Epilepsy Stats and Facts: By Phylis @ Epilepsy.com

I call epilepsy a “stealth” disease, but it’s difficult to imagine how so few people can know about a disease that affects so many. For example, few people know: * Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans of all ages – more than Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and Parkinson’s Disease combined. * In America, Epilepsy is as common as Breast Cancer, and takes as many lives. *Almost 500 new cases of Epilepsy are diagnosed every day in the United States. * Epilepsy affects 50,000,000 people worldwide. * One in 100 people will develop Epilepsy. * One in 10 people will suffer a seizure in their lifetime. * This year another 200,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with Epilepsy. * Each year over 125,000 to 150,000 are newly diagnosed with Epilepsy. * 30% of those diagnosed are children. * Epilepsy can develop at any age and can be a result of genetics, stroke, head injury, and many other factors. * For many soldiers suffering traumatic brain injury on the battlefield, Epilepsy will be a long-term consequence. * In two-thirds of patients diagnosed with Epilepsy, the cause is unknown. * In over 30% of patients, seizures cannot be controlled with treatment. * Uncontrolled seizures may lead to brain damage and death. * Up to 50,000 Americans die each year from seizures and related causes. * The mortality rate among people with Epilepsy is two to three times higher than the general population. * Risk of sudden death among those with Epilepsy is twenty-four times greater. * Epilepsy results in an estimated annual cost of $15.5 billion in medical costs and lost or reduced earnings and production. * Historically, epilepsy research has been under-funded. Each year NIH spends $30 billion of medical research, but just ½ of 1% is spent on epilepsy. * The Federal government spends much less on Epilepsy research compared to other diseases, many which affect fewer people. * St Valentine is the patron saint of people with epilepsy!