Seizure Disorders
This is the recovery period after a seizure, often characterized by muscle soreness, tiredness, and confusion
What is the postictal phase?
In patients with MS, activated T cells cross the blood-brain barrier and mistakenly attack this protective insulation surrounding nerve fibers
What is the myelin sheath?
PD is driven by the severe degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra that produce this essential neurotransmitter
What is dopamine?
The hallmark feature of MG is fluctuating skeletal muscle weakness that is generally at its strongest during this time of day
What is the morning?
This drug combination is the primary "gold standard" treatment to manage the motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease
What is levodopa/carbidopa (Sinemet)?
If a patient begins having a tonic-clonic seizure while sitting in a chair, the nurse should immediately do this to protect them from injury
What is ease the patient to the floor?
This neurologic emergency is defined as any continuous seizure activity lasting longer than 5 minutes
What is status epilepticus?
This is the most common initial disease pattern of MS, characterized by clear attacks of neurologic dysfunction followed by partial or complete recovery,.
What is Relapsing-Remitting MS?
This classic resting hand tremor seen in PD is named for the way the patient's thumb and forefinger appear to move in a rotary fashion.
What is "pill-rolling"?
This incredibly common ocular symptom of MG is characterized by a severe drooping of one or both eyelids.
What is ptosis?
If a patient has IV access, this specific rapid-acting benzodiazepine is the preferred medication to stop an active seizure.
What is lorazepam?
To improve a patient's ability to safely chew and swallow, nurses should schedule MG medications so they reach their peak action during this time
What is mealtime?
Experiencing a sensory warning—such as smelling something that isn't there—is part of this specific phase of a seizure
What is the aural phase (or an aura)?
This temporary sensory symptom is described as an electric shock sensation going down the spine or limbs when the patient flexes their neck.
What is Lhermitte’s sign?
This clinical term for slowness of movement accounts for a PD patient's masked face, drooling, and shuffling gait
What is bradykinesia?
It is believed that this specific gland gives incorrect instructions to developing immune cells, causing them to produce the destructive AChR antibodies
What is the thymus gland?
Good dental hygiene is heavily emphasized for patients taking this hydantoin antiseizure drug to prevent gingival hyperplasia (excess gum growth).
What is phenytoin (Dilantin)?
To limit the effects of severe muscle spasticity and provide buoyancy, this specific type of physical therapy is highly recommended for MS patients.
What is water therapy (or water exercise)?
Also known as a "drop attack," this type of generalized seizure involves a brief, sudden loss of muscle tone, putting the patient at great risk for a head injury.
What is an atonic seizure?
MS patients should be taught to avoid extremes of this, as it significantly worsens their fatigue and other symptoms.
What is heat?
These unusual, abnormal protein clumps are found in the brains of patients with PD
What are Lewy bodies?
This rapid diagnostic test uses an IV injection of an anticholinesterase agent to confirm an MG diagnosis by temporarily improving the patient's muscle strength
What is the Edrophonium (or Tensilon) test?
Patients taking this specific iminostilbene antiseizure drug must be educated to avoid drinking grapefruit juice.
What is carbamazepine (Tegretol)?
Because they lack natural automatic movements, nurses should teach PD patients to use this specific type of chair to help them stand up easier.
What is an upright chair with arms (or a chair with the back legs on blocks)?
These specific episodes heavily imitate epileptic seizures but are triggered by emotional events and trauma rather than abnormal neuronal electrical activity.
What are psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES)?
A definitive MS diagnosis requires evidence of at least this many inflammatory demyelinating lesions in different locations within the central nervous system,.
What is two?
Because it can impair the absorption of levodopa, patients are often advised to limit their intake of this macronutrient until their evening meal.
What is protein?
A cholinergic crisis is caused by an overdose of anticholinesterase drugs and is treated by immediately administering this antidote
What is atropine?
This immunosuppressive drug therapy is often given on alternate days to reduce inflammation in patients with Myasthenia Gravis
What are corticosteroids (or prednisone)?
Affecting about 1.6 in 1000 persons with uncontrolled seizures, this fatal complication is most common at night.
What is SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy)?