Coma
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 injury association
- ICUsteps : the intensive care patient support charity
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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