Neurology: a Medical Subject Area - Essay Example

Neurology Introduction Neurology as a medical area, when integrated with nutrition, can result in thedevelopment of various aspects of the analysis. In this project, the analysis shall entail the definition of relevant medical terms and diseases, in relation to the aspect of nutritional requirement of patients (Lewis 78). Question 1 a. Alzheimer’s disease refers to a neurological disorder or neurodegenerative chronic disease and type of dementia that causes difficulties with a person’s thinking, memory, and behavior, as a result of the death of the brain cells. It starts slowly but gets worse with time with the core symptom being short-term loss of memory. However, with advanced severity, the disease may result in mood swings, disorientation, poor self-care, and language problems. The nutritional concern is in enhancing quality and efficiency of care given. b. Aneurysm refers to a localized bulge in the shape of a balloon that occurs in the walls of blood cells due to blood filling them. Also known as cerebral aneurysm, the disease often goes unnoticed for lack of symptoms but may rupture and release blood into the brain skull; hence, cause stroke. A nutritional concern for the disease would be in relation to vomiting and nausea. c. Arnold Chiari Malformation is a skull malformation or structural defect on the cerebellum consisting of downward displacements of the cerebellar tonsils; hence, causing non-communicating hydrocephalus due to the obstruction of the outflow of the cerebrospinal fluid. The main nutritional concern is in relation to the lack of vitamins in the body. d. Bell’s palsy is a momentary form of paralysis to the face due to the dysfunction of the cranial nerve VII; thus, affecting the movement of the facial muscles. Nutritionally, vitamin therapy for vitamins B6, B12 and zinc are administered to restore nerve functions. e. Cerebral Palsy refers to a general word that is applied in describing a set of neurological disorders or conditions that affect the brain and nervous system; thus, affecting their functions like hearing, movement, thinking, learning, seeing and hearing. Nutritionally, such patients have poor nutrition with occasioned chewing and swallowing difficulties. The ultimate goal of nutritional intervention would be to optimize fitness, health, functions and growth among the patients. f. Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIPD) is a neurological disorder that is characterized by impaired sensory functioning and progressive weakness of one’s limbs. It is caused by the damage that is done to the myelin sheath of the peripheral nerves and is largely common among young adults, particularly men. This disease can be considered to be an equivalent of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Nutritionally, patients with this disorder require high calcium foods and supplements in their bodies. g. Dementia is a general term that is used to refer to the decline in the brain functions or mental abilities in a manner that is severe enough to interfere with the body’s functions. As such, it tends to affect the behavior, memory, judgment, thinking and language capabilities of an individual. The most common of this condition is the Alzheimer’s. Nutritionally, patients suffering from this condition should develop heart-healthy eating patterns and take Mediterranean diets. h. Encephalitis refers to the irritation and inflammation of the brain, often as a result of bacterial or viral infections. It may result in flu-like symptoms like severe headache or fever. i. Guillain-Barre syndrome refers to a disorder that results from the unprecedented or mistakenly attack of the nervous system by the immune system. As such, the attack causes nerve inflammations that result in weakness of the muscles among other symptoms. j. Hemiparesis refers to the weakness of an entire side of one’s body, either left or right, with the most severe form being hemiplegia, which results in a complete paralysis of half of the body. While it may be possible to move an affected side of the body, it is often with a reduction in the muscular strength (Popp & Eric 124-130). k. Huntington’s disease refers to a neurogenerative genetic disorder that is passed down through families and in which the muscles’ coordination is affected; thus, leading to a mental decline and development of behavioral symptoms. Ideally, the disease causes the nerves cells of the brain to degenerate or waste away. l. Hydrocephalus refers to the build-up of fluids inside a person’s skull, leading the brain to swell. Medically, the condition is known to result in the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluids into the brain’s ventricles. m. Intracranial Hypertension (ICH) refers to an elevated CSF pressure within a skull and is commonly associated with severe head injuries that can be measured by using a catheter positioned in the lateral ventricles. n. Meningitis denotes to an acute swelling of the meninges (protective membranes of the brain) that surround the spinal cord or the brain. Essentially, the condition can be caused by bacterial infections. o. Multiple sclerosis (MS) refers to an autoimmune and demagogic disease that has an effect on the central nervous system by causing damage to the insulating covers of the nerve cells; thus, disrupting the central nervous system’s ability to communicate (Lewis 132). p. Myasthenia gravis (MG) refers to the congenital or autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes fluctuations in the body muscles; hence, leading fatigue and weakness. q. Parkinson’s disease refers to the progressive brain/nervous system disorder that affects movement and coordination by causing the muscles to shake or tremor. r. Stroke refers to a cerebrovascular accident that cause forfeiture of the brain roles owing to the stoppage of blood flow in the brain. This can cause a permanent damage to the brain cells. s. Subdural hematoma denotes the assortment of blood on the brain’s surface that is often caused by severe injuries to the head that can be life-threatening. t. Systematic Lupus refers to an autoimmune disease that results in long-term inflammation of the body as a result of the mistakenly attacking the healthy tissues by the immune system or antibodies secreted into the body. u. Tethered spinal cord syndrome refers to the neurological disorder that results from the attachment of tissues or malformation of the spinal cord; thus, limiting the spinal cord’s movement within its column. v. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) refers to a mini stroke based on the similarity in its symbols to stroke, but often its lasts for a limited moment and causes no eternal damage to the body. Essentially, it results from the temporal disruption of the flow of blood to some segments of the brain. w. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) refers to the complex injury (intracranial injury) of the brain as a result of a traumatic external force that causes injury to the brain with considerations for various disabilities and symptoms. Question 2 a. Aneurysm Clipping refers to the surgical procedure in which the operation is performed in order to treat balloon-like bulges in the artery walls known as aneurysms. This procedure is done so as to prevent the rupture of the aneurysm that grows weaker and thinner with time; thus, showing the possibilities of releasing the blood into the spaces surrounding the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage). b. Craniectomy refers to a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the parts of the skull to permit the increase of brain swelling without being squeezed. It is frequently executed on patients that have suffered from a stroke and traumatic brain injuries. c. Cranio-cervical Fusion (CCF) refers to a surgical procedure that is done after surgery or referred to as the post-transoral surgery that is done in order to stabilize the joints between the skull and the neck as a fusion mechanism. d. Cranioplasty refers to the surgical repair that is done to the skull for a deformity or defect of the bone caused or left behind by the previous operations or injury. e. Craniotomy refers to the surgical operation or procedure that entails the temporal removal of a bone lappet from the cranium to access the brain for further surgical activities. f. Deep Brain Stimulation refers to a neurosurgical procedure that entails the implantation of brain pacemakers into the brain so as to send electrical impulses through the implanted electrodes to the brain nucleus; thus, allowing for the treatment of affective disorders and movement. g. Laminectomy and Fusion refers to the opening up of the spinal canal to provide more room to the spinal nerves during the surgery to remove the lamina. This is in conjunction with the fusion of the herniated discs. h. Posterior Fossa Decompression (PFD) refers to the surgical procedure performed to relieve pressure at the brain’s base by removing the bone at the back of the spine and skull during the treatment and management of tumors, bleeds, cerebellar strokes and chiari malformations. i. Ventriculostomy refers to the neurological procedure involving the creation of a hole in the cerebral ventricle for purposes of drainage. This is done by the surgical penetration of the Dura mater, skull and brain in a manner that allows the accessing of the ventricles. A surgical procedure influences a patient’s energy by affecting their nutritional status due to the complex synergistic relationship that exists between physiological responses to surgery that puts the patients at high nutritional risks. Often patients admitted for surgery face under-nutrition that goes unnoticed; thus, worsening their conditions if untreated. If well-nourished, the surgery patients will have high levels of proteins in their bodies that will hasten their healing process (Lewis 128-135). Such patients require foods rich in iron, vitamins, zinc, copper, thiamine and magnesium among other nutrients. Question 3 a. Bolt/Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor is a device that is applied in observing and determining the intracranial pressure in a patient in whom there is a concern for an elevation of the ICP. It is placed inside the patient’s head to be able to measure the pressure and relay the same from the skull to an outside recording device, especially after a surgery. b. External ventricular drain (EVD) is a temporary instrument that allows for the drainage of the cerebral spinal fluid from the brain’s ventricles to a closed system externally; thus, relieving the patient of hydrocephalus and intracranial pressure as a result of the obstruction of the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain. c. Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) refers to a neurological scale that is used to provide an objective and reliable way of recording the conscious state of a patient for initial and subsequent assessments after a traumatic brain injury. d. Ventricular peritoneal shunt (VP-S) refers to a device that is applied in the medical management of the hydrocephalus through the relieving of the brain pressure caused by the accumulation of fluids. Question 4: Three phases of swallowing The process of swallowing is referred to as deglutition and often occurs in three main phases. While it may appear simple, swallowing as a nervous system requires the integration of a series of actions, voluntary and involuntary in a three-phased process. First, is the oral phase in which food placed in the mouth gets moistened and chewed aided by the muscles of mastication. The food is also made into pellets of appropriate size; thus, allowing for ease of passing it from the mouth to the oropharynx. The stage entails of cranial nerves such as facial, trigeminal and hypoglossal nerves. The second phase, the pharyngeal phase the food boluses reach the pharynx; thus, meditating on the need for involuntary swallowing. The phase uses reflex mediated by the swallowing center in the medulla. This cause a further pushing of the food into the pharynx and esophagus. The utmost vital portion of this phase is the spontaneous termination of the larynx by the vocal cords, epiglottis and temporal inhibition of breathing (Lewis 118). In the final phase, the esophageal phase, the food that leaves the pharynx enters the esophagus that leads it to the stomach, as a result of the rhythmic contractions of the stomach walls. This phase is aided by the vagus nerve, the nerve fibers, and the glossopharyngeal nerve. Question 5 Dysphagia refers to the difficulty that is experienced with the swallowing process in that food may get stuck in one’s throat or in the neck down behind the sternum. The conditions associated with dysphagia include: Cervical spine disease. Esophageal webs. Schatzki’s ring. Tumors. Zenker’s diverticulum. Achalasia. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Myasthenia gravis. Parkinson’s disease. Polymyositis. Scleroderma. The nutritional complications associated with the condition include choking or coughing, which may make one to stop eating or drinking; thus, leading to dehydration and malnutrition. It may also affect one’s quality of life in the sense that they will feel hindered from enjoying meals (Lewis 88). Signs and symptoms of dysphagia include: Bringing back up food already swallowed through the mouth and nose. Choking or coughing when drinking or eating. A sensation of food being stuck in the chest or throat. Question 6 a. Achalasia refers to the disorder of the tube that conveys food from the aperture to the stomach; thus, affecting the esophagus’ ability to move food to the stomach. b. Aphagia refers to the inability to swallow food or drinks. c. Aphasia refers to an acquired language disorder that results from the damage to the brain. d. Aspiration refers to a medical procedure used to remove tissue samples for use in biopsy. Works Cited Lewis, Steven L. Neurological Disorders Due to Systemic Disease. Chicester: Wiley, 2012. Internet resource. Popp, A J, and Eric M. Deshaies. A Guide to the Primary Care of Neurological Disorders. Rolling Meadows, Ill: American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 2008. Print. Read More