Lethargy - a pathological condition in which significantly weaken all the external manifestations of life. With lethargy still linked to many superstitions and legends, though modern scholars scrutinize this phenomenon and has put forward several hypotheses.

What happens to a person at the time of lethargy

Before falling into a lethargic sleep can appear its precursors. These include headache, weakness, tiredness, weakness. Sleep attack develops suddenly and can last from a few hours to many years. Officially registered cases, when lethargy lasted twenty years.

Lethargy in most cases similar to the normal deep sleep. The man did not respond to any external stimuli. If you carefully watch him, you can catch the faint movement of eyelids and shallow breathing. The color of the skin does not change, and the pulse is still palpable, although it may be delayed.

In rare cases, more serious condition of the patient lethargic really looks like a "fake death". The skin becomes pale and cold, and imperceptible pulse of only a few beats per minute. Breathing even a little determined using a mirror, held close to the mouth of man. The body temperature is reduced to ambient temperature, and all metabolic processes are slowed dramatically.

Modern medicine can be distinguished from the lethargic sleep of death, even in such difficult situations. There remains dilated pupils reaction to painful stimuli. If the influence of electric shock to the muscles person in a state of lethargy, they will be reduced. Electrocardiography and electroencephalography help register the activity of the heart and brain.

Patients in a state of lethargy Dreams: how to understand our dreams   although not react to what is happening around them, but perceive these events and even remember them. Electroencephalography data helped to confirm this. Having studied the brain activity of patients in a state of lethargy, it was found that registered biotoki exactly the same as in awake humans.

It is widely believed that people lethargic almost do not grow old because slow metabolism Slow metabolism: how slimming complicate his task   and can prolong their youth. But this is not so. If a person is in this state for a long time, then due to prolonged immobility formed bedsores occur septic kidney damage, respiratory tract and blood vessels atrophy. So after a very long sleep the patient may even become disabled.

Why is there

According to scientists, there are several reasons due to which a person may come a pathological dream:

• Lethargy as a result of life-threatening conditions. It occurs when a serious head injury, severe poisoning, significant blood loss and physical exhaustion.
• The pathology of the psychic sphere. Catatonic stupor, which is a manifestation of some mental illnesses Mental illness - ashamed to ask for help? That looks very similar to the true lethargy. In this state, the person is aware of everything that happens around, but can not only move but also to open their eyes. In sensitive people, when they experience significant stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis   (for example, job loss or divorce) may develop hysterical psychogenic or lethargy.
• Some medications can also cause this condition. These tools include interferon - antiviral and anticancer drug that increases the body's immune defenses. Eye drops called "apraclonidine" can cause lethargy in infants.
• Why is there a true lethargy, not yet installed, but has put forward several hypotheses on this subject.

True lethargy rare, only about ten cases worldwide per year. According to one hypothesis it is an unknown virus, and on the other - a strep infection.

Dale Russell and Andrew Church, two contemporary British doctors studied medical records of twenty people who sleep long sleep. Doctors found a pattern: many of these patients, before falling into lethargy, sore throat ached. Further searches revealed a bacterial infection, a rare form of streptococcus in all these patients. On this basis, scientists have determined that the bacteria that cause sore throat, change its properties, overcome immune defenses and cause inflammation of the midbrain. Such nerve damage could provoke an attack of lethargy.

How to help a patient in a state of lethargy

Man in a state of lethargy in need of rest, fresh air and a diet rich in vitamins and other vital substances. In severe condition, when the patient is impossible to feed a conventional manner, it is introduced into the stomach tube through which there ingested food in a liquid or semi-liquid form. If this is not possible, then the parenteral nutrition. Thus the necessary nutrients and salts in the solutions administered intravenously.

When a person is a long time in a fixed position, can develop pressure sores - necrosis (necrosis) of soft tissues. Due to the constant pressure, the local poor circulation, nerve fibers in these areas no longer conduct impulses. Metabolism in the compressed tissues violated and the resulting necrosis is formed, and later can join infection.

It is therefore important to properly care for the skin of the patient in a state of lethargy. One should not lie long in one position, it must constantly turn. Under the place of bone protrusions (scapula, pelvis, knees, elbows, heels, iliac crest) is desirable to lay a soft cushion. In laundry patient should not folds rough seams. For the care of his skin should be used only low-allergenic agents.

Lethargy - an exceptional phenomenon which modern science has not studied thoroughly. Therefore, this condition is associated with a number of questions, the answers to which are only to be found.

Cortexin is a drug of natural origin, so it is usually well tolerated. But, like any other natural medicines, cortexin can cause allergic reactions, sometimes severe enough.

The operating principle of the body cortexin

Natural korteksin medicament comprises a complex of polypeptide fractions of water soluble low molecular weight, which allows the molecules to penetrate from the blood to brain cells (to overcome the blood-brain barrier). Get cortexin from the cerebral cortex of cattle or pigs are not older than one year of age. Cortexin has a multifaceted positive effect on brain cells, thus improving the activity of the central nervous system.

Cortexin basic action is that it improves the metabolic processes in the brain cells and in the extracellular space, which contributes to the fact that these structures are starting to work more economically consuming resources such as glucose Glucose: The energy source   (power source) and oxygen. Under the influence of cortexin improving all the functions of the brain decreases its excitability and susceptibility to seizures, increased intellectual capacity memory, enhanced resilience.

This action allows the widespread use cortexin, both adults and children with various diseases of the central nervous system.

Contraindications for use cortexin are only pregnancy, breast-feeding Breastfeeding - a personal choice   feeding (clinical studies in pregnant women and nursing mothers have not been conducted) and idiosyncrasy of the drug to patients.

Side effects that may occur when using cortexin

Adverse effects with cortexin, both among adults and among children were recorded. The only side effects when administered cortexin can only be allergic reactions, from which no one is immune. As a natural product cortexin may give such reaction, even though the modern technology of its preparation. But of such reactions in the literature almost unheard of.

Allergic reactions to any drug or food have been known since Hippocrates, and since then their appearance has changed little. They arise in response to the introduction of substances in the body that causes the allergy (allergen or antigen).

At the same time, the sensitivity of the body first - antibodies - special proteins, whose main task - the destruction of the allergen (antigen). Therefore, the first introduction of any drug is usually not dangerous allergic reaction occurs after repeated administration after sensitization.

Immediate allergic reaction called anaphylactic or reaginic as they proceed with the formation of antibodies, which are called reagin. In conjunction with an antigen reagin allocated biologically active substances that cause allergic reactions - allergy mediators (e.g. histamine). Histamine causes a very rapid emergence of an allergic reaction.

Immediate type allergic reactions may manifest as inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, conjunctivitis, bronchospasm, skin rash (dermatitis), urticaria and angioedema Prevention and treatment of edema - it is important to understand the root cause   (papular, not the eyes of a growing, prone to mergers rash, swelling passing in the lips, tongue and throat), anaphylactic shock (a severe allergic reaction to the loss of consciousness).

Any of these allergic reactions are possible with the introduction of cortexin, so the first few injections can not do better at home, and clinics in the treatment room, where there is everything you need for emergency medical care in such conditions.

As introduced cortexin

Cortexin administered intramuscularly once a day for ten days. Repeated treatment can be carried out not earlier than in a month.

Immediately prior to injection of a dry sterile lyophilized substance contained in a vial, diluted with one - two milliliters of a 0.5% solution of novocaine Novocaine - why it is so popular in medicine? Water for injection or saline. (0.9% sodium chloride solution for injection). After dilution cortexin can not be stored. Dose cortexin establishes doctor dosage for children is calculated by weight. Cortexin overdoses were reported.

Cortexin is an effective and safe drug, which is used in the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system in adults and children.

Galina Romanenko