Like many other chronic diseases, epilepsy is more common than you think. Julius Caesar, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Joan of Arc, Vincent van Gogh, and movie star Danny Glover all have epilepsy in common. It affects about one percent of the population (more than 3 million people in this country alone) at one time or another during their lives. Anyone can get it, although males are somewhat more likely than females to be affected. If it’s so common, why aren’t we aware of people having seizures all around us? Because the good news is that epilepsy can be treated very successfully. When seizures begin, the key is to recognize what is going on so that you can get help. In this book, Dr. Elaine Wyllie, a Cleveland Clinic pediatric neurologist with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating epilepsy, tells us how different types of seizures look, how they are diagnosed, and what can be done to control them. Dr. Wyllie, who has written the standard medical textbook on epilepsy for physicians, now turns her hand to giving us a book about epilepsy that is less technical, easy to read and understand, but at the same time accurate and comprehensive in scope. It should be required reading for anyone who has epilepsy or has a loved one with the condition. One of America’s best-known epilepsy experts, Dr. Wyllie has produced this book that tells the patient, family members, friends, and colleagues all they need to know about how to live as normal a life as possible with epilepsy. It contains information about: • The definition of epilepsy • Types of epilepsy • Causes of epilepsy • How it is diagnosed • Medical and surgical treatments