It’s Purple Day: Epilepsy Awareness & Resources
- Category: Did You Know?
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Did you know that an estimated 1 out of 100 people have epilepsy? Each year, Purple Day is recognized around the world to increase epilepsy awareness. Last year, people in more than 85 countries participated by wearing purple and hosting events!
Locally, Governor Ralph Northam is recognizing Friday, March 26 as “Epilepsy Heroes Day” across Virginia with a recent proclamation. This recognition’s aim is to “increase public knowledge about epilepsy and seizure first aid and change the way people think about epilepsy and seizures.”
Also in Virginia, the Jamie and Brie Strong Act aims to protect more than 11,000 children living with epilepsy statewide. Introduced in 2020 by The Epilepsy foundation, high school student Jamie Van Cleave and middle school student Brie Strong, this ensures all school personnel are prepared to recognize and respond appropriately to students experiencing seizures.
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It’s also known as a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.
Around 200,000 new cases of seizure disorders and epilepsy are diagnosed each year.
The Virginia Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Winchester Medical Center (WMC) is one of only three accredited Level 4 Adult/Pediatric Epilepsy Centers in Virginia, as designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC). The NAEC defines Level 4 centers as the highest level centers, offering the most “complex forms of intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring, as well as more extensive medical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial treatment”.
WMC’s Level 4 center also offers a complete evaluation for epilepsy surgery, including intracranial electrode placement and surgical procedures to reduce seizure incidence and in some cases achieve seizure freedom.
The Virginia Comprehensive Epilepsy Program is a collaboration between WMC and two local practices, Winchester Neurological Consultants | Valley Health and Virginia Brain and Spine Center | Valley Health. The program serves adults and children experiencing difficulties with seizures and epilepsy, and includes diagnostic evaluation, medication management, guidance and dietary therapy from a registered dietitian, and ongoing support for patients.
Your primary care provider can request a comprehensive neurological evaluation by calling the Neurodiagnostic Center at Winchester Medical Center at 540-536-8287.
To schedule an appointment at the New Onset Seizure Clinic at Winchester Neurological Consultants | Valley Health, or to discuss your needs with our Epilepsy Program Coordinator, please call 540-450-2334.
Valley Health Providers
- Paul Lyons, MD, Board Certified in Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology, Sleep Medicine, specializing in pediatric epilepsy
- J. Craig Henry, MD, Board Certified in Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology, specializing in epilepsy
- Lee Selznick, MD, Board Certified in Neurological Surgery
- Laila Hammer, RD, Clinical Dietitian, Valley Health
Resources
Virginia Epilepsy Treatment | Health System in VA & WV (valleyhealthlink.com)
Epilepsy and Neurodevelopmental Clinic - Winchester Neurological Consultants - Physician
4 Ways to Get Better Seizure Control: CDC
Clinical Trials
Anyone with focal or generalized seizures interested in clinical trial opportunities with Winchester Neurological Consultants/Winchester Medical Center should reach out to our Clinical Research Specialist: Andrea Corcoran, RN at 540-536-7821 or at acorcor2@valleyhealthlink.com for information regarding clinical trials currently enrolling patients.