Epilepsy is a physical condition characterized by sudden, brief changes in how the brain works.
It is a symptom of a neurological disorder - a disorder that affects the brain and shows itself in the form of seizures. They include people who take anticonvulsant drugs or who have had a seizure within the past 5 years. Due to the stigma surrounding epilepsy and the prejudice with which society has historically treated people with epilepsy, many with the disorder are reluctant to admit it or to seek treatment. Thus the prevalence of epilepsy is likely much higher. Each day in Canada, an average of 34 people learn that they have epilepsy.