What happens to the brain during a coma?
A coma occurs when a part of the brain is damaged, either temporarily or permanently. This damage results in unconsciousness, an inability to awake, and unresponsiveness to stimuli such as pain, sound, and light. The word “coma” is derived from the Greek word “koma,” which means “deep sleep.”
Is there brain function in a coma?
Description. Coma is a state of unconsciousness in which a patient does not react with the surrounding environment. Someone who is in a coma is unconscious and has minimal brain activity. It is not possible to wake a coma patient using physical or auditory stimulation.
What is the function of a coma?
Coma is a state of prolonged unconsciousness that can be caused by a variety of problems — traumatic head injury, stroke, brain tumor, drug or alcohol intoxication, or even an underlying illness, such as diabetes or an infection. Coma is a medical emergency. Swift action is needed to preserve life and brain function.
Are all coma patients brain dead?
Brain death is not the same as coma, because someone in a coma is unconscious but still alive. Brain death occurs when a critically ill patient dies sometime after being placed on life support. This situation can occur after, for example, a heart attack or stroke.
Can someone in a coma hear you?
Can Your Loved One Hear You. During a coma, the individual is unconscious, meaning they are unable to respond to any sounds. However, the brain may still be able to pick up on sounds from loved ones. In fact, some studies suggest talking and touching a loved one while they are in a coma may help them recover.
Do you age when in a coma?
They will age. But people in a coma will not age like people not in a coma. Without regular use, their muscles will atrophy. A 50-year old who awoke from a 30-year coma would look like a 50 year old, but with much reduced muscle tone and severe cognitive deficits.
How is brain dead different from a coma?
Brain death: Irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem. A person who is brain dead is dead, with no chance of revival. Coma: A state of profound unresponsiveness as a result of severe illness or brain injury.
What are the signs of waking up from a coma?
Signs of coming out of a coma include being able to keep their eyes open for longer and longer periods of time and being awakened from “sleep” easier-at first by pain (pinch), then by touch (like gently shaking of their shoulder), and finally by sound (calling their name).
How do people recover from a coma?
In general, a coma is temporary, rarely lasting more than two to four weeks. After emerging from a coma, the prognosis is varied. Many people can recover fully, some require lifelong physical and occupational therapy, while others may recover only basic functions.
How do you wake up from a coma?
Hearing the voices of loved ones helps coma victims wake up more quickly, scientists have proved for the first time. Listening to familiar memories of shared events, family jokes and anecdotes was found to help awaken the unconscious brain and speed recovery.
What it’s really like to be in a coma?
Read on for a glimpse of what it’s like to be in a coma. 1. Some patients compare it to being stuck in a really long dream. According to many coma survivors, the unconscious experience feels almost like a dream, at least in retrospect.