Medical Fisdap Exam QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS RATED A+
How does an aneurysm present? What is it a symptom of? - As the 'worst headache of their life'.
A symptom of a hemorrhagic stroke.
When a patient has stroke-like symptoms that go away on their own in less than 24 hrs, what did
they experience? - A transient ischemic attack (TIA)
What are the signs and symptoms of a stroke? - -Facial drooping
-Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, leg, or one side of body
-Decreased or absent movement/sensation on one side of body
-Lack of muscle coordination (ataxia) or loss of balance
-Sudden vision loss in one eye
-Blurred/double vision
-Difficulty swallowing
-Decreased level of responsiveness
-Speech disorders
-Aphasia
-Slurred speech: dysarthria
-Confusion/dizziness
-Sudden/severe headache
-Tongue deviation
Stroke in left cerebral hemisphere may cause _____ , _____ - -Aphasia
-Paralysis of right side of body
What is aphasia? - Inability to produce/understand speech
Stroke in the right cerebral hemisphere can cause _____ - -Paralysis of left side of body
True or false: Usually patients can understand language and are able to speak when experiencing
a right cerebral hemisphere stroke - True
What is a potential cause of bleeding in the brain? - High blood pressure
What conditions mimic a stroke? - -Hypoglycemia
-Postictal state
-Subdural/epidural bleeding
What is a seizure - A neurologic episode caused by a surge of electrical activity in the brain. Can
take the form of a convulsion and/or can be associated with a temporary alteration in
consciousness.
, How is a generalized seizure characterized? - By unconsciousness and a generalized severe
twitching of all muscles lasting several minutes or longer
What is another name for a generalized seizure? - Tonic-Clonic seizure
What is tonic? - Muscle contraction
What is clonic? - Relaxation
How is an absence seizure characterized? - Does not involve any changes in motor activity. A
brief lapse of consciousness in which the patient seems to stare and not respond.
How is a partial (focal) seizure characterized? - Altered mental status. Results from abnormal
discharges from the temporal lobe of the brain. Lip smacking, eye blinking, isolated jerking.
Unpleasant smells, visual hallucinations, uncontrollable fear, repetitive physical behavior.
Patients may experience an _____ prior to a seizure - Aura
What is an aura? - Visual changes or hallucinations
How long does a generalized seizure last? - Less than 5 minutes
What follows a generalized seizure? - A postictal state
What is another name for an absence seizure? - Petit mal
How long do absence seizures last? - A few seconds
Seizures lasting more than 5 minutes are likely to progress to _____ _____. - Status epilepticus
What is the postictal state of a seizure? - After a seizure, the muscles relax and breathing
becomes labored. Most commonly characterized by lethargy and confusion.
What is syncope? - Fainting
Seizures are often mistaken for _____. - Syncope
What are some causes of seizures? - -Epilepsy
-High fever
-Structural problems in the brain
-Metabolic or chemical problems in the body
-Idiopathic (cause cannot be determined)
What are causes of AMS, or altered mental status? - -Hypoglycemia
-Hypoxemia
-Intoxication
How does an aneurysm present? What is it a symptom of? - As the 'worst headache of their life'.
A symptom of a hemorrhagic stroke.
When a patient has stroke-like symptoms that go away on their own in less than 24 hrs, what did
they experience? - A transient ischemic attack (TIA)
What are the signs and symptoms of a stroke? - -Facial drooping
-Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, leg, or one side of body
-Decreased or absent movement/sensation on one side of body
-Lack of muscle coordination (ataxia) or loss of balance
-Sudden vision loss in one eye
-Blurred/double vision
-Difficulty swallowing
-Decreased level of responsiveness
-Speech disorders
-Aphasia
-Slurred speech: dysarthria
-Confusion/dizziness
-Sudden/severe headache
-Tongue deviation
Stroke in left cerebral hemisphere may cause _____ , _____ - -Aphasia
-Paralysis of right side of body
What is aphasia? - Inability to produce/understand speech
Stroke in the right cerebral hemisphere can cause _____ - -Paralysis of left side of body
True or false: Usually patients can understand language and are able to speak when experiencing
a right cerebral hemisphere stroke - True
What is a potential cause of bleeding in the brain? - High blood pressure
What conditions mimic a stroke? - -Hypoglycemia
-Postictal state
-Subdural/epidural bleeding
What is a seizure - A neurologic episode caused by a surge of electrical activity in the brain. Can
take the form of a convulsion and/or can be associated with a temporary alteration in
consciousness.
, How is a generalized seizure characterized? - By unconsciousness and a generalized severe
twitching of all muscles lasting several minutes or longer
What is another name for a generalized seizure? - Tonic-Clonic seizure
What is tonic? - Muscle contraction
What is clonic? - Relaxation
How is an absence seizure characterized? - Does not involve any changes in motor activity. A
brief lapse of consciousness in which the patient seems to stare and not respond.
How is a partial (focal) seizure characterized? - Altered mental status. Results from abnormal
discharges from the temporal lobe of the brain. Lip smacking, eye blinking, isolated jerking.
Unpleasant smells, visual hallucinations, uncontrollable fear, repetitive physical behavior.
Patients may experience an _____ prior to a seizure - Aura
What is an aura? - Visual changes or hallucinations
How long does a generalized seizure last? - Less than 5 minutes
What follows a generalized seizure? - A postictal state
What is another name for an absence seizure? - Petit mal
How long do absence seizures last? - A few seconds
Seizures lasting more than 5 minutes are likely to progress to _____ _____. - Status epilepticus
What is the postictal state of a seizure? - After a seizure, the muscles relax and breathing
becomes labored. Most commonly characterized by lethargy and confusion.
What is syncope? - Fainting
Seizures are often mistaken for _____. - Syncope
What are some causes of seizures? - -Epilepsy
-High fever
-Structural problems in the brain
-Metabolic or chemical problems in the body
-Idiopathic (cause cannot be determined)
What are causes of AMS, or altered mental status? - -Hypoglycemia
-Hypoxemia
-Intoxication
