We are experiencing high call volumes: Use your account on the Mayo Clinic app or patient portal to check symptoms, get care recommendations and make an appointment.
You can’t swallow your tongue during a seizure. It’s physically impossible.
You should never force something into the mouth of someone having a seizure.
Don’t restrain someone having a seizure. Most seizures end in seconds or a few minutes on their own. You can protect the person from injury by following simple first aid steps.
Epilepsy is not contagious. You can’t catch epilepsy from another person.
Anyone can develop epilepsy. Seizures start for the first time in people over age 65 almost as often as it does in children. Seizures in the elderly often are the after effect of other health problems, such as stroke and heart disease.
Most people with epilepsy can do the same things that people without epilepsy can do. However, some people with frequent seizures may not be able to work, drive or may have challenges in other parts of their life.
People with epilepsy can handle jobs with responsibility and stress. People with seizure disorders are found in all walks of life.
Even with today’s medication, epilepsy cannot be cured. Epilepsy is a chronic medical problem that, for many people, can successfully be treated. However, treatment doesn't work for everyone. At least 1 million people in the U.S. have uncontrolled epilepsy.
People can die from epileptic seizures. While death doesn’t frequently occur, epilepsy is a serious condition. About 22,000 to 42,000 deaths in the U.S. each year occur from these seizure emergencies.