C.

LOSS OF
CONSCIOUSNESS

The nervous system 1

Patients may describe sudden loss of consciousness in a
number of ways:
passed out.
I had a blackout.
fainted.

fit.
I had a seizure.
convulsion.
 NEW WORDS

• consciousness (n) / ˈkɑːnʃəsnəs / : ý thức

=> loss of consciousness: mất ý thức
• pass out (v): bất tỉnh, ngất đi
• blackout (adj) / ˈblækaʊt/ : thoáng ngất, ngất trong giây lát
• faint (v) /feɪnt/ : chóng mặt, hay ngất

I passed out = I had a blackout = I fainted

=> Tôi ngất xỉu
 NEW WORDS

• fit /fɪt/ : cơn

• seizure /ˈsiːʒər/ : co giật, sự lên cơn
• convulsion / kənˈvʌlʃn/ : chứng co giật

I had a fit = I had a seizure = I had a convulsion

=>Tôi bị co giật
 NEW WORDS

• epilepsy /ˈepilepsi/: bệnh động kinh.

Fit, seizure và convulsion đều được sử

Fit, seizure and convulsion are all used to
dụng để chỉ các chuyển động không tự
refer to violent involuntary movements,
nguyện bạo lực, như trong bệnh động
as in epilepsy.
kinh.
Doctor may say:

When did you lose consciousness?

 Here is a passage from a textbook on the causes of loss of consciousness.

The principal differential diagnosis is between an epileptic fit and a

syncopal attack, or fainting. Syncope is a sudden loss of
consciousness due to temporary failure of the cerebral circulation.
Syncope is distinguished from a seizure principally by the
circumstances in which the event occurs. For example, syncope
usually occurs whilst standing, under situations of severe stress, or in
association with an arrhythmia. Sometimes a convulsion and urinary
incontinence- loss of control of the bladder- occur even in a syncopal
attack.
 Thus, neither of these is specific for an epileptic attack. The key is to
establish the presence or absence of prodromal symptoms, or
symptoms that occur immediately before the attack. Syncopal episodes
are usually preceded by symptoms of dizziness and light- headedness.
In epilepsy, people may get a warning, known as a aura, that an attack
is going to happen.
 NEW WORDS

• principal (adj) / ˈprɪnsəpl/ : chính

=>The principal differential diagnosis: chẩn đoán phân biệt chính
• epileptic fit /ˌepɪˈleptɪk/ /fɪt/ : cơn động kinh
• syncope /ˈsɪŋkəpi/ : ngất
• distinguish / dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/ : phân biệt
 NEW WORDS

• circumstance / ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/ : hoàn cảnh

• urinary incontinence /ˈjʊrɪneri/ /ɪnˈkɑːntɪnəns/: tiểu không tự chủ
• prodromal symtoms: triệu chứng báo trước (tiền triệu)
• light- headedness: choáng váng
• aura /ˈɔːrə/ : hiện tượng thoáng qua
T h a nk
you!