Texas Medical Assistant Certification Practice Test

A patient experiencing paralysis on one side of the body, impaired vision, and slurred speech may be having a __________.

1. myocardial infarction

2. seizure

3. cerebral vascular accident

4. unconsciousness

The correct answer is: cerebral vascular accident

The symptoms described—paralysis on one side of the body, impaired vision, and slurred speech—are classic signs of a cerebral vascular accident (CVA), commonly known as a stroke. A stroke occurs when there is a disruption in the blood supply to the brain, which can be caused by a blockage (ischemic stroke) or bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke). This disruption can lead to immediate neurological deficits, which correspond with the symptoms listed. Paralysis on one side of the body indicates that there may be damage to areas of the brain that control motor functions, often corresponding to the opposite side of the body due to the crossing of nerve pathways. Impaired vision can result from damage to the brain regions responsible for processing visual information. Slurred speech signifies impairment in the areas of the brain that govern language and speech production. The other choices do not align with all of these symptoms. A myocardial infarction, or heart attack, primarily affects the heart and may cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and other cardiovascular symptoms but does not typically lead to acute neurological deficits. A seizure may cause temporary loss of consciousness and involuntary movements, but it wouldn’t specifically produce persistent slurred speech or unilateral paralysis afterward. Uncon