Exam 2 Flashcards
What is Delirium
-rapid onset (within 24 hours)
-reversible
-altered level of consciousness
- could be a medical emergency
What could cause delirium?
-Coexisting factors
-Side effects for medication
-Circulatory disturbances
-dehydration
-Malnutrition
-Hyper/hypo tension
-Hyper/hypo glycemia
-Infection
-Surgery
-Stress
-Alcohol/drugs
What are some things that can happen with delirium?
-Short term memory loss
-Long term memory loss
-Inattentive
-Disoriented
-Confused
-Distorted thinking
-Incoherent speech
How do you treat delirium
-treatment depends on what is causing delirium. It is important to understand what the underlying causes and treat that.
-interventions to take during the acute stage include
-Consistency
-Minimize stimulation
-establish medical stability
-Prevent harm to self and others
-Provide support
-Set realistic expectations
What is Dementia?
-permanent
-progressive disorder
-chronic
-impaired cognitive function
What are some things that can happen with dementia ?
-memory loss
-disoriented
-altered reasoning
-lack of attention
-language
-problem solving
What are causes of dementia
Damage or injury to brain, could have several different causes.
Several types of diseases that fall under dementia.
-degenerative disease
-circulatory problems
-lack of oxygen
-infection
-trauma
-hydrocephalus
-tumor
-alcoholism
How to treat dementia?
Medication to help treat symptoms
Nursing interventions of Dementia
-consistent and structured environment
-Items that trigger memory
-Controlled environment
-be aware of wandering behavior risk
-Prevent abuse from caregivers
-Note that there are problems related to poor judgment and misperceptions
-Promote therapy and activity (occupational and expressive therapy, ferry and reality, orientation, touch, modified communication techniques)
-Physical care (monitor, eating, drinking invading, consider in ability to)
-promote respect (individuality, independence, freedom, dignity, connection)
What is the most common form of dementia?
Alzheimer’s disease
What is the main medication used for alzheimers disease?
Aricept
What is happening in the brain in Alzheimer’s?
 Characterized by two changes in the brain
1) presence of neuritic plaques *found in Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome
2) neurofibrillary tangles in cortex
-there is also a loss of degeneration of neurons and synapses and a change in neurotransmitter system.
What are causes of Alzheimer’s?
-genetics
-Environment (crop spray, minors)
-Chromosomal abnormalities (autism)
-Free radical (radiation, mercury)
-Slow acting viruses (Covid)
How does Alzheimer’s present itself in different people?
-Develop gradually and progress at different rates among different people
What are the Staging Mechanisms used for Alzheimer’s?
Staging via GDS/FAST
-GDS = condition global deterioration scale
-FAST= function assessments staging
What stage of Alzheimer’s is the suicidal rate the highest?
The beginning stage where the individual is still wear these changes are happening and they can’t stop it
Vascular Dementia
-small cerebral infractions
-cause: stroke
-rapid w/ quick progression
Frontotemporal Dementia
-neuronal atrophy affecting front lobes
-blows to the head
-wrestlers, football players, etc
Lewy Body dementia
-Subcortical pathology with Lewy body substance in cerebral cortex
-caused by protein deposits in nerve cells
-robin Williams
Creutzfeldt Jakob disease
-Rare
-death within 1 year of diagnosis
-deconstruction of neurons in cerebral cortex and overgrowth if glia
Wernickle encephalopathy
degenerative brain disorder caused by the lack of vitamin B1. It may result from: Alcohol abuse. Dietary deficiencies, Prolonged vomiting, chemo or eating disorders
-Bruce Willis
Parkinson’s disease
-unintended or uncontrollable movements
-causes: genetics, toxins, Lewy bodies
-S/S: shaking, stiffness, bradykinesia, speech problems
-Muhammad Ali, ozzy, michal J fox
AIDS
-could lead to dementia
-trauma / toxins
-Ab Lincoln, Nixon
What is a CAM therapies used to treat dementia
CAM = complementary and alternative therapies
Vitamins: B6, B12, C, E, folic acid, zinc selenium
Minerals
Herbs (ginkgo Biloba)
Theraoeutic: Thai chi