Exam II Flashcards
Autonomic Nervous System
Made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Conserves energy and the body’s resources
Sympathetic Nervous System
Responds to stress by preparing the body to defend itself
Catecholamines released - epinephrine
mobilizing energy stores increasing blood glucose, and decreases the release of insulin
redistributes blood flow and increases to muscles (flight)
increases diameter of bronchioles in the lungs
decrease peristalsis of the GI tract and skin
Primary Brain Injury can be classified as
Focal or Diffuse
Focal Brain Injury
Are specific, grossly observable brain lesions that occur in a precise location such as Epidural hemorrhage (subdural hemorrhage)
Diffuse Brain injury/Multifocal injury
Include brain injury due to hypoxia, meningitis, encephalitis and damage to blood vessels
What commonly seen symptom after TBI can lead to dangerous increases in intracranial pressure
Swelling
Autonomic hyperreflexia
Affects people with lesions at the T5-T6 level or above
Characteristics of Autonomic hyperreflexia
paroxysmal hypertension (up to 300 mm Hg systolic
pounding headache
blurred vision
sweating above the level of the lesion with flushing of the skin due to the hypothalamus is unable to regulate body heat because of sympathetic nervous system damage
piloerection
nasal congestion
bradycardia (30 to 40 bpm)
Delirium Manifestations
Usually older age Acute-common during hospitalization Associated with UTI, thyroid disorders, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, toxicity, fluid-electrolyte imbalance, renal insufficiency, trauma, multiple medications Course fluctuates, remits with treatment Hours to weeks duration Impaired attention Disrupted sleep/wake cycle Impaired orientation Agitated withdrawn/depressed behavior Incoherent, rapid/slowed speech Disorganized, delusions, hallucinations, illusions
Leading cause of dementia and one of the most common causes of severe cognitive dysfunction in older adults
Alzheimers
Late-onset causes about 90% of AD
Greatest risk factors for Alzheimers
age
family history
