Epilepsy Awareness Day (National Purple Day)

Epilepsy is often misunderstood, and it is difficult to understand when it occurs to a friend, family member, or someone that you know. It is a neurological disorder that can change a person’s behavior. Also, it causes seizures and other body sensations. The seizures are caused by electrical activities that the brain produces. A person can feel frightened and can feel too nervous before the seizure occurs. After the seizure occurs, a person can still feel anxious and nervous.

The movements the person makes cannot be controlled and a person can be confused for a short term. Anyone can have epilepsy. Children might outgrow epilepsy. Yet, a medical doctor needs to treat the symptoms of epilepsy and keep track of it. Epilepsy makes someone lose consciousness and is vulnerable to falling when they have a seizure.

Therefore, it is recommended to get treated by a doctor if you have seizures that last a long time. If a seizure is more than five minutes and they have stopped breathing or have lost consciousness it is advisable to get medical attention. Epilepsy can occur if you have diabetes, are pregnant, or from a head injury. Furthermore, in some cases of Autism, a person can get seizures. When epilepsy is not treated it can cause further complications.

The causes of epilepsy can be due to genetics, medical conditions, developmental brain disorders, head injury during birth, parasites, or an infection such as meningitis and HIV. Also in some cases, dementia can develop seizures. Too much heat or changes in the weather can trigger seizures. The environment and stress can trigger a seizure especially if one drinks too much alcohol, takes substances, and uses drugs. Sleep deprivation and hormonal changes can also trigger epilepsy. 

However, epilepsy can be managed by changing one’s lifestyle and reducing stress. March 26^th is Epilepsy Awareness Day. It is also called Purple Day because purple is used to bring an understanding of epilepsy. You can wear a purple T-shirt, purple bracelet, or any other accessory that is purple to show your support for epilepsy awareness. Purple was selected for epilepsy awareness because of Cassidy Megan. 

Cassidy Megan founded Purple Day in 2008 to bring an understanding and an awareness of epilepsy. According to Cassidy Megan, the international flower of epilepsy is lavender. Purple Day is recognized globally. Approximately sixty million people have epilepsy. One out of four people are diagnosed with epilepsy. 

Depression can occur due to the stigma of having epilepsy. There are four types of epilepsy. Epilepsy can also occur because of strokes and trauma. Additionally, it can only affect one side of the brain which is called Focal Seizure. A seizure that lasts for more than five minutes needs to be treated medically. 

Know what triggers your seizures. Avoid caffeine and alcohol if it causes a seizure. Keep track of your seizures and do not miss the doctor’s appointments. Use the hashtag #Purple Day to show your epilepsy support. Here are resources about epilepsy and National Purple Day.

Epilepsy:

https://www.epilepsy.com

Purple Day:

https://www.purpleday.org

Epilepsy-Seizure Triggers:

https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/seizure-triggers

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