Neurological Flashcards
Another name for stroke?
Cerebral vascular accident
Ischemia?
inadequate blood flow
What is a stroke?
- ischemia to a part of the brain
- hemorrhage into the brain that causes death of brain cells
common long term disabilities with stroke?
- hemiparesis (paralysis of one side of the body)
- inability to walk
- dependance in ADL
- aphasia: inability to communicate
blood is supplied to the brain by what two major arteries?
internal carotid, vertebral
major cause of stroke?
atherosclerosis
non modifiable risk factors for stroke?
age gender race ethnicity family hx heredity low birth weight risk increases with age male sex
modifiable risk factors for stroke?
HTN heart disease DM overweight early forms of birth control increased serum cholesterol and carotid stenosis smoking heavy alcohol use pregnancy
whats an ischemic stroke?
inadequate blood flow to the brain from partial or complete occlusion of an artery
most common type of stroke?
ischemic
how are ischemic strokes divided?
by their causality:
thrombotic
embolic
whats a TIA?
- a precursor
- temp. episode of neuro dysfunction caused by brain, spinal cord or retinal ischemia but without acute infarction (tissue death) of the brain
- symptoms last less than an hour
what causes a TIA?
microemboli
whats microemboli?
clots that are caught while travelling thru the bloodstream and cause blockage in the vessel
what also causes a TIA?
plaque
what are the S&S of TIA dependant on?
location of the brain thats ischemic
S&S of when the carotid system is ischemic?
- temp. loss of vision in one eye
- transient hemiparesis
- numbness/loss of sensation
- inability to speak
S&S of when the vertebrobasilar system is ischemic?
- tinnitus (ringing noises)
- vertigo
- darkened or blurred vision
- diplopia (double vision)
- ptosis (drooping eyelid)
- dysarthria (disturbance in the muscular control of speech)
- dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- ataxia (loss of muscle control)
- numbness or weakness
most common type of stroke?
thrombotic stroke (branch of ischemic)
how does a thrombotic stroke occur?
- atherosclerosis in cerebral arteries builds up
- clot forms
- causing an occlusion
what accelerates atherosclerosis?
- HTN
- DM
does TIA require an intervention?
no
whats a lacunar stroke?
stroke from an occlusion of an artery deep within the brain
with lacunar stroke, what does the affected artery do?
supply blood to tissues
with lacunar stroke is a person usually symptomatic or asymptomatic?
asymptomatic
when a person is symptomatic with a lacunar stroke, whatre their symtpoms?
- hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body)
- pure sensory stroke
- contralateral leg and face weakness with arm and leg ataxia
ataxia?
poor muscle coordination