You have been called to the house of a young adult male patient who is unresponsive. The man lives by himself, so no family is present. In trying to determine the origin of the patient's altered mental status, which of these would most likely provide the best information, assuming it is available to you?

A headache with altered mental status (AMS) can be a sign of infection, bleeding, or a tumor. Vomiting without diarrhea can indicate increased brain pressure. Dehydration can also cause AMS.  Some causes of AMS include: Brain bleed, Brain tumor, Hepatic encephalopathy, Obstructive hydrocephalus, Seizure, and Stroke.  A stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or brain attack, occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. This can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.  There are two main types of... Show more

A headache with altered mental status (AMS) can be a sign of infection, bleeding, or a tumor. Vomiting without diarrhea can indicate increased brain pressure. Dehydration can also cause AMS. 

Some causes of AMS include: Brain bleed, Brain tumor, Hepatic encephalopathy, Obstructive hydrocephalus, Seizure, and Stroke. 

A stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or brain attack, occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. This can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death. 

There are two main types of stroke:
Ischemic: Caused by a lack of blood flow
Hemorrhagic: Caused by bleeding 

Some people may have a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA doesn't cause lasting symptoms. 

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