Increasingly, deaths in the world occur due to the fact that not every person knows how to provide first aid to a victim correctly. Being in a state of shock, a man who sees how a man or woman fell beside him and does not move, just stands and looks. And if he immediately pulled himself together and rendered the necessary help, then as a result one could save someone's life. It is also important for relatives of seriously ill patients to know what symptoms of exacerbation are, what to do in a particular case in order to be able to provide timely assistance. Today we will consider a very important topic: what is a coma in a person. Almost everyone should have an idea of how to properly help, what to do in order to save a person’s life.
What is a coma in humans?
Coma is a rather serious condition, which is characterized by rapidly developing depression of the central nervous system with a deep loss of consciousness and the absence of reactions to external influences. In this condition, the patient disrupts the work of several body systems: respiratory, cardiovascular and others.
One reason for the development of coma is significant damage to brain tissue. This can occur due to tissue damage, for example, due to injuries or hemorrhages, as well as due to the patient having serious infectious pathologies, poisoning and other processes. First aid for coma and clinical death is very important, because it can save the patient’s life, but the first thing to do is determine the type of coma and identify what triggered it.
Coma stages
Coma, like many other pathologies in the human body, proceeds in several stages:
- Precoma. This condition is a precursor of true coma, can last from a couple of minutes to two hours. At this time, the person’s consciousness is confused, he is stunned, his condition changes dramatically, then he becomes too sluggish, then some activity wakes up, increased excitability. If the reflexes are preserved, then coordination of movements may be impaired.
- Coma I degree. In this condition, all the patient's reactions to external irritating factors are sharply inhibited, contact with the patient is difficult. Muscle tone is increased, the patient’s food is able to swallow only liquid. Tendon reflexes are significantly increased. The reaction of the pupils to the light is preserved, in rare cases, strabismus can be noticeable.
- Coma 2 degrees. This form is characterized by stupor, there is no contact with the patient. The pupils do not react to light, they are narrowed, and there are no reflexes to stimuli. Rare chaotic movements can also be noticed, limbs are tense or, conversely, relaxed, and others. Pathological breathing may be impaired if coma is grade 2. In rare cases, involuntary emptying of the intestines and bladder may occur.
- Coma 3 degrees. At this stage, the person is unconscious, there is no response to external stimuli. There is no reaction of the pupils to the light. Muscle tone decreases, cramps may occur. Body temperature, low blood pressure, impaired breathing. First aid for a coma in this condition is very important, otherwise, if you do not stabilize the condition, then this stage will go to the beyond coma.
- Outrageous coma (4 degree). In this state, pressure and temperature sharply decrease, all reflexes are completely absent. The patient's condition is maintained thanks to the ventilator and parenteral nutrition.
First aid for coma is very important, but it will be more useful if you immediately determine which type of coma is observed in the patient, because there are several.
Diabetic coma
It is most often found in patients with diabetes. Such a coma can occur in patients with high sugar (hyperglycemia) or low (hypoglycemia). This condition leads to a high content of glucose in the blood. With a diabetic coma, the smell of acetone from the oral cavity appears. If this type of coma is correctly diagnosed, then a person can be taken out of this state very quickly.
In this case, urgently need to measure the level of sugar in the blood, if it is too high, then enter insulin, and if low, then give the patient to take carbohydrates. And it is better to immediately seek help from a doctor who will observe the patient and will be able to help him get out of this condition without harm to his health.
Traumatic coma
Most often, it happens in patients who received a head injury, as a result of which the brain was damaged. It differs from other types of coma by severe vomiting in the precom. First aid for a coma of this type involves the adoption of urgent measures that will help improve blood circulation in the brain and restore its function.
Meningeal coma
This species develops if intoxication of brain tissue is observed, it can be triggered by the presence of meningococcal infection. You can clarify the diagnosis only after a lumbar puncture. In this condition, the patient has a severe headache, he cannot lift the extended leg, and if the head passively leans forward, then involuntary bending of the leg at the knee occurs.
Also a characteristic feature of this type of coma is a rash with areas of necrosis on the skin and mucous membranes. In this case, only qualified doctors can help the patient, so the first aid for him is to call an ambulance and hospitalization in the infectious ward.
Cerebral coma
It is characteristic of those patients who have brain diseases associated with the presence of neoplasms. A person in a coma feels:
- Severe headache, which is accompanied by vomiting.
- It is increasingly difficult for patients to swallow food, they often choke, and can hardly even drink water with difficulty.
If you do not provide first aid at this time, then a coma develops. Also, these symptoms can indicate a coma caused by a brain abscess. The difference is that in the latter case, it can be accompanied by inflammatory pathologies, such as tonsillitis, otitis media or sinusitis. In this case, only a doctor can help, who by signs will quickly determine what is the matter and help the patient.
Hungry coma
This species occurs with degree 3 dystrophy, which develops as a result of prolonged fasting. Often this type is found in young people who are on a diet. A deficiency of protein is felt in the body, it performs many functions in the body, therefore, when it is not enough, almost all organs work incorrectly, the functioning of the brain is inhibited.
If this condition develops, then the following symptoms can be observed:
- Frequent fainting occurs.
- General weakness is observed.
- Palpitations.
- A person in a coma feels bad: body temperature and pressure are low, convulsions and even spontaneous urination occur.
In this case, you need to see a doctor, and in no case should the patient be given food, because the body should recover gradually.
Epileptic coma
Often develops as a result of a severe seizure. Patients have a characteristic dilatation of the pupils, the skin turns pale, all reflexes are suppressed. The tongue often shows signs of occlusion, spontaneous emptying of the bladder and intestines is almost always observed.
Pressure and temperature decrease, heart rate quickens. If the condition worsens, then the pulse becomes threadlike, breathing from the surface becomes deep. If first aid for a coma is not provided, then the patient’s reflexes disappear, the pressure continues to decrease, and eventually death occurs.
Alcoholic coma
Alcohol poisoning often leads to an alcoholic coma, it can result in clinical death. Alcohol abuse can lead to organ malfunction. Ethyl alcohol inflicts a serious blow on the brain, it can even lead to respiratory arrest.
There are several stages of an alcoholic coma, emergency care for coma of any stage is very important, but especially in the third. First aid in this case is to clear the airways of mucus and vomit. The patient is laid to one side and an ambulance is urgently called.
Hepatic coma
Incorrect liver function can lead to the patient developing a coma, in which case it is called hepatic. The cause may be the pathology of this organ of any origin. The physiological mechanism for the development of this type of coma is simple: the liver is the main filter of the human body. In cases where the work of the organ is disrupted, metabolic products penetrate into the bloodstream, which should have been neutralized in the liver. They significantly affect brain cells, which can lead to the development of coma. This type is often accompanied by disturbances in the work of the heart, cerebral edema and general intoxication. Providing assistance with a coma of this type is an early appeal to a specialist, if this is not done, then in most cases this leads to the death of the patient.
First aid for coma
First aid for a coma is very important, any delay can lead to death. If you have a person in a coma, then the first thing to do is to quickly examine him. If suddenly he will have a glucometer or insulin with him, then it says that he is a diabetic and, possibly, he has a diabetic coma, although this should not be with the child. The coma care algorithm for adults and children is very similar.
So, a few recommendations to help help the patient in a coma:
- Urgently restore and maintain adequate breathing: sanitize the respiratory organs, connect a ventilator or make a conicotomy, but this is in rare cases and only with the permission of a specialist.
- Peripheral vein catheterization.
- Restoring and maintaining adequate blood circulation: if the pressure is low, then a solution of sodium chloride and glucose is dripped intravenously, and if the pressure is above normal, then it is corrected with magnesium sulfate. Heart rate is normalized by defibrillation. The same implies first aid for a coma of unclear etiology.
- A catheter is inserted into the bladder so that the level of diuresis can be controlled.
- Installation of the probe after tracheal intubation.
Emergency care for a coma is very important, so in no case do you need to fall into hysteria, but urgently call an ambulance and do everything possible to alleviate the patient's condition. Timely assistance can save a person’s life.