Coma, commonly called a coma, is a state of the body that the majority of the population experiences. However, the average citizen is not fully aware of the details of this convoluted state. Coma only affects a small portion of the population, and there are several aspects to being in a coma, including definition, diagnosis, and treatments. By definition, a coma is a state of deep unconsciousness in which the patient cannot be awakened, cannot be awakened. have sleep cycles and do not respond to stimuli such as pain, light and sound. A long-term coma is called a persistent vegetative state. There are several warning signs of falling into a comatose state, including eyes not opening, no response to pain except for reflexes, and no voluntary movements except for reflexes (Nordqvist) . There is no bias as to whether or not an individual falls into a comatose state. a coma. Man or woman, young or old, everyone is equally sensitive. However, some people are at higher risk of falling into a coma if they have a particular illness. People with diabetes are at risk of falling into a diabetic coma during periods of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia (Nordqvist). There are also several other conditions that can cause a person to fall into a coma. Those who lack oxygen flowing to the brain, a condition called hypoxia, are susceptible. An infection causing inflammation of the brain, tissues surrounding the brain, or spinal cord, as well as strokes (lack of blood flow to the brain) can cause a coma (Nordqvist). Toxins in the body, such as drug overdoses, are also a cause, as they can cause brain damage (Nordqvist). But as long as the brain is not structurally damaged, ...... middle of paper ......ing developed. Comas are not a trivial subject at all and are a very interesting subject that people should be more informed about. Works Cited Mindell, Arnold. Coma: the dream body close to death. Portland, Oregon: Shambhala Pulications, 1989. Print. Morin, Pierre and Gary Reiss. Inside Coma: a new vision of consciousness, healing and hope. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 2010. Print. Nordqvist, Christian. “What is a coma (coma)?” What is a persistent vegetative state? Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, December-January. 2009. Internet. February 10, 2014. .Stack, Nancy. Personal interview. January 30, 2014. “What is a medically induced coma and why is it used?” » Scientific American. Np, and Web. February 13. 2014. .