Epilepsy and life insurance

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Epilepsy and life insurance

Epilepsy is a Greek word with its origins meaning ‘to seize’ or ‘to attack.’ Epilepsy is a symptom of an underlying medical condition within the brain, and because of this can be caused by and manifest itself in a number of different ways.

How many epileptic people are there?

Epilepsy is a term applied when people have recurrent seizures, but there are many different types of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a common affliction, with over 50 million sufferers worldwide. This makes epilepsy more common than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and dystrophy combined.

How likely am I to develop epilepsy?

The chances of developing a form of epilepsy are high, between 1 and 3 per cent. The causes of epilepsy vary between age groups and individuals.

What causes epilepsy?

Epilepsy has a number of causes, but generally an underlying physical problem in the brain causes seizures. A tiny area of dysfunctional brain tissue could persistently generate seizures and epilepsy. Common causes include:

• Genetic
• Trauma and brain injury
• Stroke
• Brain tumours
• Major infections such as meningitis
• Multiple sclerosis

What are the symptoms of epilepsy?

Epilepsy occurs when the brain, or a tiny portion of it, produces recurrent seizures. It is a sudden condition characterised by a number of different types of seizure. These seizures include typical absence seizures, clonic seizures, clonic-tonic seizures, spasms, myoclonic seizures and many more. Symptoms vary due to type, with the common link being a form of seizure.

Are there different types of epilepsy?

Yes, there are numerous different types of epilepsy. These include HH syndrome, benign familial neonatal seizures, West syndrome, Dravet’s syndrome, epilepsy with myoclonic absences, Lennox-Gastauy syndrome, startle epilepsy, limbic epilepsies, and many more.

How is epilepsy diagnosed?

Generally, when people suffer from two or more seizures they are considered to have epilepsy. To evaluate the condition, history of seizures and the seizures themselves must be assessed. Usually, a complete physical and neurological examination is performed. A number of tests are carried out.

How does epilepsy affect life insurance?

Some life insurance companies apply ratings to people with epilepsy, leading to inflated premiums and more expensive policies. Seeking the advice of a specialist insurance company ensures fair treatment.

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