Question

1. A 50-year-old male has just experienced a spinal cord injury after a tree fell on the cab of his truck. His wife is asking why he is on a ventilator if his spinal cord was injured.

            How would the nurse explain the effects of spinal cord injury on ventilation and communication and body system function.

2. Discuss pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments for headache.

Answer 1

Spinal cord is like a control room for our body. All the signals sent by the brain pass through the spinal cord. INjury in the spinal cord causes an obstruction in the passing of these signals and inhibits various activaties such as respiratory activities. It affects the muscles that are involved in breathing process. Hence, sometimes an injury to the spinal cord makes it difficukt to breath and hence the patient has to be put on a ventilator.

• Pharmacological treatment of headache is dependent on the cause of the headache. However, some of the common medicines for headaches are:

1. Non-Steroidal Ani-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
2. Acetaminophen
3. Antihistamines
4. Opioids

• Non-Pharmacological Treatment

1. Behavioural changes
2. Lifestyle changes
3. Stress management
4. Balanced diet
5. exercise
6. enough sleep
7. positive environment