PNP- Unit 2 - Neurological Disorders Flashcards
Neurological Disorders
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
MS is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder characterized by demyelination of nerve fibers in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to impaired nerve signal transmission.
What causes Multiple Sclerosis?
MS is believed to be an autoimmune disease triggered by genetic and environmental factors. The immune system attacks the myelin sheath, leading to inflammation and damage.
What happens in the brain and spinal cord in MS?
The immune system attacks myelin, causing inflammation, plaque formation, and scar tissue in the CNS, which disrupts nerve signal conduction.
What are common symptoms of MS?
Symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, spasticity, ataxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, nystagmus, vision disturbances, and cognitive impairment.
What are the major types of MS?
Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS): Acute episodes with recovery periods.
Secondary-Progressive MS (SPMS): Initially relapsing-remitting but later becomes progressively worse.
What is Parkinson’s Disease (PD)?
PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by dopamine-producing neuron loss in the substantia nigra, leading to motor dysfunction.
What is the underlying cause of Parkinson’s symptoms?
The loss of dopamine-producing neurons results in an imbalance between excitatory (acetylcholine) and inhibitory (dopamine) neurotransmitters, causing tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia.
What are the hallmark symptoms of PD?
Tremors at rest, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), postural instability, hypophonia (soft voice), dysarthria, and masked face.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)?
AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes due to neuronal degeneration.
What are the key pathological changes in AD?
Formation of beta-amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and brain atrophy with widened sulci and narrowed gyri, leading to impaired neural function.
What are the stages and symptoms of AD?
Early Stage: Impaired learning, short-term memory loss.
Intermediate Stage: Difficulty with ADLs, psychiatric symptoms (paranoia, hallucinations), wandering.
Late Stage: Incontinence, complete loss of speech, mobility, and self-care.
What is vascular dementia?
A type of dementia caused by multiple small brain infarctions, often due to hypertension or cerebrovascular disease, leading to progressive memory loss and cognitive decline.
happens when the brain doesn’t get enough blood. Your brain needs blood like a plant needs water. If the water (blood) doesn’t reach some parts, those parts stop working right.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes due to neuronal degeneration.
What are the key pathological changes in AD?
Formation of beta-amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and brain atrophy with widened sulci and narrowed gyri, leading to impaired neural function.
What are the stages and symptoms of AD?
Early Stage: Impaired learning, short-term memory loss.
Intermediate Stage: Difficulty with ADLs, psychiatric symptoms (paranoia, hallucinations), wandering.
Late Stage: Incontinence, complete loss of speech, mobility, and self-care.
What are some risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease?
Advanced age
Family history
Smoking (45% increased risk)
Hypertension and diabetes
Head trauma
Vascular Dementia
What is vascular dementia?
A type of dementia caused by multiple small brain infarctions, often due to hypertension or cerebrovascular disease, leading to progressive memory loss and cognitive decline.
What are common symptoms of vascular dementia?
Gradual memory loss
Apathy
Difficulty managing daily tasks
Progression in stages
Other neurological impairments such as stroke-related deficits
What are some common diagnostic tools for neurological disorders?
MRI and CT scans (MS, AD, vascular dementia)
PET scans (Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis)
Lumbar puncture (MS diagnosis)
Dopamine transporter (DaT) scan (PD diagnosis)
What are some general treatment strategies for chronic neurological disorders?
MS: Immunomodulatory drugs, corticosteroids, physical therapy
PD: Dopamine replacement (Levodopa), deep brain stimulation, physical therapy
AD: Cholinesterase inhibitors, memory aids, caregiver support
Vascular Dementia: Blood pressure control, lifestyle modifications
What lifestyle changes can help manage these disorders?
Regular exercise
Healthy diet (Mediterranean diet for AD prevention)
Cognitive stimulation
Smoking cessation
Blood pressure and diabetes control
What is Cardiac Output (CO)?
Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute. It is calculated as CO = Heart Rate (HR) × Stroke Volume (SV).
What is Stroke Volume (SV)?
Stroke Volume is the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle per heartbeat. It is influenced by preload, afterload, and contractility.
What is Preload?
Preload refers to the volume of blood filling the ventricles before contraction. It is determined by venous return and end-diastolic volume (EDV).
What is Afterload?
Afterload is the pressure the heart must overcome to eject blood, primarily influenced by systemic vascular resistance and arterial pressure.
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension is a chronic condition characterized by persistently high blood pressure, leading to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
What is the difference between Primary and Secondary Hypertension?
Primary hypertension has no identifiable cause, whereas secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying condition such as kidney disease or endocrine disorders.
What is Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)?
CHD is caused by insufficient blood supply to the myocardium due to atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, leading to ischemia and potential heart attacks.
What is Atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fatty plaques in the arteries, leading to narrowing and reduced blood flow, increasing the risk of CHD and stroke.
What is Angina Pectoris?
Angina Pectoris is chest pain caused by reduced oxygen supply to the heart muscle, typically triggered by exertion or stress.
What is the difference between Stable and Unstable Angina?
Stable angina occurs predictably with exertion and is relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. Unstable angina occurs unpredictably, even at rest, and may indicate a heart attack.
What is Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
MI, or heart attack, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is completely blocked, leading to tissue death due to prolonged oxygen deprivation.
What are the key diagnostic markers for an MI?
Elevated cardiac biomarkers such as troponin I, troponin T, CK-MB, and ECG changes (ST elevation in STEMI, non-ST elevation in NSTEMI).
What is Arrhythmia?
Arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause symptoms ranging from palpitations to life-threatening cardiac arrest.
What is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia where the atria beat chaotically and irregularly, leading to poor blood flow and increased stroke risk.
What is Sinus Bradycardia?
Sinus bradycardia is a slow heart rate (<60 bpm) that may cause dizziness, fatigue, and hypotension, often requiring intervention if symptomatic.
What is Sinus Tachycardia?
Sinus tachycardia is a rapid heart rate (>100 bpm), which can be caused by fever, stress, dehydration, or underlying heart conditions.
What is Cardiogenic Shock?
A life-threatening condition where the heart fails to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, often following a severe MI.
What is Heart Failure?
A chronic condition where the heart cannot pump effectively, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs and body tissues.
What are HDL and LDL?
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is ‘good cholesterol’ that helps remove excess cholesterol from arteries. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is ‘bad cholesterol’ that contributes to plaque formation in arteries.
What are the main risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease?
Age, family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity.
What is Cardiac Arrest?
A sudden loss of heart function, often caused by ventricular fibrillation or severe arrhythmia, requiring immediate CPR and defibrillation.
What is the Frank-Starling Mechanism?
A physiological principle stating that the more the heart muscle is stretched during filling (increased preload), the stronger the contraction, up to a limit.
What is the difference between STEMI and NSTEMI?
STEMI involves a complete coronary artery blockage with ST elevation on ECG, requiring immediate reperfusion. NSTEMI is a partial blockage without ST elevation but with positive cardiac biomarkers.
What are common diagnostic tests for cardiovascular disorders?
ECG, echocardiogram, stress test, cardiac catheterization, blood tests (troponin, CK-MB, cholesterol levels).
What lifestyle changes can help prevent cardiovascular disease?
Regular exercise, a healthy diet, smoking cessation, weight control, stress management, and blood pressure/cholesterol control.
