Deafened, deafened consciousness syndrome, decreased vigilance: what is this, causes, symptoms, diagnostics, treatment, prevention

Decreased alertness; Stuporous; Mental status – decreased; Loss of alertness; Decreased consciousness; Changes in consciousness; Obtundation; Coma; Unresponsiveness

What is stun?

Stunning is a medical term, used to describe a reduced level of alertness and reaction. This condition, in which the mental activity of a person is significantly reduced, and he can't react normally to the environment. Stunnedness can be caused by a variety of medical and psychological conditions., including head trauma, drug poisoning, stroke and dementia.

Coma is a state of reduced alertness, from which a person cannot be taken. A prolonged coma is called a vegetative state..

Reasons for Stunning

Stunning can be caused by a variety of medical and psychological conditions.. The most common causes of stunning are:

• Head injury: head injury, such as a concussion or head injury, can cause stun due to damage to brain neurons.
• drug intoxication: drug intoxication, eg, from alcohol, opioids or sedatives, may cause stun due to the depressant effect of drugs.
• Stroke: Stroke can cause stun, disrupting the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the brain.
• Dementia: dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, can cause stun due to degeneration of brain neurons.

Other causes of stunning include metabolic disorders, infections and electrolyte imbalances.

Many diseases can cause a decrease in vigilance, including:

• Chronic kidney disease
• Extreme fatigue or lack of sleep
• High blood sugar or low blood sugar
• High or low blood sodium levels
• Infection, that is severe or involves the brain
• Refusal baked
• Thyroid disease, that cause low thyroid hormone levels or very high thyroid hormone levels

Brain disorders or injuries, such as:

• Dementia or Alzheimer's disease (running cases)
• Head injury (moderate to severe)
• capture
• Stroke (usually, when the stroke is either massive, or destroyed certain areas of the brain, such as the brainstem or thalamus)
• Infection, affecting the brain, such as meningitis or encephalitis

Injuries or accidents, such as:

• Diving accidents and drowning
• Heatstroke
• Very low body temperature ( gipotermiя )

Heart or breathing problems, such as:

• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Lack of oxygen for any reason
• Low blood pressure
• Severe heart failure
• Severe lung disease
• Very high blood pressure

Toxins and drugs, such as:

• Alcohol consumption (binge drinking or damage from long-term drinking)
• Exposure to heavy metals, hydrocarbons or toxic gases
• Drug Abuse, such as opiates, drugs, sedatives, and anti-anxiety or anticonvulsant drugs.
• Side effect of almost any drug, eg, those, which are used to treat seizures, depression, psychosis and other illnesses.

Stunning symptoms

The most common symptoms of stunning include:

• Confusion
• slow speech
• Impaired judgment
• Decreased vigilance
• Inability to focus
• Lethargy
• Inability to respond to stimuli

When to contact a healthcare professional

If you or someone you know shows signs of being stunned, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Stunning can be caused by a variety of medical and psychological conditions., Therefore, it is important to correctly diagnose and treat, to prevent further complications.

Questions, that your doctor may ask

When you visit your doctor for a stun, he can ask different questions, to help him diagnose. These questions may include:

• When symptoms first appeared?
• Have you had a head injury or drug poisoning?
• Are you experiencing any other symptoms, such as confusion or lethargy?
• Do you have any comorbidities?

Stun Diagnostics

To diagnose stun, your doctor will first take a medical history and perform a physical examination.

Tests, which can be fulfilled, include:

• Chest X-ray
• General blood analysis (CBC) or differential blood count
• CT or MRI of the head
• Oxygen level (pulse oximetry or blood gases)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Electrolyte panel and liver function tests
• Toxicology panel and alcohol level
• Analysis of urine

Stun treatment

Stun treatment will depend on the underlying cause. Head injury, drug intoxication and stroke may require hospitalization and intensive care. For dementia, treatment may include medication and lifestyle changes..

Stun home treatment

If you or someone you know is experiencing a stun, it is important to get the correct diagnosis and treatment from a healthcare professional. Nonetheless, there are some home treatments, which may help improve alertness and response. These home treatments include:

• Complete rest
• Compliance with healthy, balanced diet
• Regular workouts
• Limiting alcohol and drug use
• Practicing relaxation techniques
• Stun Prevention

The best way to prevent stun is to take steps, to reduce the risk of underlying medical and psychological disorders. This includes regular checkups., healthy eating, regular exercise and avoiding drug and alcohol use. Besides, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of stunning, so that if they occur, you can seek medical help.

Used sources and literature

Berger JR, Price R. Stupor and coma. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff’s Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 5.

Lei C, Smith C. Depressed consciousness and coma. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 13.