Mental Confusion or Decreased Alertness is the inability to think clearly and quickly; put simply, feeling things just are not right. When confused, one has difficulty paying attention and may feel dizzy. Confusion interferes with ones ability to make decisions clearly and correctly. Many health problems cause confusion or decreased alertness. It is not unusual for a person who is sick to be sleepy or confused upon awakening. However, extreme sleepiness may be a symptom of a more serious health problem. Decreased alertness may occur when a person is not fully awake, aware of, or able to respond normally to his or her external environment. Decreased alertness may also indicate that a chronic illness has gotten worse.

Possible causes

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• Intoxication
• Low blood sugar
• Head trauma or head injury
• Concussion
• Lack of fluid (dehydration)
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Nutritional deficiency
• Fever
• Sudden drop in body temperature (hypothermia)
• Low level of oxygen
• Medications
• Infections
• Brain tumor
• Illness
• Lack of sleep
• Seizure
• Various neurological disorders

Symptoms

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Confusion may range from mild to severe. Symptoms of confusion may include:

• Jumbled or disorganized thought
• Unusual, bizarre, or aggressive behavior
• Difficulty solving problems
• Difficulty performing tasks that used to be simple for the person
• Inability to identify whereabouts or recognize family members or familiar objects
• Illusions
• Hallucinations
• Paranoia
• Disorientation

Cures

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Although it is not an actual cure, time, a walk in the park, or meditation can alleviate the symptoms of confusion. However, methods of curing more serious episodes of confusion must be determined by a doctor.

Sources

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• Yahoo! Health
• National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health

Emotion | Psychiatry | Neurology | Confusão