Sudden Illness Chapter 15 Sudden Illness Fainting Diabetic
Sudden Illness Chapter 15
Sudden Illness • • Fainting Diabetic Emergencies Seizures Stroke
Fainting • Partial or complete loss of consciousness • Cause: ▫ Temporary reduction of blood flow to the brain ▫ When brain is deprived of blood, it will momentarily shut down • Triggers: ▫ ▫ ▫ Emotionally stressful situation Pain Specific medical condition Standing for long period of time/overexertion Sudden change of position: laying down > standing up
Fainting • Can occur without any warning • Warning signs: ▫ ▫ Sweating Vomiting Distortion or dimming of vision Head/abdominal pain
Fainting: Care • Self correcting condition ▫ Victim will usually regain consciousness within a minute • Falling usually creates the injury; not fainting itself • Place victim on back and elevate feet • Loosen restrictive clothing • Check for life threatening injuries
Fainting: Care • Do Not: ▫ Give the victim food/water ▫ Slap the victim ▫ Splash water on face • If the victim recovers quickly there is no need to call 9 -1 -1 ▫ Call physician or emergency department to determine if episode was linked to more serious condition
Diabetes Mellitus • A chronic condition in which your body’s ability to break down sugars and carbohydrates are effected • Typically your body breaks down sugars and carbohydrates into glucose • Glucose is needed to fuel the cells in your body, but your cells need insulin to take in the glucose • With diabetes your body doesn’t: ▫ Make enough insulin ▫ Can’t use the insulin ▫ Both
Diabetes • 7 th leading cause of death in America • Can lead to other health issues ▫ Kidney, heart, periodontal (tooth) disease ▫ Stroke
Diabetic Emergency • Situation in which a victim becomes ill because of imbalance of insulin and sugar in bloodstream • Without proper balance the cells will starve and the body will not function properly
Diabetes Type I • Insulin dependent • The body produces little or no insulin ▫ Tends to develop in childhood ▫ Need daily injections of insulin
Diabetes Type II • The body produces insulin but the cells do not use it effectively or not enough is produced ▫ May not need injections; only regulated diet
Insulin Imbalance Condition • Hyperglycemia ▫ Insulin levels are too low, sugar levels too high • Hypoglycemia ▫ Insulin levels too high, sugar levels too low
Insulin Shock • Sugar is used too rapidly ▫ Too much insulin ▫ Fails to eat adequate or because of sudden illness cannot keep food down ▫ Over exercise, burns off sugar too quickly ▫ Experience great emotional stress • Because of lack of sugar, brain will not function properly
Insulin Shock • Signs & Symptoms ▫ ▫ ▫ Dizziness Drowsiness Confusion Irregular breathing Abnormal pulse Feeling/looking ill
Diabetic Emergency • If conscious ▫ Check for non-life threatening injuries ▫ Food �Sugar, fruit juice, candy • If unconscious ▫ Call 9 -1 -1 ▫ Monitor signs of life and breathing ▫ DO NOT try anything by mouth
Seizures • Normal function of brain is disrupted • Electrical activity becomes irregular resulting in loss of body control • Causes: ▫ ▫ ▫ Injury Disease Fever Poisoning Infections Chronic condition (epilepsy)
Seizures • Generally last 1 -3 minutes • Victim may experience an Aura ▫ ▫ Unusual sensation or feeling Such as a visual hallucination Strange sounds, taste, smell Urgent need to get to safety
Seizures • During the seizure ▫ ▫ Breathing may become irregular or stop Drool Eyes may roll upward Body may become rigid
Seizures Non-convulsive Convulsive • Mild blackouts • Body will remain relatively still • Bystanders may mistake as daydreaming • More severe • Sudden, uncontrolled muscular contractions • Lasting several minutes
Seizures: Care • Do Not hold or restrain victim ▫ Could cause injury • Do Not place anything in their mouth ▫ Rarely bite tongue/cheeks • Move any objects such as furniture away • Try to stay calm
Seizures: Care • When over, victim will usually be drowsy and disoriented • Allow them to rest • Reassure victim • Check for any injuries
Seizures: Care • When to call 9 -1 -1 ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Seizure lasts more than 5 min Repeated seizures without regaining consciousness Victim appears to be injured No predisposing condition Pregnant Infant/child experiencing the seizure Diabetic Takes place in water Fails to regain consciousness
Febrile Seizure • Infants or young children who could be at risk for epilepsy, as well as seizures brought on by a rapid body temperature increase • Common in children under 5 who have a rectal fever of 102 degrees • Infections will trigger it ▫ Ear, throat, digestive system
Febrile Seizures: Signs & Symptoms • • • Sudden rise in body temp Change in consciousness Rhythmic jerking of the head and limbs Confusion Drowsiness Crying out Becoming rigid Holding breath Rolling eyes upward
Febrile Seizures: Care • • • Cool the body down immediately Contact physician Make them comfortable DO NOT try to restrain DO NOT place anything in mouth
Stroke • Blood flow to the brain is cut off • Brain cells are then deprived of oxygen and begin to die • Causes: ▫ Blood clots ▫ Ruptured arteries in brain caused by head injury, high blood pressure ▫ Aneurysm: weak area in the wall of an artery that balloons out and can rupture ▫ Tumor or swelling from head injury
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) • “Mini Stroke” or “Warning Stroke” • Difference between a TIA and a stroke is a TIA is only a temporary clot • Symptoms usually disappear within minutes or hours • Victims now have a higher chance of a stroke • Call 9 -1 -1
Hypertension • High Blood Pressure ▫ This increases a risk for a stroke 7 x’s ▫ Putting pressure on arteries making them more likely to burst
Stroke Risk Factors Unpreventable Preventable • • • Age Genetics Family History TIA Diabetes Heart Disease Control blood pressure Do not smoke Healthy Diet Exercise Regularly Control Diabetes
Stroke: Act FAST • F ▫ Facial drooping • A ▫ Arm weakness • S ▫ Speech slurred • T ▫ Time: call 9 -1 -1 immediately
Stroke: Signs & Symptoms • • Looking/feeling ill Abnormal behavior Blurred vision Unequal pupils Severe headache Confusion/change in mood Drooling Lose bowel/bladder control
Stroke: Care • • • Call 9 -1 -1 If unconscious; make sure airway is open Check for non-life threatening injuries Reassure the victim DO NOT give any food/drink Use simple “yes” and “no” questions
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