You have determined that an alert elderly male patient has garbled speech and weakness to the right arm and leg. His vital signs and SpO2 level are within normal limits. The family informs you that he has a history of heart problems and diabetes. Given this scenario, what should you do immediately?

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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