Amy Lee, lead singer of the band Evanescence, has started a campaign to help find a cure for epilepsy.
Understanding Epilepsy:
The brain is the computer that runs our body, and like computers, our brains run on electricity. The electricity is produced by the cells that make up the brain. These cells (called neurons) produce just enough power for us to know what is going on around us and for us to do and think what we want. In some people, the neurons produce a power surge or unexpected burst of excess electricity. This sudden electrical burst overloads the brain and briefly interferes in how it works. When this happens, the person experiences a seizure. If it happens more than once the person is diagnosed as having epilepsy.
The electrical burst can happen in just a part of the brain or it can cover the entire brain. If only part of the brain is involved, the person has a ?partial seizure? ? the part of the brain that is overwhelmed can?t function as it normally does, so the person might not be able to talk for a few moments or they might have a sudden arm or leg jerk. If the seizure affects the whole brain, then the person?s muscles will tense up and they may fall to the floor and convulse. This is what many people think about when they think epileptic seizure.
In all, about one percent of the United States population has epilepsy ? roughly 2.8 million people. And, every year, 200,000 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed in America. The cause of seizures is usually not known. Sometimes it is inherited. Sometimes it is due to a head injury or a brain defect like a tumor. Most times the cause is a mystery. But, one thing is absolutely certain: You CANNOT catch epilepsy from someone else.
Anyone can develop epilepsy at any time. Again, we don?t always know why. Sometimes people who have seizures when they are young grow out of them. Sometimes they start happening when you get older.
Epilepsy is treatable and seizures in many cases are controllable. Most times, epilepsy is controlled through medication. Other forms of treatment include a special diet (mostly for kids) or a kind of epilepsy ?pacemaker? implanted in the chest to sends signals to help the brain regulate its electrical signals. For some, though, their seizures are resistant to everything else but brain surgery.
Controlling seizures through medical means is certainly very important, but someone is epilepsy has other challenges in their lives that may stop them from coming out of the shadows. These challenges are where we come in. We can help make their lives easier, and that?s mostly what this website is all about.
Your generosity...
*improves quality of life for people with epilepsy ? children, teens and adults who can?t enjoy what most of us take for granted;
*educates the public to eliminate misunderstanding, judgment and rejection, and helps people with epilepsy and their loved ones cope with its challenges;
*empowers advocacy for affordable health care and protection of civil rights for people with epilepsy;
*and funds medical and scientific research towards prevention and a cure.
Go to this link and put the banner in my sig into your sig. Please.
http://pokebeach.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=9728
Please help spread the word of this campaign, and even donate directly!!!!
I want to know who is helping make a difference, if you are donating or helping with the campaign, please post here. Thanks Pokebeach community.
Make a difference in the world by giving a little.
Understanding Epilepsy:
The brain is the computer that runs our body, and like computers, our brains run on electricity. The electricity is produced by the cells that make up the brain. These cells (called neurons) produce just enough power for us to know what is going on around us and for us to do and think what we want. In some people, the neurons produce a power surge or unexpected burst of excess electricity. This sudden electrical burst overloads the brain and briefly interferes in how it works. When this happens, the person experiences a seizure. If it happens more than once the person is diagnosed as having epilepsy.
The electrical burst can happen in just a part of the brain or it can cover the entire brain. If only part of the brain is involved, the person has a ?partial seizure? ? the part of the brain that is overwhelmed can?t function as it normally does, so the person might not be able to talk for a few moments or they might have a sudden arm or leg jerk. If the seizure affects the whole brain, then the person?s muscles will tense up and they may fall to the floor and convulse. This is what many people think about when they think epileptic seizure.
In all, about one percent of the United States population has epilepsy ? roughly 2.8 million people. And, every year, 200,000 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed in America. The cause of seizures is usually not known. Sometimes it is inherited. Sometimes it is due to a head injury or a brain defect like a tumor. Most times the cause is a mystery. But, one thing is absolutely certain: You CANNOT catch epilepsy from someone else.
Anyone can develop epilepsy at any time. Again, we don?t always know why. Sometimes people who have seizures when they are young grow out of them. Sometimes they start happening when you get older.
Epilepsy is treatable and seizures in many cases are controllable. Most times, epilepsy is controlled through medication. Other forms of treatment include a special diet (mostly for kids) or a kind of epilepsy ?pacemaker? implanted in the chest to sends signals to help the brain regulate its electrical signals. For some, though, their seizures are resistant to everything else but brain surgery.
Controlling seizures through medical means is certainly very important, but someone is epilepsy has other challenges in their lives that may stop them from coming out of the shadows. These challenges are where we come in. We can help make their lives easier, and that?s mostly what this website is all about.
Your generosity...
*improves quality of life for people with epilepsy ? children, teens and adults who can?t enjoy what most of us take for granted;
*educates the public to eliminate misunderstanding, judgment and rejection, and helps people with epilepsy and their loved ones cope with its challenges;
*empowers advocacy for affordable health care and protection of civil rights for people with epilepsy;
*and funds medical and scientific research towards prevention and a cure.
Go to this link and put the banner in my sig into your sig. Please.
http://pokebeach.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=9728
Please help spread the word of this campaign, and even donate directly!!!!
I want to know who is helping make a difference, if you are donating or helping with the campaign, please post here. Thanks Pokebeach community.
Make a difference in the world by giving a little.
