May 21, 2013

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Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia

The Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia was established in 1978 to promote awareness about epilepsy and provide assistance to those with the disorder.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia provides these services for Virginians with epilepsy:

  • training sessions for professionals, families, friends, and colleagues.
  • public education programs with puppets for schools and talk shows on radio and television.
  • one time medication assistance
  • transportation assistance
  • assistance with general epilepsy-related emergencies.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia is governed by a Board of Directors dedicated to assisting Virginians with epilepsy.

 

A Professional Advisory Board assists the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia with legal and medical issues.

 

The Foundation is a nonprofit voluntary health organization exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501 (C) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by individual donors.

Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia FAQ

Q: What is Epilepsy?
A: Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes people to have recurrent, or more than one seizure. A seizure is a brief disruption of electrical activity in the brain.
  • Epilepsy is not contagious.
  • Epilepsy is not a mental illness.
  • Epilepsy is not mental retardation.

Q: Who has Epilepsy?
A: Approximately 2.2 million Americans have epilepsy, and over 150,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. One in 10 people will have a seizure at some point in their lives. Over 300,000 young people in the United States have epilepsy.

Epilepsy doesn't discriminate. It affects children and adults, men and women and people of all races, religions, ethnic backgrounds and social classes. While epilepsy is most often diagnosed either in childhood or after the age of 65, it can occur at any age.

Q: How is Epilepsy Diagnosed?
A: Patient history, neurological examination, blood work and other clinical tests are all important in diagnosing epilepsy. Eyewitness accounts of a patient's seizures may also be important in helping the doctor determine the type of seizures involved.

The electroencephalograph (EEG) is the most commonly used test in diagnosing epilepsy. An EEG provides a continuous recording of electrical activity in the brain during the test. Some patterns of activity are unique to particular forms of seizures.

In some situations, physicians may also use CT scans, MRIs and PET scans to look at the internal structure and function of the brain. These tests may help pinpoint causes of seizures.

Q: What Causes Epilepsy?
A: More than half the time, the cause is unknown. Where a cause can be determined, it is most often one of these:
  • Head injury
  • Infections that affect the brain
  • Stroke
  • Brain tumor
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Genetic factors

Q: How is Epilepsy Treated?
A:
  • Medication: Most people achieve good seizure control on one or more of the variety of medications currently approved for the treatment of epilepsy.
  • Surgery: Several types of surgery may be used for patients whose seizures do not respond to medication. Surgery may be used when a place where the seizures are coming from can be determined and removal of that part of the brain can be done without causing damage to the other vital functions the brain needs to perform.
  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation: A small pacemaker-like device is implanted in the left chest wall with a lead attached to the vagus nerve. The device is then programmed to deliver electrical stimulation to the brain at regular intervals. Up to two-thirds of patients whose seizures do not respond adequately to medication see improvement with this method.
  • Ketogenic Diet: Used primarily in children, this medically supervised high fat, low carbohydrate, low protein diet has been shown to benefit as many as two-thirds of the children who can maintain it.

How to Handle a Seizure

  • Don't panic!
  • Note time when the seizure starts.
  • Direct the person away from hazards or remove objects that may present a danger.
  • If the person is having a convulsive seizure, turn him on his side and cushion his head.
  • Remove glasses and loosen tight clothing.
  • Do NOT put anything in the mouth.
  • Do NOT give liquids or medication.
  • Do NOT restrain.
  • Remain present until the person regains conscious awareness of his surroundings.

When to Call 911

Most seizures are not medical emergencies, but an ambulance should be called if:

  • The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes or one seizure immediately follows another.
  • The person does not resume normal breathing after the seizure ends.
  • There is no medical ID and no known history of seizures.
  • There is an obvious injury.
  • The person is pregnant or has diabetes.
  • The seizure happens in water.
  • The person requests an ambulance.

Types of Seizures

Seizures can take many different forms, often not resembling the convulsions that most people associate with epilepsy.  Common types of seizures include:

  • Generalized Tonic Clonic.  Convulsions, stiff and rigid muscles, jerking.
  • Absence.  Blank stare lasting only a few seconds, sometimes accompanied by blinking or chewing motions.
  • Complex Partial (Psychomotor/Temporal Lobe).  Random activity where the person is out of touch with his or her surroundings.
  • Simple Partial.  Jerking in one or more parts of the body or sensory distortions that may or may not be obvious to other people.
  • Atonic (Deep Attacks).  Sudden collapse with recovery within a minute.
  • Myoclonic.  Sudden, brief, massive jerks involving all or part of the body.

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Contact Information

Address: 500 Ray C. Hunt Drive
City, State, Zip: Charlottesville VA, 22903
Phone: (434) 924-8669
Email: Suzanne: srb3m@virginia.edu
Gina: Gina1216@comcast.net
Website: http://www.efva.org/foundation_home.htm
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Using Helmets to Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the largest known cause of epilepsy.
  • Children between the ages of 5 and 14 have the highest rate of brain injury among all riders.
  • Each year, more than 500,000 children nationwide visit emergency rooms due to bicycle accidents.
  • More than half of these collisions happen on neighborhood streets, on sidewalks or playgrounds.
  • While it is well understood that the risk of brain injury and epilepsy is significantly reduced for riders who wear protective helmets, a minority of Virginia children wear them.
  • According to the Division of Injury and Violence Prevention of the Virginia Department of Health, 4,055 TBI related hospitalizations occurred in 2005.  The TBI related injuries resulted in hospitalization charges of more than $129 million, with a median cost per episode of care of $17,796.  The average length of stay for TBI was 6.2 days.
  • If we can have 700 extra kids wear a helmet we can prevent post-traumatic epilepsy and other problems that follow TBI and have statewide savings of about $12,457,200.
  • The Virginia General Assembly passed an enabling law in 1993 encouraging localities to pass directives about bicycle laws.