Neurological problems

Question 1

Define atherosclerosis and risk factors

Answer 1

Hardening of the arteries…deposits of cholesterol/fats/calcium/cellular waste products, layers of plaques

risk factors: high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, high levels of cholesterol in blood

Question 2

Compare heart attacks and strokes

Answer 2

heart attack: disrupting blood flow to the heart
stroke: disrupting blood flow to the brain

Question 3

What is the major artery providing oxygen and nutrients to the brain?
In what part do atherosclerotic plaques form more often?

Answer 3

Carotid artery…heart—>brain
(2 parts, internal and external branches)
Internal carotid artery

Question 4

Compare hemorrhagic and ischemic stokes

Answer 4

Hemorrhagic: Rupture of a cerebral blood vessel
Ischemic: Occlusion of a blood vessel…(87%strokes)

Question 5

Define “thrombus” and “embolus”

Answer 5

Thrombus:
Embolus:

Question 6

What are the steps leading to an ischemic stroke

Answer 6

1. Plaque builds up, hardening of the artery
2. Blood pressure increases, to get blood past the clog
   3.Clog gets too big–>thrombus, major artery gets clogged
3. Pieces of the thrombus (or matter) break off and small pieces go into into small vessels, such as capillaries.

Question 7

What are the steps leading to a hemorrhagic stroke

Answer 7

1. Too much atherosclerosis
2. Blood pressure is too high
3. Little capillaries begin to pop (or sometimes major artery)
4. Blood loss ++ and cell death

Question 8

What is tPA are in what case is it used?

Question 9

How do doctors treat artery clots

Answer 9

• Access circulatory system through femoral artery, then
  a. pull it out, b. suck it out, c. stent–>enlarge the artery
  -Drugs that reduce swelling and inflammation
  -Physical, speech and/or occupational therapy
• Exercise ad sensory stimulation (constraint-induced movement therapy)

Question 10

Give an example of constraint-movement therapy

Answer 10

Weak right arm, tie up the left arm, then forced to use the right one

Question 11

Define: Tumor, non-malignant tumor, malignant tumor, metastasis

Answer 11

Tumor:
Non-malignant tumor:
Malignant tumor:
Metastasis:

Question 12

Describe how can malignant and non-malignant tumors both affect a patient’s brain

Answer 12

Non malignant: Compression, crushing neurons together. Can destroy brain tissue directly or block CSF flow–>hydrocephalus

Malignant: Infiltration of the brain tissues

Question 13

What is Meningitis

Question 14

What is Encephalitis

Question 15

What is Polio

Question 16

What is Rabies

Question 17

What is Herpes simplex virus

Question 18

TBI

Question 19

What can increase the likelihood of getting seizure disorders?

Answer 19

• Strokes, tumors or TBI
  -High fever in kids
  -Withdrawal of GABA agonists (ex: alcohol and barbiturates)
  -Some people are born with it

Question 20

How does removing brain tissue affect cognitive functioning for someone with a seizure disorder?

Answer 20

It improves cognitive function… the problem neurons not participating in cognitive function, too busy compensating for the overexcitability problem