Coma

What Is a Coma?

A coma is a prolonged state of unconsciousness. During a coma, a person is unresponsive to his or her environment. The person is alive and looks like he or she is sleeping. However, unlike in a deep sleep, the person cannot be awakened by any stimulation, including pain.

Causes for a Coma

Comas are caused by an injury to the brain. Brain injury can be due to increased pressure, bleeding, loss of oxygen, or buildup of toxins. The injury can be temporary and reversible. It also can be permanent. More than 50% of comas are related to head trauma or disturbances in the brain's circulatory system. Problems that can lead to coma include:

• Trauma
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Stroke
• Blood sugar
• Oxygen deprivation
• Infection Toxins
• Seizures

Types of Coma?

Types of coma can include:

• Toxic-metabolic encephalopathy
• Anoxic brain injury
• Persistent vegetative state
• Locked-in syndrome
• Brain death
• Medically induced

Treatment for a Coma

Treatment for a coma depends on the cause. People close to the comatose patient should give doctors as much information as possible to help the doctors determine the cause of coma. Prompt medical attention is vital to treat potentially reversible conditions. In general, treatment for a coma is supportive. People in comas are looked after in an intensive care unit and may often require full life support until their situation improves.

Prognosis for a Coma

The prognosis for a coma varies with each situation. The chances of a person's recovery depend on the cause of the coma, whether the problem can be corrected, and the duration of the coma. If the problem can be resolved, the person can often return to his or her original level of functioning. Sometimes, though, if the brain damage is severe, a person may be permanently disabled or never regain consciousness.It can be very difficult to predict recovery when a person is a coma.  Every person is different and it is best to consult with your doctor. As we would expect, the longer a person is in a coma, the worse the prognosis. Even so, many patients can wake up after many weeks in a coma. However, they may have significant disabilities.

Source: Portal Content Team