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What is SUDEP? -

SUDEP is the sudden, unexpected death of someone with epilepsy, who was otherwise healthy. In SUDEP cases, no other cause of death is found when.

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Continual seizures -

People who continue to have seizures are at greater risk of several complications, which is why helping to prevent them is so important.

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Cause of death -

Usually, someone who dies of a SUDEP will be completely healthy and when the autopsy is done there is no other cause of death.

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One in a thousand sufferers -

Every year, one in a thousand people who have epilepsy die of SUDEP. It’s the leading cause of death for people with uncontrolled seizures.

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It's very poorly understood -

The people who die in this tragic way are sadly often found in their beds after passing and haven’t appeared to have had a convulsive seizure.

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In a third of cases -

In a third of the cases, there is a witnessed seizure close to the time of death, although it’s not clear that this is what causes the death.

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It's thought to differ by individual -

There’s very little known about what causes the death. It’s thought that it differs between cases.

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It's linked with an irregular heartbeat -

Researchers suspect that seizures may lead to an irregular heartbeat, which then leads to further complications.

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Breathing difficulties may be involved -

Researchers think that a seizure causes an irregular heart rhythm. Other research has shown that breathing difficulties following a seizure lead to death.

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The only action is to lower risk of seizures -

Until answers are found, the best way of actually preventing it is to lower the risk of seizures because people with all types of epilepsy are at risk.

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How to lower the risk of seizures -

For most people living with the condition, it can be controlled with therapies and good management practices, like avoiding triggers.

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The cause of epilepsy and seizures -

In general, epilepsy is caused by an abnormal circuit activity in the brain.

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The cause of seizures -

Faulty wiring, abnormal development, brain inflammation, physical injury, and infection can all lead to seizures and epilepsy.

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Steps to avoid seizures -

There are some steps that we can take beyond actually being in the middle of a strobe light-fueled disco. Epilepsy surgery is one of them.

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Steps to avoid seizures -

Using neurostimulation devices, dietary therapies, and participating in research to find new, more effective therapies are some other steps to avoid seizures.

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The zero seizure goal -

Essentially you’re trying to minimize and ideally be subject to zero seizures to avoid it because seizures are the only correlating cause we know of so far.

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Take medication seriously -

You can start by taking medication for seizures religiously and at the right dosage. You can also see a doctor regularly to keep an eye on things.

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Sleep -

Ensure you get enough sleep every night. The amount you get will depend on your age, but adults are supposed to get at least seven hours a night.

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Alcohol and substances -

Drinking too much and taking recreational drugs doesn’t just mess with other aspects of your health like your diet and your sleep, but you may put yourself at risk when you’re drunk or high.

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Lifestyle -

People who suffer from seizures will probably need to adjust their lifestyles accordingly. You don’t want to be at clubs every weekend, for instance.

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Keep a diary related to it -

Each individual should keep track of their triggers and log their seizures with a diary. This can help them keep track of their sleep, diet, and any personal risk factors.

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Learn how to deal with an emergency -

If you don’t have epilepsy yourself but know someone who does or wants to be able to help in an emergency, learn how to do seizure first aid.

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Get a monitor -

Since SUDEP occurs while someone is sleeping, you can consider acquiring a monitor that could save a life if something should happen during the night.

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Share a room -

Sharing a room might not be the most attractive option in many circumstances, but it’s sure to be useful in the case of a seizure at night.

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There's still always a risk of a SUDEP -

People who suffer from the disease can decrease their chances of having a SUDEP, but sadly there’s no completely eradicating the chances. Much like how non-smokers are still able to get lung cancer.

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Celebrities with epilepsy -

It's a very common disease and there's a lot to be done to manage it. Most people learn how to manage it and live normal lives. Some even live extraordinary lives. Some examples are Neil Young, Elton John, and Prince.

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Cameron Boyce -

The Cameron Boyce Foundation was set up after Cameron Boyce, who was a successful actor recognized by millions, died of SUDEP at just 20 years old. The Cameron Boyce Foundation and the Epilepsy Foundation have joined forces to create Know SUDEP Now, an initiative which raises awareness about the issue.

Sources: (Epilepsy Foundation)

See also: Prader-Willi syndrome: the rare condition affecting infants and children

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