Explanation Flashcards
Parkinson’s disease
(draw diagram of nerve cell with little dopamine)
What it is: chronic, progressive disease that affects movement
Cause: no cause known. May be genetic
Sx: slowness of movements, shaking, stiffness
Complications: falls, depression, dementia
Mx: tablets to relieve symptoms, physio,
Home visit with a specialist nurse / appt here in OPD
Research is active in PD to find a medication to prevent damage to cells
Multiple sclerosis
(Draw a diagram showing a nerve with a loss of myelin)
What it is: chronic condition that affects transmission of messages in nerve cells. Sometimes messages are sent slowly or not at all.
Causes: no direct cause known. Some believe that viral infections are related to the cause. Others believe that our genes play a role, so if you have a family with MS you are at an increased risk
Sx: depends which nerves are affected. Visual disturbances, stiffness, imbalance, tingling, tiredness
Complications: unpredictable disease progression. Some have frequent flares, others rarely, some progress gradually without flare ups. infections, falls, walking aids
Mx: no cure. Steroids in flare ups, disease modifying drugs, SALT, physio, OH.
MS society, nurse to see you at your home / appt in OPD
Research is active in MS to find a medication to prevent damage to cells
Epilepsy
(Draw diagram of brain with example of areas affected by seizures)
What it is: seizure = short episode of abnormal electrical activity which can affect areas of the brain and result in a variety of symptoms.
Epilepsy = condition in which you experience repeated seizures.
Cause: no specific cause and may be different for each person. For example, congenital (cerebral palsy), toxins (alcohol) or growth in the brain.
Symptoms: depends on part of brain affected by the seizures, eg odd behaviours, shaking or jerking, speech
Mx: no cure.
Avoid triggers: poor sleep, alcohol, flashing lights, skipping meals, stress.
Lifestyle: Most live a normal life. May be dangerous to swim, ski, horse ride etc. May want to have shower instead of bath, swim with other people, inform work so they can make reasonable adjustments.
Meds: There are antiepeleptic drugs which help to control seizures.
DVLA: HGV - 10 yrs medication & seizure free, normal - 1 yr seizure free
Outlook: For up to 8/10 people with epilepsy, with the right medication and dose, they are seizure free. If you are seizure free for 2 years, can think about lowering dose with the aim to stop AEDs
Antiepeleptic medications
Dont cure epilepsy but aim to reduce / stop seizures
Carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproate
Take tablet daily
Aim to keep seizure free on lowest dose with minimal amount of S.E.
Can take more than one AED
S.E.: dizzinnes, weight gain/loss, sedation
Regular monitoring 1 check S.E., working, bloods for levels
Family planning - affects effectiveness of COCP, seizures during pregnancy can be harmful to you and unborn child, take folic acid supplements
Important to take meds as prescribed, inform GP you are on AED
Feel unwell, rash, brusing, N&V - seek urgent medical advice
Give home emergency treatment - buccal midazolam
Patient wants to try complementary therapies
If you want to try complementary therapies always go to a qualified therapist who knows about your condition
Epilepsy lifestyle advice
Avoid poor sleep Avoid alcohol Avoid skipping meals Avoid flashing lights Avoid stress/anxiety
Take a shower instead of bath
Cook with handles facing wall
No open fires
Myasthenia gravis
(Draw diagram of nerve fibre & muscle, end of nerve fibre and muscle fibre)
What it is: condition that affects the neuromuscular junction. Autoimmune condition (body attacks its own cells) which produces antibodies. These destroy or block the receptors on muscle fibres - prevents / slows down contraction of muscles.
Cause: no known cause. Linked to thymus disease (gland part of immune system that sits under breastbone). Thymoma
Sx: muscle weakness, worse at end of day, improves with rest. Dropping eyes, slurred speech, double vision swallowing, breathing
Ix: scan chest, bloods (anti-Ach receptor AB), nerve & muscle function)
Mx: with medical management, majority of people go onto live a normal life. Medications: anticholinesterase, steroids (alternate days), immunosuppressants, thymectomy, physio
Migraine
Severe headache
Unilateral, throbbing, pulsating, with warning (aura)
Wake up at night
Sensitivity to light, N&V, aura,
Can last hours - days
Mx: sumitriptan, NSAIDs, beta blockers, TCAs
Avoid triggers: choc, caffeine, alcohol, stress, poor sleep,
Cluster headache
Seasonal - spring & autumn
Severe, debilitating clusters of headaches that lasts days - weeks
Unilateral, crushing, severely painful, starts during sleep
Mx: home oxygen, sumitriptan, analgesia, beta blockers
Tension headache
Bilateral, tight band, without warning
Related to stress
No N&V, no photophobia
Mx: analgesia, avoid stress, relaxation therapies
Stroke
(Draw diagram of brain with arteries and function of parts of brain)
What it is: brain needs constant supply of blood to function. There are several arteries which supply blood to different parts of the brain. If one of these arteries is blocked/bursts, then blood cannot get to a part of the brain and this area will start to die
Causes:
- ischaemia: emboli (blood clot / plaque develops elsewhere and travel to brain, or thrombi (blood clot / plaque develops inside brain artery) this blocks off artery
- haemmorhagic: blood vessel burst due to high pressure exerted on it (HTN) or due to aneurysm (ballooning out of vessel in weakened area)
Sx: depends on which part of brain affected, typically speech, vision, mobility affected
Risk Fx: smoking, HTN, AF, sedentary lifestyle, diet, alcohol
Mx: CT scan (rule out haemmorhagic stroke), alteplase (4.5 hrs & intracranial haemorrhage excluded)
TIA
Temporary blockage of artery which self - resolves in 65
BP > 140/90
Clinical fx (unilateral weakness, speech)
DM
Duration (>60,
