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Your patient appears to have suffered a stroke (CVA). The patient has slurred speech, and your exam reveals facial drooping and left-sided weakness. Her blood sugar is normal. Vital signs are as follows:

- Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS): 13
- Blood Pressure (B/P): 225/120
- Pulse: 68
- Respirations: 18

The patient was last observed in their usual state of health 1 hour ago.

Answer :

Final answer:

The patient is likely experiencing a stroke, as shown by symptoms such as slurred speech, facial drooping, and left-sided weakness. Other health readings (blood pressure, pulse, respirations, and GCS score) support this diagnosis. The patient's condition changed within the past hour, allowing for prompt medical intervention.

Explanation:

The patient in this scenario is exhibiting classic symptoms of a stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident - CVA), such as slurred speech, facial drooping, and left-sided weakness. The vital signs provided, specifically the high blood pressure (B/P 225/120) and normal blood sugar level, are consistent with this diagnosis. The severity of the stroke is further suggested by the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13, which falls in the moderate injury category of brain injuries, and the general unaffected vital signs (pulse 68, respirations 18). A significant piece of information here is that the patient was last seen in her usual state of health just an hour ago, which is within the window of time (3 hours) for the administration of clot-busting drugs in case of ischemic stroke.

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