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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffMany types of problems can cause coma. Some examples are:
- Traumatic brain injuries. Brain injuries that result from traffic collisions or acts of violence are the most common cause of comas.
- Stroke. Acute loss of blood flow to the brain followed by swelling or no blood flow to a major part of the brainstem can result in coma.
- Diabetes. Blood sugar levels that get too high (hyperglycemia) and stay too high or get too low (hypoglycemia) and stay too low can cause coma.
- Lack of oxygen. People who have been rescued from drowning or been resuscitated after a heart attack may not awaken due to lack of blood flow and oxygen to the brain.
- Infections. Encephalitis and meningitis are infections that cause inflammation of the brain, spinal cord or the tissues that surround the brain. Severe cases of either of these infections can result in coma.
- Seizures. Ongoing seizures may lead to coma.
- Toxins. Exposure to toxins, such as carbon monoxide or drug overdoses, can cause brain damage and coma.
- Intoxication. Overdosing on drugs, medication or alcohol can result in coma.
References
- Berger JR. Stupor and coma. In: Bradley. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Burlington, Mass.: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50007-8--cesec4&uniq=189705338&isbn=978-0-7506-7525-3&sid=969544059. Accessed March 18, 2010.
- Simon RP. Coma and disorders of arousal. In: Goldman L, et al., eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/189705338-11/969548074/1492/1435.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50433-X--cesec2_18138. Accessed March 18, 2010.
- Young BG. Stupor and coma in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 18, 2010.
- Cooke JL. Depressed consciousness and coma. In: Marx JA, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00014-1&uniq=189705338&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&sid=969548074#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00014-1%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-323-05472-0. Accessed March 18, 2010.
- Wijdicks EF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 23, 2010.
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