Regaining consciousness
Does sprinkling water on the face of an unconscious person make him regain consciousness?
RAMESH KRISHNAN S.
Kottayam, Kerala
Loss of consciousness may be due to many reasons. Acute loss of consciousness is usually due to a situation called Syncope. This is induced due to acute loss or reduction in blood perfusion to the brain, due to ineffective pumping of blood from the heart to the brain.
This may result from acute emotional disturbances, shock due to sharp pain, emotional instability due to sudden exposure of information that is not tolerated by the mind (sad or good).
This is mediated via a nerve called Vagus, which in turn is connected and influneced by the emotional controls by a place called temporal lobe and mid brain, which is the seat of the control of the vasomotor system.
When we sprinkle water on the face, if the loss of consciousness is due to trivial reasons, like syncope, acute hysterical loss of consciouness, the reflex stimulation of the cold water through the trigeminal nerve, which supplied the face, cornea happens to tone up the vasomotor system, which recupes immediately.
The blood perfusion resumes, and the person gets consciousness immediately.
But consciousness loss due to many organic causes, will not resume by sprinkling water on the face.
DR. V NAGARAJANPROFESSOR EMERITUS IN NEUROSCIENCES
TAMIL NADU DR MGR MEDICAL UNIVERSI
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