![]() a vegetative state – where a person is awake but shows no signs of being aware of their surroundings or themselves.Recovering from a comaĪ 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 state or minimally conscious state: Focus on pleasant sensations, 1 sensation at a time for short periods of time.Īs well as talking to the person and holding their hand, you might want to try playing them their favourite music through headphones, putting flowers in their room or spraying a favourite perfume. Research has also suggested that stimulating the main senses – touch, hearing, vision and smell – could potentially help a person recover from a coma. show them your love and support – even just sitting and holding their hand or stroking their skin can be a great comfort.talk to them about your day as you normally would – be aware that everything you say in front of them might be heard.When visiting a friend or loved one in a coma, you may find this advice helpful: Some people feel they can remember events that happened around them while they were in a coma, while others don't. The experience of being in a coma differs from person to person. ![]() This can involve providing nutrition, trying to prevent infections, moving the person regularly so they don't develop bedsores and gently exercising their joints to stop them becoming tight. In the longer term, healthcare staff will give supportive treatment on a hospital ward. ![]() Treatment involves ensuring their condition is stable and body functions, such as breathing and blood pressure, are supported while the underlying cause is treated. In the short term, a person in a coma will normally be looked after in an intensive care unit (ICU). Most people in a coma will have a total score of 8 or less. A lower score means someone may have experienced more severe brain damage and could be less likely to recover. voluntary movements in response to a command – a score of 1 means no response, and 6 means obeys commands.verbal response to a command – a score of 1 means no response, and 5 means alert and replying appropriately.eye opening – a score of 1 means no eye opening, and 4 means opens eyes spontaneously.The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses 3 things: This level is monitored constantly for signs of improvement or deterioration. Caring for and monitoring a person in a comaĭoctors assess a person's level of consciousness using a tool called the Glasgow Coma Scale (on Headway's website). Read more about disorders of consciousness. Some people will wake up after a few weeks, while others may go into a vegetative or minimally conscious state. Over time, the person may start to gradually regain consciousness and become more aware. They may be able to breathe on their own, although some people require a machine to help them breathe. They won't normally respond to sound or pain, or be able to communicate or move voluntarily, and basic reflexes, such as coughing and swallowing, will be greatly reduced. The person's eyes will be closed and they'll appear to be unresponsive to their environment. ![]() They're alive but can't be woken up and show no signs of awareness. Someone who is in a coma is unconscious and has minimal brain activity. You may find the following information useful if you have a friend or loved one who is in a coma. People with diabetes could fall into a coma if their blood glucose levels suddenly became very low ( hypoglycaemia) or very high ( hyperglycaemia). A coma can also be caused by severe alcohol poisoning or a brain infection ( encephalitis). It can result from injury to the brain, such as a severe head injury or stroke. ![]() A few puts a little more attention on the positive-that there is a small number (of people or things).A coma is a state of unconsciousness where a person is unresponsive and cannot be woken. The difference in meaning is subtle, but usually few puts a little more attention on the negative-that there is not a large number (of people or things). Most of his books are boring, but there are a few that I like. Ī few people arrived early.įew people arrived early.Ī few of the students forgot to bring their books to class.įew (if any) of the students forgot to bring their books to class. Below are some examples showing how each is used. A few means "some (people or things)." It is used to say that there are a small number of people or things. Few means "not many (people or things)." It is used to say that there are not a lot of people or things. ![]()
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