“There are times when people with epilepsy die without
warning and no cause is found. This is
known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy or SUDEP. The risk is low but real. And although it’s a difficult issue to face,
it’s important to consider when making lifestyle choices, so you can lower your
risk of SUDEP.”- www.MakingSenseOfSUDEP.org
Today is SUDEP
Awareness day. Did you know that
approximately one out of every 1000 people who have epilepsy die from SUDEP
every year? Last year Disney actor
Cameron Boyce lost his life to SUDEP, bringing further awareness of the
condition into the news.
The cause of SUDEP is unknown, but researchers continue to
investigate the connection between seizures and their effect on cardiac issues
and breathing. The condition shares many similarities with SIDS (Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome.)
Risk factors for SUDEP include having frequent generalized seizures,
particularly when they occur at night.
Males are more prone to SUDEP, as are people who have had epilepsy for
more than 15 years and those who developed epilepsy before the age of 16.
It is important to be educated about SUDEP and to minimize your risks
by seeing your neurologist regularly, taking medications on time, getting
enough sleep, avoiding alcohol and other seizure triggers and making sure your
network of family and friends are informed about your epilepsy and aware of
what to do when you have a seizure. If
medications are not keeping your seizures under control, look into alternative
treatments to achieve the best possible seizure-control.
Amanda’s neurologist has told her that she is at risk for SUDEP. Stay tuned for a post about how her
seizure-response service dog helps in the event of an emergency!
For further information on SUDEP you might visit the following
websites:
https://www.epilepsy.ca/sudep.html
https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/early-death-and-sudep/sudep
SUDEP.org
SUDEPAware.org
https://www.sudep.news/about-sudep
We can help! |
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