Those precautions can prevent a lot of harm, and risks should be balanced with the benefits of any sport or physical activity. Michael W. Richardson Michael W. Richardson is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York, covering topics ranging from the brain and behavior to the environment. Every month, we choose one reader question and get an answer from a top neuroscientist. Always been curious about something? Disclaimer: BrainFacts. It is not intended to give specific medical or other advice to patients.
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Read More. For Educators Log in. Ask an Expert. About the Author. Submit Your Question. If you do not think there is a spinal injury, put the person in the recovery position: Position the person lying face up.
Turn the person's face toward you. Bend one arm up and one arm down, to support the upper and lower body. Tilt the person's head back to allow air to move freely in and out of the mouth.
Keep the person warm until emergency medical help arrives. Unconsciousness can be caused by many injuries and types of illnesses. Common causes of unconsciousness are injury to the head by a fall or blow. Causes of unconsciousness specific to fainting can be found in the Fainting topic.
Diabetes affects blood sugar, and too much sugar hyperglycemia and too little sugar hypoglycemia can lead to unconsciousness in the form of diabetic coma or insulin shock, respectively. Substance abuse and alcohol abuse, straining during bowel movement, coughing hard, and breathing quickly hyperventilating may all cause unconsciousness.
This can include head trauma, heart disease, breathing problems, infections, drugs, and more. Unconsciousness is a lack of awareness and a lack of responsiveness. You should call for emergency medical help, and in the meantime, you can administer CPR or other first aid if it is needed and if you know how to do it.
There are several definitions of stages of consciousness. Full alertness is a state of normal consciousness. Lethargy is an impaired state of consciousness. Unconsciousness is a severely impaired state of consciousness. Brain death is a state in which the brain is not functioning. Unconsciousness is a sign of a serious medical problem that could cause death or disability. There are emergency protocols that first responders use when encountering a person who is unconscious.
Calling for help is your most important role as a companion or bystander. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Maiese K. Overview of coma and impaired consciousness.
Merck Manual Professional Version. Updated June Unconsciousness—first aid. Updated January 12, Morrissey T. Altered mental status. Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. Theoretical models of consciousness: A scoping review. Brain Sci. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
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