Brian Schmidt is a 58-year-old lawyer with a history of hypertension. His blood pressure has been under fairly good control with prescription medication. His secretary notices that he had a period of confusion and difficulty speaking at a meeting. She advises him to see his doctor. The physician informs the family that Brian has an obstruction of blood flow to the brain, also known as ____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms of confusion and difficulty speaking are indicative of a stroke. There are two types of stroke: hemorrhagic, which is bleeding in the brain, and ischemic, which is a blockage of blood flow to the brain. Given Brian's history of hypertension, it is more likely that he has an ischemic stroke caused by a blockage in an artery supplying blood to the brain. Angina and myocardial infarction both refer to blocked blood flow to the heart and are not relevant to Brian's symptoms.

Brian Schmidt Is a 58-Year-Old Lawyer with a History of Hypertension