An<unk>  is any measure of arousal other than normal.<unk>  of<unk>  (LOC) is a measurement of a person's arousability and responsiveness to stimuli from the environment. A mildly depressed<unk>  of<unk>  or alertness may be classed as lethargy; someone in this state can be aroused with little difficulty. People who are obtunded have a more depressed<unk>  of<unk>  and cannot be fully aroused. Those who are not able to be aroused from a sleep-like state are said to be stuporous. Coma is the inability to make any purposeful response. Scales such as the Glasgow coma scale have been designed to measure the<unk>  of<unk> . An<unk>  can result from a variety of factors, including alterations in the chemical environment of the brain (e.g. exposure to poisons or intoxicants), insufficient oxygen or blood flow in the brain, and excessive pressure within the skull. Prolonged unconsciousness is understood to be a sign of a medical emergency. A deficit in the<unk>  of<unk>  suggests that both of the cerebral hemispheres or the reticular activating system have been injured. A decreased<unk>  of<unk>  correlates to increased morbidity (sickness) and mortality (death). Thus it is a valuable measure of a patient's medical and neurological status. In fact, some sources consider<unk>  of<unk>  to be one of the vital signs.
Altered level of consciousness
Altered state of consciousness
Clouding of consciousness
Psychomotor agitation
Snatiation
Catalepsy
Mental distress
Transient loss of consciousness