Coma
What is a coma?
Someone who is in a coma is unconscious and has minimal brain activity. They're alive, butcan't be woken up and show no signs of being aware.
The person's eyes will be closed andthey'llappear to be unresponsive to their environment. They won'tnormally respond to sound or pain, or be able to communicate or move voluntarily.
Someone in a coma will also have very reduced basic reflexes such as coughing and swallowing. They may be able to breathe on their own, although some people require a machine to help them breathe.
Over time, the person may start to gradually regain consciousness and become more aware. Some people will wake up after a few weeks, while others may go into a vegetative state or minimally conscious state (see recovering from a coma ,below).
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about what a coma is, how someone in a coma will be looked after, what you can do to help, and what happens when someone recovers from a coma.
What is a coma?
Someone who is in a coma is unconscious and has minimal brain activity. They're alive, butcan't be woken up and show no signs of being aware. The person's eyes will be closed andthey'llappear to be u
Caring for and monitoring a person in a coma
Doctors assess a person's level of consciousness using a tool called the Glasgow Coma Scale . This level is monitored constantly for signs of improvement or deterioration. The Glasgow Coma Scale asses
What you can do as a visitor
The experience of being in a coma differs from person to person. Some people feel they can remember events that happened around them while theywere in a coma, while others don't. Some people have rep
Recovering from a coma
A 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 sta
Further information and support
For further information and support from healthcare professionals and the families of people in a coma, you may find the followingwebsites helpful: Brain and Spine Foundation Headway : the brain
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