As epilepsy can affect people in different ways, everyone 's experience of living with the condition is different.

* But there are some general points that can help. *

Seizures can be dangerous, so it's important to try to keep them as well controlled as possible. There are several things you can do to help.

Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) can be very effective in stopping or reducing the frequency of seizures.

If you've been prescribed an AED, make sure you take it every day as advised by your doctor.

Tell your doctor if your medicine is causing unpleasant side effects. Don't skip doses or stop taking it without getting medical advice, as this could cause you to have a seizure.

You might need to try several AEDs to find one that works for you and doesn't cause troublesome side effects.

You may eventually be able to stop taking your medicine once your seizures have been under control for some time, but this should be done gradually under medical supervision.

While not the case for everyone with epilepsy, seizures can sometimes have a trigger. Common seizure triggers include stress, lack of sleep and alcohol.

Keeping a seizure diary – detailing when you have seizures and what you were doing beforehand – may help you work out if you have any triggers.

If you identify any triggers, doing what you can to avoid them can help reduce the number of seizures you have.

For example, it might help to:

• deal with stress
• avoid becoming too tired – read advice about how to get to sleep and get tips to beat insomnia
• cut down on alcohol

You'll have regular reviews of your epilepsy and treatment. These are usually carried out by your GP, but sometimes may be done by your epilepsy specialist and their team.

Reviews should be carried out at least once a year, although you may need them more often if your epilepsy isn't well controlled.

These appointments are a good opportunity to talk to your doctor about how you feel your treatment is going and any problems you're having, such as side effects from your medicine.

Having seizures can sometimes put you or others at risk of harm – for example, if they happen while you're cooking, driving or swimming. If your seizures aren't well controlled, there are things you can do to reduce the danger.

Some tips to help you stay safe at home include:

• use guards on heaters and radiators to stop you falling directly on to them
• install smoke detectors to let you know that food is burning if you sometimes forget what you're doing or have seizures that cause you to lose awareness
• cover any furniture edges or corners that are sharp or stick out
• have a shower instead of a bath
• don't lock the bathroom door
• place saucepans on the back burners and with the handles turned away from the edge of the cooker

Most people with epilepsy can take part in sports and other leisure activities, but there are some precautions you might need to take if your seizures aren't well controlled.

For example, you may need to:

• avoid swimming or doing water sports on your own
• wear a helmet while cycling or horse riding
• avoid using certain types of gym equipment – ask staff at the gym for advice