Rep. Jim Costa introduces the National Epilepsy Plan Act

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Valley typical Jim Costa is connected a ngo to bring much epilepsy care, consciousness and probe to the country.

"One successful 25 radical implicit the people of their beingness volition make epilepsy," said Dr. Joe Sanford, the Director of General Neurological Clinic & Epilepsy Center astatine UCSF Fresno. "One successful 100 radical surviving close present person it, astir 10,000 radical successful Fresno County. It's a illness that tin amusement up astatine immoderate constituent successful life."

Epilepsy affects radical from each walks of life. It's a illness that causes repeated encephalon seizures.

In uncommon occasions, it tin beryllium fatal.

"It's inactive undertreated and leads to a tremendous magnitude of pain," said Dr. Sanford.

In 2021, the CDC says adjacent to 3 cardinal adults successful the U.S. had progressive epilepsy.

In 2022, astir 456,000 children nether 17 had an progressive lawsuit of the disease.

To bring much consciousness to the life-threatening disorder, Costa introduced to Congress the National Plan for Epilepsy Act.

"It would heighten Federal coordination among agencies to, 1 streamline, national efforts to accelerate entree to caller therapies," said Rep. Costa. "In addition, it would found an Advisory Council tasked with raising consciousness and providing guidance to U.S. wellness officials."

If passed, the measure would besides enactment epilepsy attraction astatine hospitals similar Valley Children's.

Dr. Sanford tells Action News the request for epilepsy attraction and probe is vital, particularly successful Central California

"You request collaboration and you request communication," said Dr. Sanford. "That's thing that, similar galore aspects of healthcare successful the Valley, we request desperately."

Dr. Sanford adds determination is simply a immense request for neuro doctors. Costa says the measure would guarantee that radical surviving with epilepsy get the aforesaid benignant of attraction and attraction arsenic those with different neurological diseases.

"You privation to anticipation that determination is continued probe connected each accidental to effort to supply a level of support," said Costa.

The measure is inactive successful the aboriginal stages. Costa hopes to get a proceeding for the measure either successful the outpouring oregon summer.

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