Neurological Flashcards
What is Parasympathetic Nervous System
o rest/digest
o Helps us relax by decreasing HR
o allows us to digest food/other functions.
What is a stroke
- Damage to the brain from interruption of its blood supply
- Occurs when an artery supplying brain tissue is altered
- Lack of blood supply = neuron death.
Types of stroke
Ischemic (due to occlusion)
hemorrhagic (due to bleeding – trauma/aneurysm).
Transient ischemic attack: occlusion with no permenant damage
WHat is a Transient ischemic attack:
o When blockage only lasts a short time, will show symptoms that will resolve.
RIsk factors influencing Transient ischemic attack
o Age
o smoking/excessive alcohol
o atherosclerosis
o Obesity
o Diabetes
o Hypertension
Symptoms of transient ischemic attack
o FAST (face, arms, speech, time)
o dysarthria (disturbance in muscular control of speech)
o hemiparesis
o dysphagia (swallowing difficulty)
o ataxia (poor balance)
o aphasia (loss of language).
Diagnosis for transient ischemic attack
o Neurological exam
o swallowing assessment
o nerve function
o MRI/CT (to identify stoke/rule out bleeding)
o angiography.
Treatment for transient ischemic attack
o endarterectomy (to remove plaques)
o speech/language therapy
o Physio
o education.
Medication for transient ischemic attack and examples
o Thrombolytic therapy:
rtPA turns plasminogen into plasmin (molecule that breaks up blood clots. Given within 6 hours.
o Anticoagulation:
Prevent clot formation by inhibiting platelet aggregation or interrupting clotting cascade (Aspirin).
o Beta blockers.
What is the limbic system
group of structures linked to emotion. Such as amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate cortex, septal nuclei, mammillary body, fornix, hypothalamus.
Glasgow Coma Scale components
- eye opening (4 spontaneous, 1 no response)
- verbal response (5 orientated, 1 no response)
- motor response (6 obeys commands, 1 no response)
What is cerebral palsy
congenital disorder of movement
symptoms of cerebral palsy
o movement/walking difficulties
o speech difficulties
o learning/cognitive impairment
o hearing/vision loss
o epilepsy (co-occurring)
Treatment for cerebral palsy
o Physical therapy and rehabilitation.
What is Seizures/Epilepsy
- spontaneous, recurring and unprovoked seizures.
- Occur due to sudden burst of uncontrolled electrical or chemical activity in the brain.
Risks for having a seizures
- genetic
- damage to brain cells after head injury or illness (stroke/meningitis).
Types of seizures with description
Tonic seizure = increase muscle tone/stiffness
Atonic seizure = complete muscle relaxation
clonic seizure = muscle convulsion
Myoclonic = muscle spasm in localised area
Absence = staring appearance with no movement
Tonic-clonic = stops moving and then started convulsion + loss of consciousness
Generalizes seizure = includes most all of brain
Triggers that can cause a seizure
o forgetting medication
o stress, anxiety
o lack of sleep
o irregular meals
o BGL
o heavy alcohol/drug use
Tests for seizures
o recurring seizures
o history
o triggers
o ECG (measures activity of the brain)
o CT
o MRI.
Treatment for seizures
o anti-epilepsy drugs
o surgery,
o ketogenic diet.
What is meningitis
inflammation of meninges covering the brain and spinal cord. Can be viral/bacterial causes. Develops rapidly.
Risks for developing meningitis
o babies
o young children <5
o teenagers/young adults
o older adult
o weakened immune system
o shared accommodation.
symptoms of meningitis
o Fever
o Headache
o Sleepy
o Confusion
How to diagnose meningitis
o history/symptoms
o clinical exam
o bloods
o lumbar puncture.
Meningitis treatment
o bacterial – IV Antibiotics
o Viral – rest, fluids.
o Non-infective meningitis – corticosteroids.
What is Intracranial Pressure:
increase in volume of any of intracranial contents (brain tissue, blood, cerebrospinal fluid
Risks that can cause intracranial pressure
o brain tumor
- head injury
o heart failure
o infections
o seizures
0
Symptoms of intracranial pressure
o widening pulse range
- bradycardia
- hypertension
- headache
o pain with eye movement
o nausea/vomiting
o irritable
How to diagnose intracranial pressure
o MRI
o lumbar puncture
Treatment for intracranial pressure
o elevate head
o decrease brain activity
o surgical decompression
What is parkinson’s
brain conditions that cause slowed movements, rigidity (stiffness) and tremors
Symptoms of parkinson’s
o tremor
o rigidity
o excess sweating
o constipation
o urinary retention.
Parkinsons treatment
o management of symptoms.
What is Neurogenic Shock:
due to nerve damage causing hypoperfusion
Risks that can cause distributive shock
o spinal cord trauma
o medications that affect the autonomic nervous system
o improper administration of spinal anesthesia.
Diagnosis of distributive shock
o Physical
o CT
o MRI.
Treatment for distrubitve shock
o Manage ABCs
o protect/immobilize spine
o intubation
o Vasopressors (causing vasoconstriction – increase BP), Nervous system: controls function we cannot consciously control – HR, digestion, breathing, pupil response.
What is Sympathetic Nervous System:
o fight or flight.
o Increases HR, BP, dilates pupils for better vision.
o Controls vasomotor tone (regulates diameter of vessels – constriction or dilation)
What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- autoimmune neuro condition where the immune system attacks the nerves in the peripheral nervous system.
S+S of Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- paralysis
- weakness
- tingling sensation
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks itself without any known cause or reason.
-Affects the nerves of the brain and spinal cord.
S+S multiple sclerosis (MS)
- vision problems
- muscle spasms
- weakness or lack of co-ordination of the limbs
- extreme tiredness
Neurogenic shock S+S
- hypotension
- bradycardia
- hypothermia
- warm/dry extremities but cold body
Diagnostic Tests for neurogenic shock
- physical exam
- CT scan
- MRI
Neurogenic shock treatment
- Maintain ABC
- immobilise spine
- vasopressors
- Atropine (increase HR)
what is compensated shock and vitals
initial stage of shock/pre-shock
- tachycardia
- normal blood pressure
- tachypnea
