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A coma (from the Greek koma, meaning deep sleep) is a profound state of unconsciousness
from which a person cannot be awakened.
Non-traumatic coma is the usual form of a beneficial coma.
It may originate from a severe metabolic disturbance, severe blood loss, epilepsy, hyperthermia (heat shock), hypothermia (cold shock), systemic infections, intoxication, viral inflammation of the brain, hypoglycemia (diabetic shock), stroke, hypoxia (suffocation), cerebral absess-stroke-tumor, drug- or poison induced, and, others. Misuse of drugs, including barbiturates, opiate narcotics, sedatives, amphetamines, cocaine and aspirin can produce coma. Some forms of meditation and some forms of spiritual intervention can also induce controlled period comas. MOST of the above are Not beneficial sources.
Traumatic forms of coma commonly arise from physical injuries to the head from accident or violence. Liver or kidney failure and extreme elevations in blood pressure (perhaps from an emotional shock of surprise, fear, or anger) can also produce coma.
A waking paralysis occurs more often than commonly perceived when a person is fully or partially conscious yet unable to move or respond physically. This can occur in reaction to thyroid medicine and some of the anaethetics used in surgery. These are not considered coma.
Symptoms:
These are both specific yet differ according to the region of the brain from which the coma originates.
- tremors, spasms;
- respiratory irregularity or failure;
- long cycle periodic breathing;
- hyperventilation (fast breathing);
- extremely shallow breathing;
- loss of muscle tone, response to pain and reflexes.
Recovery:
The longer a person is in a coma, often, the longer it is for them to recover functions that are lost on regaining consciousness. Recovery may be to full as-before functionality, loss of some functionality, or, great disability. Interrupted recovery may result in the person remaining in a vegetative state for some time. Death indicates a failure to recover.
The outcome for coma depends on the origin or influencing factors, location (ability to provide and maintain a calm, health supportive environment), severity (though not necessarily the depth or duration), extent of neurological damage, and, ability to control it.
Induced Coma
A temporary coma is sometimes deliberately induced (using drugs) to reduce swelling of the brain after injury. It may also be induced to break the constant overwhelming immune strain being exerted on the body by a severe viral infection, or, by a host of illness which have resulted in extreme chronic illness. Inducing a coma can stop the progression of viral, systemic fungal or bacterial, and Fuireria infections. This has made it possible to reverse the expansion of these illnesses from terminal to recovery.
Coma facilitating environments:
- too hot, heat-stroke;
- oxygen loss, suffocation;
- carbon dioxide excess, acidosis;
- drug addiction;
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- traumatic injury.
Coma facilitating drugs:
- Alcohol;
- Alpha andrenergics;
- Amphetamines;
- Anticholinergics;
- Antihistamines;
- Benzodiazepines;
- Beta blockers;
- Calcium channel blockers;
- Cocaine;
- Diuretics;
- Laxatives;
- Neuroleptics;
- Phenothiazines;
- Thyroid agonists;
- Tricyclic antidepressants.
The brain, adrenals, or the heart are greatly influenced by many of the above.
The above agents may encourage coma formation by slowing blood circulation patterns, and/or encouraging a dysfunction of the normal heat regulatory systems of the body.
Self-induced coma states have long been entered into by very proficient Yogi as a demonstration of their skill of self-control. These performances have often taken the form of being locked in an air-tight box and buried underground or submerged underwater for a period of time after which the box is raised, opened, and the Yogi returns to consciousness and emerges. These acts of suspended animation may also be helpful in strengthening one's health.
Kevin Hipskind:
In August last year [2004], while working in his yard, Kevin sustained second and third degree burns over 37 percent of his body as the result of gasoline fumes combustion. At Wishard, he had to be put into a drug-induced coma to better treat his injuries and allow some healing to occur. His recovery time was supposed to be at least one month. Nine days later, he was brought out of the coma and, miraculously, was up and walking the halls and doing physical therapy within three days. He was determined to return home to his family as soon as he possibly could. Through sheer mental and physical discipline, he excelled in his physical therapy and was able to leave Wishard after just 16 days, two weeks earlier than the doctors anticipated, and was able to continue his treatments from home.
Denise Hay
Denise, age 47, was hospitalized in October 2002 with several mysterious symptoms, including blisters, pain, unconsciousness, extremely low blood pressure, and a very high heart rate. She spent the next week in a coma as her kidneys shut down, her lungs filled with fluid, her heart swelled, and infection began to set in. In short, Denise was slowly dying of some unknown virus.
On the eighth day, however, this Indianapolis native regained consciousness and began a slow recovery that she now thinks of as a miracle. Although she didn’t have a stroke, her rehabilitation followed the path of a stroke patient. She had to learn to walk again, to balance and even stand on her own. Denise was discharged from the hospital after three weeks and over the next months built up enough strength to walk a mile.
Press Release: INDIANAPOLIS (May 6, 2005) – Indianapolis Life Insurance Co.
Samuel Bardon used DEET, but was still bitten by a malaria-carrying mosquito while attending a wedding in the Dominican Republic last November. He was put into a coma to slow down the virus. And his doctors were sure he wouldn’t survive.
“They induced a coma because my body was shutting down,” he recalls of the emergency action taken by desperate doctors at St. Michael’s Hospital. Five out of six people who contract the strain that plagued him don’t survive.
Doctors saved Samuel's life by using new drugs and experimental procedures. His liver and kidneys are both recovering. And while he still gets dizzy spells and the sweats, he’s making progress, knowing that sooner than later, his life will return to normal.
From a September 12 (?), 2005 news story on Toronto, Ontario, Canada's CHUM Ltd. Pulse24.com, written by Health Specialist Laura DiBattista.
Recovery from a Rabies virus infection through coma induction was reported in early 2005. Ordinarily, the result at the late stage of diagnosis would have been fatal. This enabled the immune response of the 15-year-old girl to mature. The patient was treated with ketamine, midazolam, ribavirin, and amantadine. Probable drug-related toxic effects included hemolysis, pancreatitis, acidosis, and hepatotoxicity. Lumbar puncture after eight days showed an increased level of rabies antibody, and sedation was tapered. Paresis and sensory denervation then resolved. The patient was removed from isolation after 31 days and discharged to her home after 76 days. At nearly five months after her initial hospitalization, she was alert and communicative, but with choreoathetosis, dysarthria, and an unsteady gait.
Dr. Rodney E. Willoughby, Jr., Kelly S. Tieves, D.O., George M. Hoffman, M.D., Nancy S. Ghanayem, M.D., Catherine M. Amlie-Lefond, M.D., Michael J. Schwabe, M.D., Michael J. Chusid, M.D., and Charles E. Rupprecht, V.M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases,
8701 Watertown Plank Rd.,
Midwest Athletes against Childhood Cancer Fund Research Center,
Suite 3019, Milwaukee,
WI 53226
rewillou@mail.mcw.edu.
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