Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes repeated seizures, which were sometimes previously referred to as "fits".
The main symptoms of epilepsy are repeated seizures. There are many different types of seizure, depending on the area of brain that is affected.
In over half of epilepsy cases, a cause cannot be found. If there is an identifiable cause, it usually involves the brain being affected by a condition.
Epilepsy is usually difficult to diagnose quickly. In most cases, it cannot usually be confirmed until you have had more than one seizure.
Treatment for epilepsy is used to control seizures, although not everyone with the condition will need to be treated.
As epilepsy can affect people in different ways, everyone's experience of living with the condition is different. However, there are some general points that can help.
Mark Kellaway, from Basingstoke, found out he had epilepsy at the age of 26. He hadnt realised he was having seizures, but the diagnosis has had an unexpectedly positive effect.
Virgin co-founder and film guru Nik Powell talks about rock chicks, flicks and fits.
For Stephen and Denise Wottrich, epilepsy is a family affair. They have similar forms of epilepsy, and at its worst it can cause up to 10 seizures a day.
Paul Clark, a father of two from Essex, developed epilepsy in his thirties. He wassurprisedto discover the likely cause.