About
Causes
Risk Factors
symptoms
treatment
cost
faqWhat is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is one of the most common yet serious neurological conditions worldwide and affects people of all ages, genders, races and social backgrounds. Epilepsy is a treatable disorder that can be managed through lifestyle changes, medications and sometimes surgery. Correct treatment requires a thorough assessment and accurate diagnosis.
Without treatment, epilepsy increases the risk of serious injury and death. So if you or a loved one has epilepsy and are looking for a highly qualified epilepsy neurologist in Sydney, you can contact the experts at CURA Medical Specialist at their epilepsy clinic for efficient diagnosis, treatment and advice.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures. The electrical signals in the brain become scrambled for a short period of time, leading to sudden bursts of electrical activity causing seizures. A person is diagnosed with epilepsy if they have recurring seizures or have a high risk of having another seizure after the first attack. For most, epilepsy is a life-long condition.
Seizures are caused by electrical signals in the brain becoming scrambled.
Causes
Factors that can cause epilepsy
There are a number of factors that can cause epilepsy:
- Stroke
- Brain tumours
- Drug abuse or alcohol misuse
- Severe head injury
- Family history of epilepsy
- Previous brain surgery
- Brain infection
- Lack of oxygen during birth
Risk factors that may cause an epileptic seizure
There are many risk factors that you need to be aware of that can cause a seizure:
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Hormonal changes
- Toxic substances (e.g. alcohol, illicit drugs)
- Certain medications
- Flashing lights (in certain rare types of epilepsy)
It’s imperative that you’re aware of the causes, symptoms and risk factors of epilepsy.
Symptoms
Symptoms of epileptic seizures
CT and MRI scans are used to diagnose epilepsy. They can identify if there is anything in your brain that could cause seizures.
It’s important to remember that seizures affect people in different ways, depending on which part of the brain is involved. The possible symptoms include:
- Epileptic fit (uncontrollable shaking)
- Staring blankly into space unaware of what’s around you
- Collapsing to the floor
- Unusual smells or tastes
- Tingling feeling in your arms or legs
Diagnosis
How epilepsy is diagnosed
There are a few different ways a doctor can diagnose patients with epilepsy:
History and examination
The most important aspect of diagnosis is an accurate and thorough history and examination. A neurologist will ask detailed questions about the spells themselves and the circumstances in which they occur. They will also take a detailed history of other medical conditions, medications and lifestyle and will also perform a physical examination to look for any evidence of neurological disturbance.
Blood tests
Blood tests are used to look for any medical conditions that might be causing epilepsy. At the same time, they can also be used to discover if seizures are not caused by epilepsy but by another medical condition such as diabetes.
EEG
An EEG (electroencephalogram) test is the most common. A qualified technician will place sensors on your scalp to record the electrical activity in your brain. This will check to see if there are any abnormal brainwave patterns which can provide the neurologist with important information.
CT/MRI
A CT/MRI scan will not be able to show that you have epilepsy. However, it can be used to detect if there is anything in your brain, such as scar tissue, a tumour or a damaged area, that could be the cause of epilepsy.
Treatment
How Epilepsy is treated
There are a few different forms of epilepsy treatment:
Anti-seizure medications
Anti-seizure medications (ASMs) are the most common way that epilepsy is treated. Unfortunately, they don’t cure the disorder but aim to prevent further seizures. There are different types of ASMsand the prescribed medication will depend on several factors such as seizure type, age, gender, and other medical conditions.
March 26 is epilepsy awareness day and aims to increase the public’s knowledge of a neurological condition that affects nearly 50m people worldwide.
Surgical options
In specific circumstances, surgery can be performed to remove the part of the brain responsible for triggering seizures. In difficult-to-manage epilepsy, another surgical procedure can be performed to put a small electrical device inside the body to help control seizures.
Special diet
The ketogenic diet reduces the amount of glutamate in the brain and enhances the synthesis of GABA (a neurotransmitter that blocks impulses between nerve cells in the brain), making it less likely for a seizure to occur. The diet can also reduce inflammation in the brain which can lead to seizures. It is important to discuss with your neurologist before embarking on any major dietary changes.
Pricing
How much does epilepsy treatment cost in Sydney?
The consultation cost will vary depending on the service enquired, appointment duration, medicare availability and other factors. Please use this calculator to get an estimate of your cost on the day of your consultation.
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Why Choose CURA Medical Specialists as your epilepsy clinic in Sydney?
Both Dr Winters and Dr Ang are appointed staff specialist neurologists at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and have expertise in the management of epilepsy and other neurological disorders. Their mission is to provide their patients with the best care possible for their neurological conditions.
Why Choose Us
Meet Our Specialists
Dr Hugh Stephen Winters
MBChB (Auckland) FRACP (Neurology)
CCINR (Neurology)
At Cura Medical specialists, our team is led by Dr Hugh Stephen Winters, a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians with specialised training in neurology with 4 additional years of training in interventional neurology.
Dr Timothy Ang
MBBS, FRACP (Neurology),
Head of Committee for CCINR
Dr Timothy Ang, is also an interventional neurologist with additional fellowship training in interventional neurology. He is a Staff Specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. Dr Ang uses cutting-edge medical imaging tests to diagnose and treat neurovascular and neurological diseases.
FAQ
FAQs
Below you can find the questions we are most frequently asked at our epilepsy clinic in Sydney:
Yes, typically epilepsy is treated by a neurologist. Most cases of epilepsy can be managed by a general neurologist. In difficult-to-manage cases, referral to an epilepsy specialist (epileptologist) may be required.
Yes, epilepsy is part of neurology as it is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder that affects the brain causing seizures.
Your GP might be the first person you go to if you have any questions or concerns about your condition and may also be involved in your epilepsy management. However, every patient with a possible or confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy should see a neurologist, as they have the required expertise and knowledge to provide the best care.
Typically all adults over the age of 18 should attend the clinic once a year for a check-up and review with their neurologist.
Managing ASMs during pregnancy can be tricky, as some ASMs are known to increase the risk of birth defects, whilst others are safer. It is important to see your neurologist if you have epilepsy and are considering falling pregnant, as they will need to assess the risks and benefits of continuing or changing the medicines you are on.
Contact Us
How to schedule a consultation
Booking an appointment with us couldn’t be easier. Simply book online and select your preferred date and time. Our friendly staff will then get back to you with a confirmation of your appointment. You can also call us at (02) 7906 8356 or reach us on live chat.
We are conveniently located at Drummoyne Specialist Centre, Level 3, Suite 3.2 – 135 Victoria Rd, Drummoyne NSW 2047.
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