nesvjesnost

Nesvjesnost is a term used in Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian and related languages to denote a state of lacking consciousness or awareness. The word derives from nes- (not) and svijest (consciousness), and is employed in both medical and everyday contexts to describe the absence or diminishment of wakefulness or awareness.

In medical contexts, nesvjesnost refers to unconsciousness, a condition in which a person cannot be awakened and does not respond meaningfully to stimuli. It can be temporary, as in syncope or intoxication, or more prolonged, as in coma. Assessment typically involves evaluating responsiveness, airway, breathing and circulation, and neurological status. Tools such as the Glasgow Coma Scale are used to gauge the level of consciousness. Causes are diverse, including reduced brain blood flow, head injury, stroke, poisoning, metabolic disturbances, and effects of drugs or anesthesia.

In everyday language and some branches of psychology, nesvjesnost can describe a lack of awareness or knowledge about a situation, oneself, or others. It may refer to ignorance or a failure to perceive relevant aspects of reality. In philosophical or literary discussions, related ideas concern unconscious processes or capacities, though nesvjesnost is not always a precise technical term in those fields.

See also svjesnost (awareness) and related concepts. The term appears in medical, everyday, and cultural discourse, serving as a concise expression for states of diminished wakefulness or awareness.

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