What does it mean to fall into a coma?

Question

What exactly does it mean to fall in a coma. Is it a state? Because I hear people say things like "he/she fell into a coma". Is the person already sick, or does it suddenly happen?

Answer 1

coma, or being comatose is a state of alertness.

you can go from being alert, to drowsy, to lethargic, to comatose.

comatose meaning, you do not respond to any external stimuli, may that be verbal, touch, or even pain.

to fall into a coma can mean several things. you could actually be in an alcohol-induced coma. or a debilitating disease is slowly progressing till you fall into a coma. or you have a hemorrhage (bleed) in your brain and fall into a coma.

Answer 2

And, since "falling" into a coma denotes some sort of action on the person's part, wouldn't they try to avoid that type of "fall"?