Life for people who live with epilepsy is about balancing risk with what they want to do in order to live a fulfilling life. As epilepsy is very individualised, the risk and safety matters vary considerably between people and can often depend upon:
- age – infants, children and older people tend to be more susceptible to falls and accidents
- types of seizures – severity of seizures, seizure clusters, frequent seizures or seizures which include falls
- medication – AEDs may be associated with side effects, such as increased risk of osteoporosis
- disability – living with other disabilities may include use of mobility aids and/or comprehension issues
- engaging in high risk activities – consuming alcohol or illicit drugs, or taking part in high-risk sports.