New mobile app that warns people with epilepsy before a seizure
A new mobile app feature – made here in Australia – offers new hope to epilepsy patients worldwide.
The innovative technology, which took ten years to develop, is designed to better diagnose and predict epileptic seizures in real time.
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The free app, Seer Epilepsy Management, developed by Melbourne med tech Seer Medical as a non-invasive management tool, will now include the soon-to-be-released prediction tool.
It also has many other patient resources, including medication reminders and the ability to record seizure events and previous medical history.
Patients can record their symptoms and past episodes in the app, which collects patterns and potential triggers and predicts attacks up to a month in advance.
The app collects patterns to help predict attacks. Credit: See Medical
The technology will be a game-changer for the thousands of patients who experience unpredictable seizures.
The Epilepsy Foundation of Australia said that for the 250,000 people across the country currently living with epilepsy, the “worst part” of having seizures is that they happen with little or no warning.
“The uncertainty of seizures puts people at risk — even ‘minor’ seizures can cause serious injury or death if they happen while driving, showering, cooking or pouring a kettle, climbing stairs, or other daily activities,” it said.
“Unfortunately, this means that sometimes people with epilepsy have to give up their driver’s license, adapt or stop certain hobbies, and they or their family may experience anxiety daily.”
According to the Epilepsy Foundation of Australia, 250,000 Australians currently suffer. Credit: 7NEWS
The Foundation added that two-thirds of people who suffer from the debilitating condition could eliminate their seizures by taking medication.
But because of this, about 24 million people worldwide live with unpredictable attacks.
“If people had a warning when their attacks were more likely, it could reduce their stress and improve safety,” the Foundation said.
Hamish Macmillan, who has epilepsy, told 7NEWS that he has an average of 10 seizures a year and must be extremely careful when performing various tasks.
“That’s everything from showering to crossing the road, anything that could be slightly or slightly dangerous, I have to think twice,” he said.
“I’ve learned to deal with it, and it’s gotten better, but the worst part is still that unpredictable element.”
The app can also be paired with a smartwatch to track body movements and vital signs.
It is now available on the App Store, and the new tracking feature will be released soon.