Neurological problems Flashcards
Define atherosclerosis and risk factors
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
Compare heart attacks and strokes
heart attack: disrupting blood flow to the heart
stroke: disrupting blood flow to the brain
What is the major artery providing oxygen and nutrients to the brain?
In what part do atherosclerotic plaques form more often?
Carotid artery…heart—>brain
(2 parts, internal and external branches)
Internal carotid artery
Compare hemorrhagic and ischemic stokes
Hemorrhagic: Rupture of a cerebral blood vessel
Ischemic: Occlusion of a blood vessel…(87%strokes)
Define “thrombus” and “embolus”
Thrombus:
Embolus:
What are the steps leading to an ischemic stroke
- Plaque builds up, hardening of the artery
- Blood pressure increases, to get blood past the clog
3.Clog gets too big–>thrombus, major artery gets clogged - Pieces of the thrombus (or matter) break off and small pieces go into into small vessels, such as capillaries.
What are the steps leading to a hemorrhagic stroke
- Too much atherosclerosis
- Blood pressure is too high
- Little capillaries begin to pop (or sometimes major artery)
- Blood loss ++ and cell death
What is tPA are in what case is it used?
How do doctors treat artery clots
- 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)
Give an example of constraint-movement therapy
Weak right arm, tie up the left arm, then forced to use the right one
Define: Tumor, non-malignant tumor, malignant tumor, metastasis
Tumor:
Non-malignant tumor:
Malignant tumor:
Metastasis:
Describe how can malignant and non-malignant tumors both affect a patient’s brain
Non malignant: Compression, crushing neurons together. Can destroy brain tissue directly or block CSF flow–>hydrocephalus
Malignant: Infiltration of the brain tissues
What is Meningitis
What is Encephalitis
What is Polio
What is Rabies
What is Herpes simplex virus
TBI
What can increase the likelihood of getting seizure disorders?
- Strokes, tumors or TBI
-High fever in kids
-Withdrawal of GABA agonists (ex: alcohol and barbiturates)
-Some people are born with it
How does removing brain tissue affect cognitive functioning for someone with a seizure disorder?
It improves cognitive function… the problem neurons not participating in cognitive function, too busy compensating for the overexcitability problem
