Coma
Introduction
A coma is a state of unconsciousness where a person is unresponsive and cannot be woken. It can result from injury to the brain, such as a Head injury, severe or stroke . A coma can also be caused by severe alcohol poisoning or a brain infection (encephalitis) . People with diabetes could fall into a coma if their blood glucose levels suddenly became very low (hypoglycaemia) or very high (hyperglycaemia) . You may find the following information useful if you have afriend or loved one who isin a coma. It covers: Whatis a coma? Caring for and monitoring a person in a coma What you can do as a visitor Recovering from a coma Support and more information
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on
Introduction
Read about what a coma is, how someone in a coma will be looked after, what you can do to help, and what happens when someone recovers from a coma.
What is a coma?
Someone who is in a coma is unconscious and has minimal brain activity. They're alive, butcan't be woken up and show no signs of being aware. The person's eyes will be closed andthey'llappear to be u
Caring for and monitoring a person in a coma
Doctors assess a person's level of consciousness using a tool called the Glasgow Coma Scale . This level is monitored constantly for signs of improvement or deterioration. The Glasgow Coma Scale asses
What you can do as a visitor
The experience of being in a coma differs from person to person. Some people feel they can remember events that happened around them while theywere in a coma, while others don't. Some people have rep
Recovering from a coma
A coma usually only lasts a few weeks, during which time the person may start to gradually wake up and gain consciousness, or progress into a different state of unconsciousness called a vegetative sta
Further information and support
For further information and support from healthcare professionals and the families of people in a coma, you may find the followingwebsites helpful: Brain and Spine Foundation Headway : the brain
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products