| In [[medicine]], a '''coma''' (from the [[Greek]] κῶμα koma, meaning [[deep]] [[sleep]]) is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a [[person]] cannot be [[awakened]], fails to [[respond]] normally to [[painful]] stimuli, [[light]] or [[sound]], lacks a [[normal]] [[sleep]]-[[wake]] [[cycle]] and does not initiate [[voluntary]] [[actions]]. A [[person]] in a state of coma is described as ''comatose''. Glasgow Coma Scale, a [[person]] with [[confusion]] is considered to be in the mildest coma. | | In [[medicine]], a '''coma''' (from the [[Greek]] κῶμα koma, meaning [[deep]] [[sleep]]) is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a [[person]] cannot be [[awakened]], fails to [[respond]] normally to [[painful]] stimuli, [[light]] or [[sound]], lacks a [[normal]] [[sleep]]-[[wake]] [[cycle]] and does not initiate [[voluntary]] [[actions]]. A [[person]] in a state of coma is described as ''comatose''. Glasgow Coma Scale, a [[person]] with [[confusion]] is considered to be in the mildest coma. |
| Coma may result from a variety of conditions, including [[intoxication]] (such as illicit [[drug]] [[abuse]], overdose or misuse of over the counter medications, prescribed medication, or controlled substances), metabolic abnormalities, central [[nervous system]] [[diseases]], acute neurologic [[injuries]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke strokes] or herniations, hypoxia, hypothermia, hypoglycemia or traumatic [[injuries]] such as head [[trauma]] caused by falls or vehicle collisions. It may also be [[deliberately]] induced by pharmaceutical agents in order to preserve higher [[brain]] functions following brain [[trauma]], or to save the patient from [[extreme]] pain during [[healing]] of [[injuries]] or [[diseases]]. | | Coma may result from a variety of conditions, including [[intoxication]] (such as illicit [[drug]] [[abuse]], overdose or misuse of over the counter medications, prescribed medication, or controlled substances), metabolic abnormalities, central [[nervous system]] [[diseases]], acute neurologic [[injuries]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke strokes] or herniations, hypoxia, hypothermia, hypoglycemia or traumatic [[injuries]] such as head [[trauma]] caused by falls or vehicle collisions. It may also be [[deliberately]] induced by pharmaceutical agents in order to preserve higher [[brain]] functions following brain [[trauma]], or to save the patient from [[extreme]] pain during [[healing]] of [[injuries]] or [[diseases]]. |