Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
For a full list of topics: A-Z Index
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Epilepsy
    CDC Home
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Syndicate

    Infographics

    Minus
    Related Pages
    On This Page
    • Epilepsy Is a Public Health Problem
    • When Seizures Don't Stop
    • Paying for Health Care is Hard for People with Epilepsy
    • Epilepsy Can Make it Hard to Have a Job
    • Epilepsy and Good Mental Health
    • Epilepsy and Poor Mental Health
    • Seizures and Poverty
    Epilepsy Is a Public Health Problem

    see text description

    • Full Sized Infographic
    • Text Version
    • Definitions and Sources
    When Seizures Don’t Stop

    When Seizures Don’t Stop. [Illustration of a head and brain]. Epilepsy is common. 3 million U.S. adults have active epilepsy. 56% of adults with epilepsy still have seizures. [Illustration of doctor and a nurse standing in a medical office]. A specialist can help stop seizures. 1 out of 3 adults with epilepsy didn’t see a specialist in the past year. Adults with uncontrolled seizures should: see an epilepsy specialist; take medical as prescribed; learn to manage epilepsy; call the Epilepsy Foundation helpline at 1-800-332-1000.

    Full Sized Infographic and Text Version

    Paying for Health Care is Hard for People with Epilepsy

    Paying for health care is hard for people with epilepsy. Adults with epilepsy have more difficulty paying for medicine. 21% of adults with epilepsy can’t pay for medicines, compared to 9% of adults without epilepsy who could not pay for their medicine. Adults with epilepsy have more difficulty paying for eyeglasses. 18% of adults with epilepsy can’t pay for eye glasses, compared to 8% of adults without epilepsy. Adults with epilepsy have more difficulty paying for dental care. 27% of adults with epilepsy can’t pay for dental care, compared to 14% of adults without epilepsy without dental care.

    Full Sized Infographic and Text Version

    Epilepsy Can Make it Hard to Have a Job

    epilepsy can make it hard to have a job. 32% of adults with epilepsy can't work versus 7% of adults without epilepsy.  29% of adults with epilepsy can't use a car or public transit to get places versus 8% of adults without epilepsy.

    Full Sized Infographic and Text Version

    Epilepsy and Good Mental Health

    People without a history of epilepsy report good or better mental health more frequently than people with a history of epilepsy. 54% of people with a history of epilepsy report good or better mental health. 79% of people without a history of epilepsy report good or better mental health. The Healthy People 2020 target is 80% of people reporting good or better mental health.

    Full Sized Infographic and Text Version

    Epilepsy and Poor Mental Health

    Illustration of a head with 2 spinning wheels inside of it. Adults with epilepsy are more likely to have felt nervous, sad, or hopeless in the past 30 days. 13% of adults with epilepsy felt nervous, sad, or hopeless in the past 30 days, compared to 3% of adults without epilepsy.

    Full Sized Infographic and Text Version

    Seizures and Poverty

    336,000 kids have at least one seizure annually. 4 in 10 live in homes at or close to the poverty level. 3 in 10 live in homes without enough food.

    Full Sized Infographic and Text Version

    Return to Communications Center.

    Page last reviewed: February 20, 2019
    Content source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , Division of Population Health
    homeEpilepsy
    • About Epilepsyplus icon
      • Seizure First Aid
      • Fast Facts
      • Types of Seizures
      • FAQs
      • SUDEPplus icon
        • SUDEP Information for Parents
    • NOFO
    • Managing Epilepsyplus icon
      • Managing Epilepsy Well Checklist
      • Find Support
      • Parent Toolkitplus icon
        • Parent’s Guide
        • Facilitator’s Guide
        • Resource Guide
      • Clinical Trials
    • Preventing Epilepsy
    • Data and Statistics
    • Research and Surveillanceplus icon
      • MEW Network
      • Epidemiologic Research Projects
    • CDC Addresses Epilepsy
    • Publicationsplus icon
      • Reports
      • Scientific Articlesplus icon
        • Scientific Articles by Year
    • Links to Other Websites
    • Info for Specific Groupsplus icon
      • Parents
      • Health Care Providers
      • Training for Professionals
      • Schools
      • Communities
    • Featuresplus icon
      • 5 Things You Should Know About Epilepsy
      • Spotlight on Seizures
      • Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)
      • Epilepsy Self-Management
      • Epilepsy in Children
      • Get Seizure Smart!
      • Epilepsy & Seizures in Older Adults
      • Strokes May Lead to Epilepsy
      • Epilepsy Can Follow Traumatic Brain Injury
    • Communications Centerplus icon
      • What’s New
      • Infographicsplus icon
        • Text Descriptions for Infographics
      • Podcasts
      • Get Email Updates
    Social_govd govD Get Email Updates

    To receive email updates about Epilepsy, enter your email address:

    What's this?
    HAVE QUESTIONS?
    Visit CDC-INFO
    Call 800-232-4636
    Email CDC-INFO
    Open 24/7
    CDC INFORMATION
    • About CDC
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Policies
    • File Viewers & Players
    • Privacy
    • FOIA
    • No Fear Act
    • OIG
    • Nondiscrimination
    • Accessibility
    CONNECT WITH CDC
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Snapchat

    • Youtube
    • Syndicate
    • CDC TV
    • RSS
    • Email
    U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
    USA.gov
    CDC Website Exit Disclaimer external icon
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn

    Exit Notification/Disclaimer Policy

    Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.
    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
    • Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
    • You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
    • CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.
    For more information on CDC's web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers.