Although many people gradually recover from a coma,
others enter a vegetative state or die
. Some people who recover from a coma end up with major or minor disabilities. Complications can develop during a coma, including pressure sores, urinary tract infections, blood clots in the legs and other problems.
How long can you be in a coma before you die?
| Coma | Specialty Neurology, psychiatry | Symptoms Unconsciousness | Complications Persistent vegetative state, death | Duration Can vary from a few days to several years (longest recorded is 42 years) |
|---|
Can being in a coma cause death?
Can a coma cause death? A coma itself will not directly cause the death of a patient, but
the underlying cause of the coma can
. A comatose state might also hide other medical problems that would be obvious in a conscious person. The most common cause of death in coma patients is infection.
What are the chances of surviving a coma?
It can be seen that the likelihood of a good recovery in all patients is only
10%
. It is less than 5% in those who have suffered subarachnoid haemorrhage or stroke, about 10% in those with hypoxic–ischaemic injury, but as high as 25% in those metabolic or infective causes of coma.
How do coma patients poop?
When people are unconscious whether it be medically or chemically induced (some patients are given drugs to induce an unconscious state
Can coma patients cry?
A comatose patient
may open his eyes, move and even cry while still remaining unconscious
. His brain-stem reflexes are attached to a nonfunctioning cortex.
How long is too long in a coma?
Some people become fully conscious and are able to resume a normal life, while others may spend the rest of their lives in a coma. According to the How Stuff Works website, a coma is typically not going to last
more than two to four weeks
. A patient will start to regain awareness over a gradual period of time.
How does being in a coma feel?
Usually, comas are more like twilight states — hazy, dreamlike things where you don't have fully formed thoughts or experiences, but you still
feel pain and form memories that your brain invents to try
to make sense of what's happening to you.
Do you dream in coma?
Patients in a coma appear unconscious. They do not respond to touch, sound or pain, and cannot be awakened. Their brains often show no signs of the normal sleep-wakefulness cycle, which means they are
unlikely to be dreaming
.
Do coma patients 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 patients in coma eat?
Because patients who are in a
coma can't eat or drink on their own
, they receive nutrients and liquids through a vein or feeding tube so that they don't starve or dehydrate. Coma patients may also receive electrolytes — salt and other substances that help regulate body processes.
Do coma patients feel pain?
People in a coma are completely unresponsive. They do not move, do not react to light or sound and
cannot feel pain
. Their eyes are closed. The brain responds to extreme trauma by effectively ‘shutting down'.
Does talking to coma patients help?
Patients in comas may benefit from the familiar voices of loved ones, which may help awaken the unconscious brain and speed recovery, according to research from Northwestern Medicine and Hines VA Hospital.
What is the longest coma patient?
On Aug. 6, 1941, 6-year-old Elaine Esposito went to the hospital for a routine appendectomy. She went under general anesthetic and never came out. Dubbed the “sleeping beauty,” Esposito stayed in a coma for
37 years and 111 days
before succumbing in 1978 — the longest-ever coma, according to Guinness World Records.
Do coma patients open their eyes?
A state of complete unconsciousness with no eye-opening is called coma
. A state of complete unconsciousness with some eye-opening and periods of wakefulness and sleep is called the vegetative state (VS). This refers to the “vegetative functions” of the brain (regulating body temperature, breathing, etc.)
What if I'm in a coma?
Someone who is in a coma is
unconscious
and will not respond to voices, other sounds, or any sort of activity going on nearby. The person is still alive, but the brain is functioning at its lowest stage of alertness. You can't shake and wake up someone who is in a coma like you can someone who has just fallen asleep.
