What are the Causes and Effects of Loss of Consciousness?
Courtesy of Godoy Medical Forensics
Causes
There is a long list of causes, including:
- Alcohol or drug intoxication/overdose
- Seizures
- Diabetes
- Trauma
- Infection
- Psychogenic (i.e. panic attack)
- Stroke
- Dehydration
- Heart arrhythmia
Syncope
The medical term for transient loss of consciousness (passing out) is “syncope.”
Symptoms
LOC can occur without warning, or a person may have symptoms that allude to the cause.
Amnesia
Amnesia is an indicator of loss of consciousness, even if the person does not think that he or she lost consciousness. “I don’t think I passed out, but I don’t remember what happened.”
Concussions
LOC is not required for a concussion to be diagnosed.
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