an Epilepsy Foundation My Seizure Diary as a self-management tool that can monitor and track triggers and health events that may affect your seizures. This app can also manage medication and other therapies. This app also organizes your health history and even help you remember to take certain medications.
Get Active
Exercise is important to leading a happy and healthy life. Not only does exercise decrease the risk of heart disease and other health conditions, but it also improves overall mood. This can relieve stress, a common trigger, and may reduce the number of seizures your body may have. In addition, regular physical activity can support lower cholesterol levels, improve sleep quality, and reduce fatigue.
Working out with epilepsy means finding the right exercise that suits you. One easy way to stay active is to go on walks or runs with a partner. This can ensure that if you have a seizure, you are not alone. It is also helpful to stay hydrated, avoid overexertion, and choose safe environments. Always consult your doctor before starting new routines.
Get Sleep
The right amount of sleep is needed for even those without epilepsy. Getting enough sleep can be a great immune system boost, ensuring that your body gets to rest and recharge to fight anything that comes its way. Sleep can also strengthen your heart and reduce high blood pressure. It can improve your mood and make sure that your energy levels are staying high. Sleep also improves memory and allows you to process and store memory more efficiently. Also, lack of sleep has shown to be a strong trigger for seizures. This is why it’s important to get on a good sleep cycle and possibly even purchase an appt o see if you`re getting the quality of sleep you need.