Definition:
Level of consciousness (LOC) is a medical term used to describe a patient's awareness of his or her surroundings and arousal potential. Level of consciousness can range from alert to coma. Some common descriptions of level of consciousness include:
- Alert - the person is awake and aware of their surroundings.
- Drowsy - the person is tired and may be dozing but can easily be aroused.
- Lethargic - the person is sluggish and drowsy and has to work hard to focus on their surroundings.
- Obtunded - the person is unconscious and only able to arouse with strong physical stimuli, such as loud noises or painful stimulation.
- Coma - the person is unconscious and unable to be aroused.
