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abortive therapy
therapy that aims to relieve symptoms through drug administration
absence seizures
seizures that cause rapid blinking or a few seconds of staring into space, also known as petit mal seizures
alpha-adrenergic blockers
a class of drugs that bind and inhibit alpha-adrenergic receptors, thereby inhibiting smooth muscle contraction
anticonvulsant drugs
drugs that are primarily used to treat seizures and epilepsy
aura
terminology used to describe the warning signs of an impending seizure
brain herniation
a life-threatening condition in which a portion of the brain is displaced due to increased intracranial pressure
cerebral edema
swelling of the brain
cerebrospinal fluid
a clear, colorless, watery fluid that flows in and around the brain and spinal cord
complex focal seizures
a type of focal seizure that makes a person confused or dazed and unresponsive to questions or directions for up to a few minutes.
computed tomography (CT) scan
a noninvasive imaging procedure that uses x-rays to produce horizontal and axial images of the brain
convulsions
an involuntary contraction of muscles that cause sudden irregular movements of the body
electroencephalogram (EEG)
a test that measures changes in the brain’s electrical patterns that relate to seizures or other neurological conditions
epilepsy
a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures
focal seizures
seizures that begin in a specific area of the brain and can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on the area of the brain that is affected; also known as partial seizures
foramen of Monro
a short communication channel between the paired lateral ventricles and the third ventricle of the brain
fulminant hepatic necrosis
terminology for acute liver failure
gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)
inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system
generalized seizures
seizures in which abnormal activity occurs in both sides of the brain from the beginning of the seizure
gingival hyperplasia
gum overgrowth
grand mal seizures
seizures that involve both tonic (muscle stiffness) and clonic (muscle jerking) phases, also known as tonic-clonic seizures
headaches
a prevalent medical condition that can cause pain or discomfort in the head or neck area
idiopathic seizure
a seizure in which the cause cannot be identified
increased intracranial pressure
a rise in the pressure within the skull that can cause various symptoms, such as headache, nausea, vomiting, visual changes, and altered mental status
intracranial emergencies
a range of sudden and serious medical conditions that affect the brain, its surrounding structures, or blood vessels within the skull
intracranial hypertension
an elevated pressure within the skull that may or may not cause symptoms
intracranial pressure monitoring
direct measurement of intracranial pressure by inserting a catheter into the skull and connecting it to a pressure transducer
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
an imaging procedure that uses large magnetic radio waves to produce clear images of the structures inside the skull
migraine headaches
a type of headache that can be recurring and are often associated with a range of symptoms that can greatly affect quality of life
nephrolithiasis
hard deposits of mineral and salts that form inside the kidney or urinary tract, also known as renal calculi or kidney stones
partial seizures
seizures that begin in a specific area of the brain and can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on the area of the brain that is affected; also known as focal seizures
petit mal seizures
seizures that cause rapid blinking or a few seconds of staring into space; also known as absence seizures
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
an imaging procedure that uses a radioactive tracer substance to detect disease or injury in the brain
preventive therapy
the use of drugs to prevent the occurrence of a condition
secondary generalized seizures
seizures that begin in one part of the brain but then spread to both sides of the brain; the person first has a focal seizure, followed by a generalized seizure
seizure
a sudden and temporary disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movement, or consciousness
serotonin agonists
drugs that bind to and activate serotonin receptors, often used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and migraine headaches
simple focal seizures
seizures that affect a small part of the brain and cause twitching movements or a change in sensation, such as an odd taste or smell
sodium and hydrogen antiporter
a membrane protein that transports sodium into the cell and hydrogen out of the cell
tonic-clonic seizures
seizures that involve both tonic (muscle stiffness) and clonic (muscle jerking) phases, also known as grand mal seizures
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