STROKE CERTIFICATION | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTION
stroke syndromes - (ANSWER)CORTICAL - contralateral motor, sensory, and cranial nerve deficits
BRAINSTEM - cranial nerve nuclei (uncrossed), corticospinal tract (crossed) --> ipsilateral facial and
contralateral extremity weakness
PONTINE - coma, miosis, gaze paresis, ataxic breathing
CEREBELLAR - nystagmus, dizziness, N/V, ataxia
stroke mimics - (ANSWER)1. Intoxication (drug/alcohol)
2. Hypo/hyperglycaemia
3. Seizures
4. Brain timor
5. Syncope
6. Middle ear disorder
7. Migraine
8. Subdural haematoma
9. Sepsis
10. Electrolyte disturbances
stroke types - (ANSWER)-A Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) is an interruption of blood flow to the brain
that results in the loss of brain function, due to brain cells not getting enough oxygen.
-A Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is a brain disorder, in which brain cells temporarily stop working
because of lack of oxygen, that cause stroke-like symptoms that resolve within 24 hours.
-A Hemorrhagic Stroke is one of two main types of stroke; occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain.
-An Ischemic Stroke is the other type, occurs when blood flow to the brain is cut off by blockage in a
blood vessel.
neuroplasticity - (ANSWER)the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and
function of many cells in response to experience or trauma
stroke recovery - (ANSWER)Ischemic = tend to recover at slower rate (depends on infarct)
, STROKE CERTIFICATION | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTION
Hemorrhagic = tens to look somewhat worse at first, but tens to recover somewhat rapidly
- Diet and exercise help reduce stroke
stroke risk factors - (ANSWER)-Age/Older persons are at greater risk
-Family History/Greater risk if parent or sibling has had a stroke
-Gender
-Race/Blacks are at greater risk than other groups because of hypertension and diabetes
-Heart Disease/Heart failure, heart attack, valve diseases, abnormal heart rhythms, artherosclerosis
-Smoking/Damages blood vessels
-Diabetes/Damages blood vessels
-High Blood Cholesterol
-Obesity
-Previous stroke or TIA
hemorrhagic stroke - (ANSWER)-(Intracranial Hemorrhage) Most common cause of spontaneous primary
hemorrhagic strokes are hypertension, ruptured aneurysms, vascular malformation.
-Risk factors include hypertension, previous cerebral infarct, coronary artery disease, and diabetes
mellitus.
-A hypertensive hemorrhagic stroke is associated with a significant increase in systolic and diastolic
pressure over several years and usually occurs within the brain tissue.
-A mass of blood is formed and its volume increases. Adjacent brain tissue is displaced and compressed;
seepage into ventricular system possible.
Described as massive, small, slit, or petechial.
ischemic stroke - (ANSWER)Occlusion of cerebral artery by thrombus or embolus
• Often proceeded by warning signs: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or, Reversible ischemic neurological
deficit (RIND)
• Etiology - Thrombosis, Embolism
• Thrombotic stroke - Accounts for more than one half of all stroke, Associated with atherosclerosis
SOLUTION
stroke syndromes - (ANSWER)CORTICAL - contralateral motor, sensory, and cranial nerve deficits
BRAINSTEM - cranial nerve nuclei (uncrossed), corticospinal tract (crossed) --> ipsilateral facial and
contralateral extremity weakness
PONTINE - coma, miosis, gaze paresis, ataxic breathing
CEREBELLAR - nystagmus, dizziness, N/V, ataxia
stroke mimics - (ANSWER)1. Intoxication (drug/alcohol)
2. Hypo/hyperglycaemia
3. Seizures
4. Brain timor
5. Syncope
6. Middle ear disorder
7. Migraine
8. Subdural haematoma
9. Sepsis
10. Electrolyte disturbances
stroke types - (ANSWER)-A Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) is an interruption of blood flow to the brain
that results in the loss of brain function, due to brain cells not getting enough oxygen.
-A Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is a brain disorder, in which brain cells temporarily stop working
because of lack of oxygen, that cause stroke-like symptoms that resolve within 24 hours.
-A Hemorrhagic Stroke is one of two main types of stroke; occurs as a result of bleeding inside the brain.
-An Ischemic Stroke is the other type, occurs when blood flow to the brain is cut off by blockage in a
blood vessel.
neuroplasticity - (ANSWER)the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and
function of many cells in response to experience or trauma
stroke recovery - (ANSWER)Ischemic = tend to recover at slower rate (depends on infarct)
, STROKE CERTIFICATION | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTION
Hemorrhagic = tens to look somewhat worse at first, but tens to recover somewhat rapidly
- Diet and exercise help reduce stroke
stroke risk factors - (ANSWER)-Age/Older persons are at greater risk
-Family History/Greater risk if parent or sibling has had a stroke
-Gender
-Race/Blacks are at greater risk than other groups because of hypertension and diabetes
-Heart Disease/Heart failure, heart attack, valve diseases, abnormal heart rhythms, artherosclerosis
-Smoking/Damages blood vessels
-Diabetes/Damages blood vessels
-High Blood Cholesterol
-Obesity
-Previous stroke or TIA
hemorrhagic stroke - (ANSWER)-(Intracranial Hemorrhage) Most common cause of spontaneous primary
hemorrhagic strokes are hypertension, ruptured aneurysms, vascular malformation.
-Risk factors include hypertension, previous cerebral infarct, coronary artery disease, and diabetes
mellitus.
-A hypertensive hemorrhagic stroke is associated with a significant increase in systolic and diastolic
pressure over several years and usually occurs within the brain tissue.
-A mass of blood is formed and its volume increases. Adjacent brain tissue is displaced and compressed;
seepage into ventricular system possible.
Described as massive, small, slit, or petechial.
ischemic stroke - (ANSWER)Occlusion of cerebral artery by thrombus or embolus
• Often proceeded by warning signs: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or, Reversible ischemic neurological
deficit (RIND)
• Etiology - Thrombosis, Embolism
• Thrombotic stroke - Accounts for more than one half of all stroke, Associated with atherosclerosis
