Chapter 16 Flashcards
altered mental status
a state characterized by a decrease in the patient’s alertness and responsiveness to his or her surroundings
convulsions
uncontrolled muscular contractions
tonic muscle activity
the stiffening of the muscles during a generalized seizure (most evident in arms and legs)
clonic muscle activity
the violent jerking of the muscles during a generalized seizure
generalized seizure
a type of seizure characterized by a loss of consciousness and generalized muscle contractions
partial seizure
a seizure characterized by a temporary loss of awareness
epilepsy
a disorder of the brain that causes seizures
febrile
relating to a fever
postictal
the phase of a seziure following convulsions
status epilepticus
a life threatening condition that occurs when an individual has very long seizures or seizures that occur in quick succession
stroke
a condition that occurs when an area of the brain does not recieve an adequate supply of blood
diabetes
usually refers to diabetes mellitus, a disease that prevents individuals from producing enough insulin or from using insulin appropriately
hyperglycemia
an abnormally high blood-sugar level
hypoglycemia
an abnormally low blood-sugar level
overdose
an incident that occurs when an individual takes in more of a medication than is prescribed
