Prehospital Emergency Care Practice Test: Handling Altered Mental Status, Stroke, and Headache — Flashcards | EMT Exam Emergency Medical Technician | FatSkills

Prehospital Emergency Care Practice Test: Handling Altered Mental Status, Stroke, and Headache — Flashcards

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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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Which of these conditions would the EMT recognize as most likely signaling a neurologic deficit?
Paralysis
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