Book helps empower those with epilepsy

CLEVEALND, Ohio, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Epilepsy -- a neurological condition shared by millions --need not run or ruin a patient's life, a Cleveland Clinic doctor says.

Dr. Elaine Wyllie of the Cleveland Clinic and author of "Epilepsy: A Cleveland Clinic Guide" says the book is to help patients and their loved ones demystify the disorder and help patients and their families to be in control of their lives.

"Over the years, I have frequently noticed that while patients and their loved ones have been informed of various aspects of the epileptic condition they're dealing with, they're left alone when it comes to knowing what to expect and how to handle the disease as it evolves," Wyllie says in a statement. "In this book, I've attempted to close that gap by linking information directly with the appropriate action steps."

The book is based on dozens of case studies from the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center and also takes a close look at how the disease affects children, women and seniors, Wyllie says.

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition that includes a group of syndromes that are characterized by episodic abnormal electrical brain activity that may cause seizures.