neurological conditions Flashcards
What is the definition of a stroke?
What is the medical term for a stroke?
A serious life-threatening medical condition where blood flow to part of the brain is cut off. It causes a disturbance in cerebral function, with symptoms lasting 24 hours or more.
Cerebral Vascular accident.
What are the risk factors for stroke?
Age- tissues get thinner with age, and the effects of lifestyle have time to accumulate.
Medical history- eg AF and hypertension
Lifestyle- smoking, drinking, lack of exercise
Family History
Ethnicity and associated lifestyle/diet
What is the circle of Willis?
The circulatory system in the brain. The middle cerebral artery artery is the most common involved in strokes.
What is a haemorrhagic stroke?
A spontaneous bleed following a ruptured blood vessel, resulting in a focal haematoma or an intraventricular haemorrhage.
This may lead to:
- oedema
- compression
- spasmodic blood vessels
- often fatal/devastating
What is an ischemic stroke?
Occurs as a result of obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. The more common type of stroke.
What is a transient ischemic attack?
Caused by a temporary disruption in blood supply to part of the brain. Produces the symptoms of a stroke but tend to only last between a few minutes and a few hours, before disappearing completely.
What are the signs/symptoms of strokes/TIAs?
-sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side
-confusion/dizziness, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- trouble seeing
- trouble walking/difficulty in balance
- sudden severe (thunderclap) headache
- loss of conciousness
- paralysis
- vertigo
-vomiting
- difficulty swallowing
What is hemiparesis?
A mild or partial weakness or loss of strength on one side of the body
What is hemiplegia?
A severe or complete loss of strength or paralysis on one side of the body
What is ataxia?
Abnormal, uncoordinated movement
What is dysphasia/aphasia?
language disorder affecting speech and understanding language
What is dysphagia?
Difficulty in swallowing
What is dysarthria?
When muscles used for speech are weak or struggle to control them. Causes slurred/slow speech that can be difficult to understand.
What is the assessment/treatment for stroke?
ABC, GCS, BM - hypoglycaemia may mimic a stroke.
FAST test - Time is important as a window for thrombolytic therapy
Assess pupillary response
Administer oxygen if they are hypoxic
Calculate a NEWs score
Don’t delay transport but do a 12 lead
What is the definition of epilepsy?
A condition of the brain that causes frequent seizures. Seizures are bursts of electricity that temporarily affect the function of the brain.
What are the causes of epilepsy?
-unclear
-could have a genetic aspect
-can be caused by damage from strokes, brain tumour, head injury, drug or alcohol abuse, brain infection, lack of oxygen during birth
What can trigger seizures?
-stress
-lack of sleep
-waking up
-drinking alcohol
-some medicines and illegal drugs
-periods
-flashing lights
What happens in the brain to cause a seizure?
- neurones normally communicate by depolarisation
- they can send abnormal messages which cause larger-than-normal depolarisation. This can make other neurones send out abnormal messages.
- if many neurones do this, it could cause a seizure.
What’s the difference between focal and generalised seizures?
focal are one part of the brain but generalised involve the whole brain
What are the signs and symptoms of a simple partial seizure?
- consciousness not impaired
- a general strange feeling
- rising in the tummy
- unusual smells or tastes
- tingling in arms or legs
- intense fear or joy
- stiffness/twitching in part of the body
- lip smacking
what are the signs/symptoms of a complete partial seizure?
- consciousness impaired
- lip smacking
- rubbing hands
- making random noises
- moving arms around
- picking at clothing or fiddling with objects
- chewing or swallowing
- wont be able to respond to people or remember the seizure
What happens during a tonic-clonic seizure?
during the tonic stage, they loose consciousness, go stiff and fall to the floor.
During the clonic stage, limbs jerk about, loss of bladder/bowel control, bite tongue or cheeks, may have difficulty in breathing.
What are the signs/symptoms of absence seizures?
-stare blankly into space
-flutter their eyes
-slight jerking movement of body or limbs
-usually only last 15 seconds
-no loss of clarity on resolve
What is the treatment for seizures?
-Benzodiazepines (IV of rectally)
-Treat potentially sustained injuries
-follow patient treatment plan
What is a psychogenic convulsion?
A non-epileptic convulsion. It is often as a result of mental illness/distress.
what are the signs of PNES convulsions?
-fluctuating intensity/location
-brief pauses, tremor or slow flexion/extension movements
-arms and legs often not synchronised
-convulsion may move from one body area to another
-may respond in some way, eg blink reflex
-tongue biting rare
-eyes/mouth often shut
-pupils reacting
-may carry out purposeful movements
-pelvic thrusting common
-crying
-rapid end to convulsion and recovery
