A period following a seizure that typically includes labored respirations and altered mental status
Postictal state
Low blood glucose levels
Hypoglycemia
A temporary alteration in consciousness, classified as a generalized, partial, or status epilepticus
Seizure
Experiencing a warning sense prior to an event
Aura
Part of the brain located above the cerebellum, divided into R and L hemispheres
Cerebrum
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Incontinence
Aphasia
An inability to produce or understand speech
Aneurism
A swelling or enlargement of part of an artery resulting from weakness of the arterial wall
Brain stem
Controls basic functions of the body, such as breathing and blood pressure
Cerebellum
Controls basic functions of the body, such as breathing and blood pressure
Hemiparesis
Weakness of one side of the body
Ischemia
A lack of oxygen
Status epilepticus
A seizure lasting longer then 30 minutes
Stroke
An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in a loss of brain function
Transient ischemic attack
Stroke symptoms that go away in less than 24 hours
A _________ is typically characterized by unconsciousness and a generalized severe twitching of all of the bodies muscles that lasts several minutes or longer
generalized seizure
The _________ controls the most basic functions of the body, such as breathing, blood pressure, swallowing, and pupil constriction
brain stem
At each vertebrae in the neck and back, _________ nerves, called spinal nerves, branch out from, the spinal cord and carry signals to and from the body
two
All of the following are associated with altered mantel status EXCEPT __________
coma
seizure
incontinence
intoxication
incontinence
When blood flow to a particular part of the brain is cut off by a blockage inside a blood vessel, the result is
an ischemic stroke
Patients who are at the highest risk of hemorrhagic stroke are those who have
untreated hypertension
Patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage typically complain of sudden severe
headache
The plaque that builds up in atherosclerosis obstructs blood flow and interferes with the vessel's ability to
dilate
A TIA, or mini-stroke, is the name given to a stroke when symptoms go away on their own in less then
24 hours
Patients with a decreased LOC
should not be given anything by mouth
Hypoglycemia can mimic conditions such as
stroke
When assessing a patient with a history of seizure activity, it is important to
determine whether this episode differs from any previous ones
Signs and symptoms of possible seizure activity include all of the following EXCEPT
altered mental status
incontinence
muscle rigidity and twitching
petechiae
petechiae
Common causes of altered mental status include all of the following EXCEPT
body temperature abnormalities
hypoxia
unequal pupils
hypoglycemia
unequal pupils
The principal difference between a patient who has had a stroke and a patient with hypoglycemia almost always has to do with
mental status
Consider the possibility of __________ is a patient who has had a seizure
hypoglycemia
__________ are the second most common type of headache and are thought to be caused by changes in blood vessel size in the base of the brain
Tension headaches
Headache. altered mental status, and seizures and all considered early signs of
increased intracranial pressure
People within __________ have a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke
uncontrolled hypertension
Headaches caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck are typically associated with
tension headaches
The following conditions may simulate a stroke EXCEPT
hyperglycemia
a postictal state
hypoglycemia
subdural bleeding
hyperclycemia
When assessing a patient with a possible CVA (cerebrovascular accident) , you should check the __________ first
airway
A _________ is usually a warning sign that larger, significant stroke may occur in the future
TIA transient ischemic attack
Which mnemonic is used to check a patients mental status
AVPU alert, voice, pain, unresponsive
There are ____ cranial nerves
12
Playing the piano is coordinated through the cerebellum
cerebellum
The two main types of strokes are
ischemic and hemorrhagic
The brain is most sensitive to _______, _________, and, _______ levels
oxygen, glucose, temp
An incident in which you have more than one patient complaining of a headache may indicate
carbon monoxide poisoning
A _______ _______ seizure may cause twitching of the extremity muscles that may spread slowly to another body part
simple partial
Each hemisphere of the cerebrum activates on the ______ side of the body
opposite
Complex partial seizures result from abnormal discharges from the ______ lobe of the brain
temporal
Dilantin and Tegretol are medications used to control ______ __________
epileptic seizures
A period following a seizure in which the muscles relax and the breathing becomes labored is called a
postictal state
Weakness of one side of the body is known as
hemiparesis
All patients with an altered mental status should have an ______ ______ ______ score calculated
Glasgow coma scale
______ ______ may reverse stroke symptoms and even stop the stroke if given within 2-3 hours of onset of symptoms
Thrombolytic therapy
A _______ seizure feathers rhythmic back-and-forth motion of an extremity and body stiffness
Tonic-clonic
Slurred speech
Dysarthria
The inability to understand and/or produce speech
Aphasia
The sensation that serves as a warning sign that a seizure is about to occur
Aura
An interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function
Stroke
A stroke
CVA cerebrovascular accident
Clotting that forms in a remote area and travels to the site of blockage
Embolus
A ______ seizure affects a limited portion of the brain
partial
A disorder of the brain in which brain cells temporarily stop working because of insufficient oxygen, causing stroke like symptoms that resolve within 24 hours on onset
TIA
A state of profound unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused
Coma
A ______ seizure is characterized by severe twitching of all of the body's muscles that may last several minutes or more
generalized
Clotting of the cerebral arteries that may result in the interruption of cerebral blood flow and subsequent stroke
Thrombosis
Generalized, uncoordinated muscular activity associated with loss of consciousness
seizure
A swelling or enlargement of part of a blood vessel, resulting from weakening of the vessel wall
Aneurism
A lack on oxygen in the cells of the brain that causes them not to function properly
Ischemia
__________ seizures result from sudden high fevers, particularly in children
Febrile
Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale: Facial Droop
Ask patient to show teeth or smile
Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale: Arm Drift
Ask patient to close eyes and hold both arms out with palms up
Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale: Speech
Ask patient to say, "the sky is blue in Cincinnati.
Why is prompt transport of stoke patients critical?
New thrombolytic therapies may help in reversing some of the damage but must be started within 3 hours on onset
Describe the characeristics of a postictal state
After seizure, duration 5-30 min, AMS, labored resp. muscles relax or hemiparesis
What is the difference between a simple partial and a complex partial seizure?
SPS: no AMS, numbness, weakness, dizziness, twitching
CPS: AMS, lips smacking, eye blinking, isolated convulsions
List three conditions that may simulate stroke
hypoglycemia, postictal state, subdural or epidermal bleeding
The patients wife tells you the patient has a history of hypertension, myocardial infarction, renal failure, diabetes, and GERD. Based on the patients history, what are possible conditions that could explain his symptoms?
Hypoglycemia
While transporting the pt to the hospital, his left-sided weakness and speech improve. By the time you reach the hospital, the pt appears almost normal. What is most likely his underlying condition.
Transient ischemic attack