Stroke Overview and Management

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to stroke, its types, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment.

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident; commonly known as a stroke.

Ischemic Stroke

A type of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A type of stroke that occurs due to bleeding in or around the brain.

Agnosia

Loss of ability to recognize objects through specific sensory systems.

Aphasia

A disorder affecting speech and language capabilities.

Apraxia

Inability to perform purposeful or voluntary motor acts.

Dysarthria

Impairment in speaking related to muscle control.

Dysphasia

Swallowing dysfunction.

Hemiparesis

Weakness on one side of the body.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis on one side of the body.

Hemianopsia

Loss of vision in one half of the visual field.

Penumbra

The area of low cerebral blood flow surrounding an infarcted area.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A temporary period of symptoms similar to those of a stroke.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)

Bleeding into the brain tissue.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH)

Bleeding that occurs in the space between the brain and the tissues covering it.

Risk Factors

Conditions or behaviors that increase the likelihood of having a stroke.

Nonmodifiable Risk Factors

Risk factors that cannot be changed, including age and family history.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

A scale used to assess a person's level of consciousness.

Reperfusion Therapy

A treatment approach aimed at restoring blood flow to the affected area of the brain.

tPA

Tissue Plasminogen Activator, a medication used in thrombolytic therapy to dissolve blood clots.

NIH Stroke Scale

A systematic way to quantify neurological status in stroke patients.

ICP Monitoring

Monitoring of intracranial pressure, important in assessing brain status.