1.0Glossaryhttps://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossaryGlossaryhttps://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/author/adminglossary/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="0Erch6QL7o"><a href="https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/persistent-vegetative-state/">Persistent vegetative state</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/persistent-vegetative-state/embed/#?secret=0Erch6QL7o" width="600" height="338" title="“Persistent vegetative state” — Glossary" data-secret="0Erch6QL7o" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/glossary/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> A condition in which someone is alive and breathes, but shows no brain activity, and will never recover consciousness.PVS may occur in patients with severe brain damage from hypoxia or injury. Patients do not display any awareness of their surroundings, and are unable to communicate. Sleep alternates with apparent wakefulness, when some reflexes may be present: for example, patients’ eyes may reflexly follow or respond to sound, their limbs can reflexly withdraw from pain, and their hands can reflexly grope or grasp. Patients can breathe spontaneously, and retain normal heart and kidney function, although they are doubly incontinent.A continuing and unremitting clinical condition of complete unawareness of the environment accompanied by sleep-wake cycles with either complete or partial preservation of hypothalamic and brainstem autonomic functions. The diagnosis is established if the condition is present for 1 month after acute or nontraumatic brain injury or has lasted for 1 month in patients with degenerative or metabolic disorders or developmental malformations.A state characterized by profound, persistent unconsciousness and lack of responsiveness to external stimuli due to damage to the brain regions responsible for higher cognitive functions. The individual might exhibit involuntary eye movements or random limb motions, but there is no reaction to external stimuli, even pain. Only essential life functions like breathing and heartbeat continue, thanks to the brainstem's activity. While there's no known treatment to reverse this condition, with appropriate care, patients may survive for several years.