Brain & Nervous System Health Center

Have you had a change in your mental state or behavior? For example, you:Cannot express your thoughts clearly.Behave in an unusual, bizarre, or aggressive manner.Have trouble solving problems and performing simple tasks.Do not know where you are or you cannot recognize family members or familiar items.Express firmly held but false beliefs (delusions).See, hear, feel, smell, or taste things that are not really there (hallucinations or illusions).Believe that others want to harm you (paranoia).

Have you had a brief (2 seconds to 1 minute) unexplained episode of decreased alertness?

Have you had one or more episodes of unexplained, purposeless, repeated body movement?

Do you feel depressed, and you have not moved, talked, or responded normally to touch or voice for hours or days?

Do you have decreased alertness and diabetes?

Do you have decreased alertness and a severe headache?

Do you have decreased alertness and a stiff neck?

Do you have decreased alertness and shaking chills?

Do you have decreased alertness and new, tiny purple or red spots on your skin (petechiae)?

Do you have decreased alertness and a sudden increase in bruises (purpura)?

Do you have a seizure disorder and have you had one or more episodes of unexplained, purposeless, repeated body movement that is different than your usual seizure symptoms?

Are you very sleepy or hard to wake up but do not have any other symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Have you fainted more than 1 time when trying to stand up?

Do you also have coronary artery disease, heart failure, or a history of an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)?

Do you also have high blood pressure or a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

Do you continue to feel lightheaded after fainting?

Did you faint, but you are now fully alert without other symptoms?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you having severe withdrawal symptoms?

Do you recognize your need for help and are you willing to be evaluated for possible treatment?

Do you continue to use alcohol or drugs after completing a treatment program (relapsed)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you think that a medicine is causing you to feel confused?

Do you think that a medicine is causing decreased alertness?

Do you think that a medicine is causing memory loss?

Did you experience confusion or decreased alertness after you began taking a new medicine, but you feel fine now?

Did confusion or decreased alertness start after you stopped taking a medicine?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Have you had a sudden complete loss of memory (amnesia)?

Are you having ongoing or a gradually increasing difficulty with daily tasks, such as getting dressed, preparing a meal, or shopping?

Do you find that it is increasingly difficult to learn and remember new information?

Do you frequently forget recent events or appointments or have difficulty remembering familiar information?

Do you frequently get lost when walking or driving to familiar places?

Do you frequently misplace things?

Are you having an ongoing or a gradually increasing difficulty handling complex but familiar tasks, such as balancing your checkbook?

Are you having an ongoing or a gradually increasing difficulty knowing what to do when problems occur, such as knowing what to do if the bathroom floods?

Do you often show poor judgment, such as unsafe or rude behavior or conversation?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.

• If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
• If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
• Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
• Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.