What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It’s also called a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.

A seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. One in 10 adults will have a seizure sometime during their life.

Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. They can have many symptoms, from convulsions and loss of consciousness to some that are not always recognized as seizures by the person experiencing them or by health care professionals: blank staring, lip smacking, or jerking movements of arms and legs.

Are you more of a visual person? Click Here to see a video about Epilepsy

Types of Seizures

There are many different types of seizures. The kind of seizure a person has depends on which part and how much of the brain is affected by the electrical disturbance that produces seizures. More on types of seizures

Prevalence and Incidence

Almost 3 million people in the U.S. have some form of epilepsy. About 200,000 new cases of seizure disorders and epilepsy are diagnosed each year. More on prevalence and incidence...

Glossary of Terms

What is an absence seizure? It is a lapse in consciousness with a blank stare that begins and ends within a few seconds. Learn more in our glossary of terms...

Genetics and Epilepsy

Some types of epilepsy can be inherited. Parents with a history of generalized absence seizures are more likely to have children with the same condition than those with other generalized seizures... More on genetics and epilepsy...

What You Should Know About SUDEP

Most people with epilepsy live a full life span. However, there are potential factors associated with living with epilepsy and seizures that may increase the risk of early death. FIND OUT MORE

You can also visit the Danny Did Foundation, the Chelsea Hutchison Foundation or the SUDEP Aware website for additional information.

Seizure First Aid

First aid for seizures is simple. Keep calm and make sure the person having the seizure is comfortable and safe from harm. FIND OUT MORE

More About Epilepsy

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Check out The Epilepsy Foundation's National library

The Foundation's National library is comprehensive and up to date . The Epilepsy Foundation's library holds one of the largest collections of epilepsy and seizure disorder materials in the world.