Week 2 - Nervous System NO Critical Thinking PDF

HCAP 1210 Physical Changes  The nervous system:  Nerve cells are lost.  Nerve conduction and reflexes slow.  Blood flow to the brain is reduced.  Changes occur in brain cells.  Sleep patterns change.  Touch and sensitivity to pain and pre...

HCAP 1210 Physical Changes  The nervous system:  Nerve cells are lost.  Nerve conduction and reflexes slow.  Blood flow to the brain is reduced.  Changes occur in brain cells.  Sleep patterns change.  Touch and sensitivity to pain and pressure are reduced.  Sensing heat and cold are reduced.  Taste and smell dull. Nervous System Disorders NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS CAN AFFECT PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE TASKS SUCH COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS INCLUDE TASKS COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS AS MOVING, TOUCHING, SEEING, HEARING, CONTROLLED BY THE MIND, SUCH AS AND CONTROLLING THE BOWEL AND BLADDER THINKING, REASONING, UNDERSTANDING, REMEMBERING, LEARNING, READING, AND PROBLEM SOLVING Epilepsy  Epilepsy is recurrent episodes of convulsive seizures, sensory disturbances, abnormal behaviours, and loss of consciousness  A seizure involves violent and sudden contractions or tremors of muscle groups and causes uncontrolled movements and loss of consciousness  A single seizure does not mean a person has epilepsy, but it can develop any time  Watch the next video; MANDATORY. It shows you what to do when someone is having a seizure.  Stroke  Stroke (cerebrovascular accident [CVA]) is a disease that affects the arteries that supply blood to the brain.  Stroke occurs when the following happens:  A blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts, resulting in the blood supply to a part of the brain being obstructed  A Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is known as a “mini-stroke”.  Difference between a TIA & CVA comes down to timing.  Sometimes people can have a TIA and you would not even recognize the symptoms, they occur that quickly. The only way to know if someone has a TIA is through a CT scan or an observable deterioration in their health & ADLS. Stroke (Cont.)  Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada  It is a leading cause of disability in adults  The person needs emergency care.  Sometimes a warning sign lasts a few minutes  Remember the acronym FAST Stroke (Cont.)  Stroke can occur suddenly  The person may have warning signs:  Sudden weakness, numbness, or tingling of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body  Sudden loss of speech or trouble understanding speech  Sudden vision problems, especially in one eye  Sudden severe headache with no known cause  Sudden dizziness and loss of balance  REMEMBER TO ACT FAST   Some risk factors can be controlled; others cannot  Age, greater than 65 years at increased risk  Gender: men are at a slightly higher risk than women Stroke (Cont.)  Hypertension  Smoking  Diabetes  High blood cholesterol  Lack of exercise  High alcohol intake Stroke (Cont.)  After a stroke, some brain damage is likely  Functions lost depend on the area of brain damage  Rehabilitation starts at once, you can slowly recover from the effects of a stroke  The health team helps the person regain the highest possible level of function Parkinson’s Disease  A slow, progressive disorder with no cure  The area of the brain that controls muscle movement is affected  Persons over the age of 50 are at risk  Signs and symptoms include:  Tremors  Rigid, stiff muscles in the arms, legs, neck, and trunk Slow movement  Stooped posture and impaired balance  Mask-like expression  Other signs and symptoms develop over time  Drugs to treat and control the disease Exercise and physiotherapy to improve strength, posture, balance, and mobility Parkinson’s The client may need help with activities of daily Disease living (ADLs) Treatment Normal elimination is a goal Safety measures are needed to prevent falls and injury  Inherited neurological disorder that destroys brain cells—causes uncontrolled movements, emotional disturbances, and cognitive losses Huntington's Symptoms begin between ages 20 and Begins with twitching, fidgeting, clumsiness Difficulty with eating, Disease 60 swallowing, ADLs No cure or treatment Multiple Sclerosis  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a persistent, slowly progressive disease  Myelin, which covers nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, is destroyed  Nerve impulses are not sent to and from the brain in a normal manner  There is no cure  Symptoms usually start between the ages of 15 and 40 years  More women are affected than men  Onset is gradual and symptoms vary greatly among clients Signs and Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis  Signs and symptoms depend on the damaged area and may include  Vision problems  Muscle weakness in the arms and legs  Balance problems that affect standing and walking  Tingling, prickling, or numb sensations  Difficulty speaking and swallowing  Bladder and bowel issues; diminished sexual arousal  Pain, extreme fatigue, sensitivity to heat  Short-term memory loss; impaired judgement Multiple Sclerosis Support needs There is no cure depend on client’s needs and condition Prevent injury ˜ Eventually the client Promote bowel and may require long- bladder function term care Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) attacks the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles  Commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease, it is rapidly progressive and fatal  It usually strikes between 40 and 70 years of age  Motor nerve cells in the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord are affected  First sign is difficulty using fingers and hands, progressing to difficulty walking  You may know of heard of Stephen Hawking, incredible and famous scientist diagnosed with ALS  The client will struggle, and eventually all muscle control is lost, with the client being unable to speak, swallow, move or breathe and will pass away.  Remember!!! Clients can think clearly and are alert. They understand everything you say to them.  Spinal Cord Injuries  The spinal cord allows for communication between the brain and the rest of the body.  When damage occurs to the spinal cord, this means that the nerves cannot relay messages between the different parts of the body and brain and vice versa. Partial or total paralysis can occur.  Spinal cord injuries are permanent, mostly resulting from MVA.  Which parts of your body are paralyzed depends where the spinal cord was injured  If higher on the spinal cord (neck/shoulder area) was injured = paralysis from neck down, all limbs affected  If mid region of your spine (chest area) = paralysis from waist down, lower limbs affected  Spinal cord injuries require rehabilitation!