What does “healthy living” mean to you?

Wellness Wheel

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People think of different things when they hear the term “healthy living.” Many people with epilepsy report good health despite their seizures. Others find that seizures affect their overall health in a number of ways. For example,

Seizures could lead to injuries and accidents, such as broken bones, head trauma, or pneumonia.

Some side effects of seizure medications can affect thinking, mood, bone health, or other body systems.

Other conditions associated with epilepsy can cause more problems than the seizures.

How “healthy” are people living with epilepsy?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other researchers have been looking at the health of people with epilepsy and found some startling numbers. These studies looked at people with “active epilepsy” – defined as taking seizure medication for epilepsy or having a seizure within the past year– compared to people with a history of epilepsy or no epilepsy.

Adults with active epilepsy are

Self-care

Movement and using their hands

Learning

Communication

Behavior

How does your overall health impact your seizure control?

This section stresses the importance of looking at our overall health and wellness, in addition to how seizures and epilepsy affects us. A key part of managing seizures is staying healthy or getting as healthy as we can. It also means looking at how our health affects our seizures.

Other illnesses or treatments for other health conditions can make a person more likely to have a seizure. Paying attention to these seizure triggers is an important part of seizure management.

Other illnesses can affect a person’s safety or make them at greater risk of injury from falls with seizures. Assessing your overall health should be part of knowing one’s risks and developing safety plans.

Help with Healthy Living is Here

The Epilepsy Foundation’s Wellness Institute wants to raise awareness about the importance of healthy living for your overall wellness, as well as improving seizure control. Getting or keeping healthy is part of self-management or taking care of yourself.

This section addresses key components of wellness that are similar across many chronic health problems. The areas of diet and nutrition, fitness and exercise, sleep, stress, and emotional health are highlighted to help you take action for your health.

You’ll find more information about managing work, play, school, finances, and more under our Independent Living section.

Resources