National Epilepsy Awareness Month

National Epilepsy Awareness Month, marked in November, is set aside for people to learn about epilepsy and its causes and symptoms. 

In November, organizations across the country will come together to offer information about the disease, research, treatment, prevention and resources to combat epilepsy.

Epilepsy is the fourth most common of all neurological diseases. Roughly 1 in 26, or 3.4 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with epilepsy at some time in their life.

Epilepsy was misunderstood and stigmatized throughout much of history. People believed that those living with the disease were possessed by spirits or demons. Hippocrates, the famous Roman physician, discarded the idea epilepsy was a supernatural phenomenon. Instead, Hippocrates posited that epilepsy is a brain malady. It wasn’t until the 17^th Century that the medical community began to credit Hippocrates’ notion. Still, epilepsy carries stigma and misunderstanding to this day. People with epilepsy were not allowed to marry in the United States until 1980, according to www.nationaltoday.com.

Epilepsy affects people in all demographics.

Ways to recognize the month and help raise awareness about epilepsy include registering for an epilepsy walk, learning more about the disease by visiting websites such as www.ana-neurosurgery.com or www.epilepsy.com or wearing purple on Nov. 17, National Epilepsy Day.