25 Mar 🟣🟣🟣 Purple Day 🟣🟣🟣 | 26 March 2022 | Epilepsy Awareness
If purple is your favourite colour, then you can go a bit purple-crazy this weekend to support Purple Day.
Purple Day is a global initiative dedicated to raising epilepsy awareness, dispelling myths, and increasing support to those affected.
Founded in 2008 by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada, the Purple Day concept was born out of Cassidy’s own struggles with epilepsy, her motivation to get people talking about the condition, and her desire to let those impacted by seizures know that they are not alone.
Cassidy named the day ‘Purple Day’ after the internationally recognised colour for epilepsy, lavender.
Since that time, Purple Day has grown into a much loved and supported national awareness day with thousands of people across Australia rallying their private, academic, and corporate communities to raise much needed awareness and funds for those affected by epilepsy.
Epilepsy General
- Epilepsy is a disease of the brain that affects people of all ages
- A person who has epilepsy has a tendency to have spontaneous, recurrent seizures
- An estimated 65 million people worldwide have epilepsy and 80% of them live in developing countries
- Approximately 3% to 3.5% of Australians will experience epilepsy at some point in their lives
- While all people with epilepsy experience seizures, not all people who have seizures have epilepsy. Some seizures may happen after an acute insult to the brain (eg head injury) or toxic or systemic illness (eg febrile seizure, drug overdose, alcohol withdrawal) and do not have the tendency to recur (unless the underlying cause recurs). They are generally considered a “once off” seizure.
- Over 250,000 Australians are currently living with epilepsy.
Lifestyle
- Epilepsy is more than just seizures. Epilepsy can have a significant social and psychological impact and often affects independence, learning, employment opportunities, relationships, mental health, and quality of life
- People with epilepsy often face social stigma, discrimination, and exclusion. A fundamental part of reducing this stigma is to raise public and professional awareness.
- People with epilepsy can obtain a driver’s licence if their seizures are controlled by medication or if they fulfil conditions and guidelines set out by the driving authorities.
- Epilepsy is not a mental illness, but people with epilepsy are at higher risk of anxiety and depression.
Treatment
- With treatment, up to two-thirds of people with epilepsy can be seizure free
- About three quarters of people in developing countries do not get the treatment they need
- After 2 to 5 years of successful treatment and being seizure-free, medications can be withdrawn in about 70% of children and 60% of adults without later relapse
- A small percentage of people may be suitable for epilepsy surgery
- Over half the number of people who have surgery become seizure free long term. Many others have fewer or less severe seizures after surgery.
- Other treatment options for people who cannot obtain seizure control with medications include
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation,
- Dietary therapies
- Deep Brain Stimulation.
For more information you can visit https://www.epilepsy.org.au/ or you can make an appointment with one of our GP’s at the Timboon Clinic by calling (03) 5558 6088.
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