Seizures & Headaches Flashcards
defintion
sudden abnormal uncontrolled electrical firing in the brain
symptoms depend on what
brain location
classification of seizures (2)
generalized or focal
generalized
involve the whole brain
what is it called when both sides of the body react
tonic clonic
focal
- partial sezures
begin in one part of the brain
simple partial vs complex partial
simple partial is consciousness remains intact
complex partial is when there is impairment of consiousness
goal when seizure is occuring
stop it as quickly as possible
aura
portion of the seizures the occurs before consciousness is lost
subjective sensation
ictal
actual seizure activity
post icual
time after seizure
intraictual
time between seizures
epilepsy
a group of syndromes characterized by unprovoked reoccurring seizures
some causes of seizures
hypoxemia
fever
hypertension
brain tumor
drug and alcohol withdrawl
what to do during the seizure
time it
don’t put anything in mouth
don’t hold or grab
complications of seizures
injury from falls bumps or self inflicted bites
aspiration pneumonia
status epilepticus
permanet brain damage
permanet brain damage
- why might this occur
increase metabolic demand
- which results in cerebral anoxia, edema and long term damage
what is status epileptics
continuous seizure or a series of seizures from which a patient never recovers consciousness between attacks
status epileptics
- depletes the energy stores, increases O2 consumption, increases metabolic demands =
cerebral anoxia and edema
is status epileptics a medical emergency
yes
what drugs do we use to halt seizure activity
benzos
- lorazepam
- valium
what drugs do we use to maintain seizure free state
phenytoin
phenobarbital
why do we want to know about infection or illness when getting history
because infection can cause seizures
diagnostics used
EEG
- measures brain activity
CT
MRI
lab studies
- drug levels
- sodium
- lytes
- glucose
- abgs
what is one of the first things you should do when you find out you have a patient with a history of seizures
patent IV
medications we can use as preventative (3)
dilantin
depakote
tegretol
what is a diet that might help
keto
what is a procedure that can be done to help
vagus nerve stimulation
what is a vagus nerve stimulator
device implanted in the chest and wired to vagus nerve
secondary vs primary types of headaches
primary: no known organic cause
secondary: symptom with an organic cause
what are some medications that can cause headaches
nitrates
vasodilators
histamines
alcohol
