Seizures & Headaches

Question 1

defintion

Answer 1

sudden abnormal uncontrolled electrical firing in the brain

Question 2

symptoms depend on what

Answer 2

brain location

Question 3

classification of seizures (2)

Answer 3

generalized or focal

Question 4

generalized

Answer 4

involve the whole brain

Question 5

what is it called when both sides of the body react

Answer 5

tonic clonic

Question 6

focal
- partial sezures

Answer 6

begin in one part of the brain

Question 7

simple partial vs complex partial

Answer 7

simple partial is consciousness remains intact
complex partial is when there is impairment of consiousness

Question 8

goal when seizure is occuring

Answer 8

stop it as quickly as possible

Question 9

aura

Answer 9

portion of the seizures the occurs before consciousness is lost
subjective sensation

Question 10

ictal

Answer 10

actual seizure activity

Question 11

post icual

Answer 11

time after seizure

Question 12

intraictual

Answer 12

time between seizures

Question 13

epilepsy

Answer 13

a group of syndromes characterized by unprovoked reoccurring seizures

Question 14

some causes of seizures

Answer 14

hypoxemia
fever
hypertension
brain tumor
drug and alcohol withdrawl

Question 15

what to do during the seizure

Answer 15

time it
don’t put anything in mouth
don’t hold or grab

Question 16

complications of seizures

Answer 16

injury from falls bumps or self inflicted bites
aspiration pneumonia
status epilepticus
permanet brain damage

Question 17

permanet brain damage
- why might this occur

Answer 17

increase metabolic demand
- which results in cerebral anoxia, edema and long term damage

Question 18

what is status epileptics

Answer 18

continuous seizure or a series of seizures from which a patient never recovers consciousness between attacks

Question 19

status epileptics
- depletes the energy stores, increases O2 consumption, increases metabolic demands =

Answer 19

cerebral anoxia and edema

Question 20

is status epileptics a medical emergency

Answer 20

yes

Question 21

what drugs do we use to halt seizure activity

Answer 21

benzos
- lorazepam
- valium

Question 22

what drugs do we use to maintain seizure free state

Answer 22

phenytoin
phenobarbital

Question 23

why do we want to know about infection or illness when getting history

Answer 23

because infection can cause seizures

Question 24

diagnostics used

Answer 24

EEG
- measures brain activity
CT
MRI

Question 25

lab studies

Answer 25

• drug levels
• sodium
• lytes
• glucose
• abgs

Question 26

what is one of the first things you should do when you find out you have a patient with a history of seizures

Answer 26

patent IV

Question 27

medications we can use as preventative (3)

Answer 27

dilantin
depakote
tegretol

Question 28

what is a diet that might help

Answer 28

keto

Question 29

what is a procedure that can be done to help

Answer 29

vagus nerve stimulation

Question 30

what is a vagus nerve stimulator

Answer 30

device implanted in the chest and wired to vagus nerve

Question 31

secondary vs primary types of headaches

Answer 31

primary: no known organic cause
secondary: symptom with an organic cause

Question 32

what are some medications that can cause headaches

Answer 32

nitrates
vasodilators
histamines

alcohol