The Neurological and Musculoskeletal Pathophysiologic Processes Accounting For These Symptoms<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe patient\u2019s symptoms can be attributed to Transient ischemic attack (TIA). TIA is characterized by transient neurologic symptoms without evidence of acute infarction. The patient had a TIA attack associated with a focal neurologic deficit and speech disturbance in a vascular territory because of an underlying cerebrovascular disease (Ortiz-Garcia et al., 2022). In this case, the patient has a history of stroke, which likely contributed to the symptoms. The neurological pathophysiology causing the patient\u2019s symptoms is the transient disruption of arterial blood flow due to the narrowing of the carotid artery. Blockage of the carotids with a 35% blockage on the left and 40% on the right indicates carotid stenosis.<\/p>\n
Plaque or fatty deposits along the inner arterial wall cause the narrowing of the carotids, which results in decreased blood flow to the brain (Perry et al., 2022). The insufficient blood flow to the brain contributed to the patient\u2019s slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body with temporary paralysis, and gait disturbance. The patient\u2019s motor impairment can be attributed to musculoskeletal Pathophysiological changes. The typical motor impairments in TIA include unilateral motor weakness, gait disturbance, limb paralysis, and loss of coordination (Kuriakose & Xiao, 2020). This explains why the patient slumped over to the right side and could not get to an upright position or stand.<\/p>\n
Racial\/Ethnic Variables That May Impact Physiological Functioning<\/strong><\/h2>\nTIA incidence is higher in Blacks than Whites in the US. Kamel et al. (2020) found that among US participants in the study, blacks faced a higher risk of early stroke recurrence following a minor ischemic stroke or TIA. This is even after adjusting demographics, comorbidities, and medication adherence. It has been found that Black and Mexican American persons have higher TIA incidence rates than non-Hispanic Whites (Kamel et al., 2020). Therefore, the patient has a high risk of recurring TIAs or stroke if she is Black or Mexican.<\/p>\n
How These Processes Interact To Affect the Patient<\/strong><\/h2>\nTIA cause temporary neurologic dysfunction because of a brief disruption in cerebral blood flow. Cerebral vasospasm or systemic arterial hypertension can interact to cause neurologic dysfunction. Besides, the processes affect the patient by causing visual, sensory, motor, and speech deficits. Visual deficits include blurred\/ double vision, one-eye blindness, and tunnel vision (Simmatis et al., 2019). Sensory deficits include numbness in the face, arm, or hand and vertigo. Motor deficits include weakness in the upper or lower limbs and gait disturbance, while speech deficits include aphasia and slurred speech.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe patient\u2019s symptoms are due to a TIA attack, which causes a focal neurologic deficit and speech disturbance due to insufficient blood flow to the brain. TIAs are more common and have a higher recurrence in Blacks. The pathophysiologic processes in TIA interact to cause visual, sensory, motor, and speech deficits.<\/p>\n
References<\/strong><\/h2>\nKamel, H., Zhang, C., Kleindorfer, D. O., Levitan, E. B., Howard, V. J., Howard, G., Soliman, E. Z., & Johnston, S. C. (2020). Association of Black Race With Early Recurrence After Minor Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: Secondary Analysis of the POINT Randomized Clinical Trial.\u00a0