Why is oxygen deprivation of the brain dangerous? Brain hypoxia.

Oxygen plays a vital role, and its deficiency leads to irreversible consequences. This element is involved in the creation of energy, and its lack leads to the cessation of vital processes.

Hypoxia - what is it? This scientific name oxygen starvation, that is, a condition in which there is a deficiency of oxygen in the tissues. The lack of oxygen can be within moderate limits for life, but can also lead to irreversible consequences.

Hypoxia is an insufficient supply of oxygen to the body or a violation of the order of carbon dioxide utilization due to oxidation

Most sensitive to lack of oxygen:

• central nervous system;
• myocardium
• kidneys;
• liver.

These parts of the human body require the largest number energy, and oxygen deficiency leads to disruption of their functioning.

Important! The most dangerous for the body are hypoxia of the brain and heart. Myocardial hypoxia can develop rapidly, which leads to tissue necrosis, that is, tissue death. Lack of oxygen worsens the heart rhythm; the left and right ventricles begin to work differently, trying to balance the lack of oxygen. All this causes ventricular fibrillation of the heart - a life-threatening condition.

Oxygen starvation, depending on the cause, can be:

• exogenous;
• respiratory;
• blood;

The first organ to suffer from a lack of oxygen is the brain.

• circulatory;
• histotoxic;
• reloading;
• mixed;
• technogenic.

Exogenous oxygen starvation experienced by mountain hikers. This type is caused by a change in air pressure during inspiration (a large difference between the pressure in the lungs and in the external environment). The respiratory variety is caused by poor “supply” of blood from the lungs to the blood vessels. This often affects smokers. Blood hypoxia is a common occurrence for those with anemia. It is also associated with poisoning carbon monoxide. And overload hypoxia is familiar to those who engage in heavy physical labor.

According to the speed of development, hypoxia is:

• lightning fast;
• acute;
• chronic.

Lightning develops rapidly, so eliminating its causes should be just as fast. Acute - typical for post-infarction conditions and after large blood loss. Chronic accompanies heart diseases, such as heart disease and cardiosclerosis.

The result of hypoxia is the cessation of the functioning of all organs and systems in a matter of seconds from the moment oxygen starvation of the body begins

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Signs of oxygen starvation

The most difficult thing to diagnose oxygen starvation is to define it. Symptoms are often too vague. One of the typical signs of oxygen starvation is sudden agitation nervous system up to a state of euphoria, followed by severe depression and apathy. During excitement, voluntary movements of the body are observed (restlessness for no reason, twitching of the collar, etc.), disruption of the normal rhythm of the heart and breathing (visible on the cardiogram - frequent and uneven heart contractions are observed). When the excitement suddenly passes, the skin becomes too pale, cold sweat appears on the forehead, and “flickers” appear before the eyes.

The body is trying to “escape”:

• paralysis of a muscle group develops by increasing their tone;
• various protective reflexes appear and disappear;
• the body “turns off” some functions, which causes loss of consciousness.

Attention! With fulminant hypoxia, coma can occur 1–2 minutes after loss of consciousness.

In the first 15 seconds, brain activity stops and the person falls into a coma.

With myocardial hypoxia, increased heart rate is observed; with inactivity, it can also completely stop, which will lead to a lack of oxygen in the brain.

It is important to remember that the faster first aid is provided, the fewer consequences for the body.

Quite typical symptoms of hypoxia are also:

• headache;
• hysterical state (when you want to laugh and cry at the same time);
• memory impairment and disorientation;
• aggressiveness and deterioration of mental activity;
• disturbance of sleep, vision, speech.

Treatment of hypoxia

Oxygen starvation can even lead to death, so when observing the first symptoms, it is important to provide first aid:

• provide access to fresh air;

The consequences of hypoxia depend on the rate of development of oxygen starvation

• unbutton clothes that restrict breathing;
• perform artificial respiration and in case of cardiac arrest - indirect massage hearts.

Important! Treatment depends on the cause that caused it. Therefore, if necessary, you should stop the bleeding, ventilate the room, and clear the lungs or airways.

Sometimes eliminating hypoxia comes down to a regular walk in the fresh air, but if the cause is cardiac, kidney disease or dysfunction of the brain or liver, then the treatment of oxygen deprivation should be more serious. For each type, the necessary measures are quite varied:

• ventilation;
• the use of bronchodilators, analeptics and antihypoxants;
• use of oxygen concentrates;
• blood transfusion;
• cardiac surgery for myocardial hypoxia.

Drug treatment of myocardial hypoxia

It should be remembered that for treatment different types different ones are used medications.

Treatment of cerebral hypoxia is directly dependent on the causes of its occurrence.

Important! Do not self-medicate. Heart medications should only be prescribed by a cardiologist.

All drugs that eliminate hypoxia are called antihypoxants. They are divided into three groups:

• straight type;
• indirect type;
• mixed.

Direct-acting antihypoxants are first aid drugs for cardiac hypoxia. They stimulate energy processes in the heart muscle instead of missing oxygen (for example, Mexidol, Neoton, Piracetam).

Indirectly acting antihypoxants make the heart healthier calm state when it consumes less oxygen. However this emergency remedy, as it can impair brain function. An excellent example of such drugs are sleeping pills and anesthesia.

Mixed antihypoxants combine the previous two types, but also contain vitamins.

Treatment of myocardial hypoxia with folk remedies

Folk remedies can only be an additional treatment for the chronic form, but not the main method of treatment and can be used in other forms.

The following have a beneficial effect on heart function:

• hawthorn;
• arnica;
• nettle;
• black currant;
• viburnum fruits;
• cowberry;
• ginseng;
• ginger;
• gingko;
• marshmallow;
• anise.

It is these plants that help maintain normal heart function.

Oxygen starvation or brain hypoxia is severe pathological condition in the human body, in which an insufficient amount of oxygen enters the cells.

Causes of hypoxia:

1. various diseases of the body;
2. circulatory disorders;
3. respiratory muscle paralysis;
4. states of shock;
5. heart and vascular failure, heart block;
6. asphyxia;
7. alcohol;
8. carbon monoxide poisoning;
9. postoperative complications;
10. long-term stay of a person in a polluted or stuffy room, at great depth or altitude.

Regarding the rate of development, hypoxia occurs:

Oxygen starvation is the cause of severe pathologies of the brain, heart, liver, and kidneys. Severe hypoxia can lead to coma or death. Therefore, it is so important to take care of your health and, in order to prevent or treat brain hypoxia, do not delay visiting a doctor.

What is oxygen starvation?

Oxygen is a vital element for our body. It is involved in complex biochemical processes in cellular level. Briefly, this process can be described as energy synthesis. And we need energy for everything: for the functioning of organs and systems (for example, heart function, contraction of intestinal walls), for our mental and physical activity.

With oxygen starvation, our body does not receive enough energy - this is chronic tissue hypoxia. The function of the affected organ is impaired. And in especially severe cases, tissues do not receive energy at all - in case of poisoning, asphyxia.

What happens during oxygen starvation?

It is not for nothing that experts call the brain a “critical organ” during hypoxia. After cessation of blood supply, the dynamics of brain dysfunction are as follows:

In case of acute oxygen deficiency, brain tissue can withstand only 4 seconds without disruption of activity.

During operative qualified assistance, the coma state may be reversible.

Signs of hypoxia

Signs of oxygen starvation depend on the type and causes of hypoxia. At an early stage, signs of hypoxia are subtle, but can have irreversible consequences.

Classification of types of oxygen starvation regarding causes:

1. Exogenous hypoxia. Occurs as a reaction to low oxygen content, at low pressure, in stuffy rooms, when rising to altitude.
2. Hemic hypoxia– this is a lack of oxygen in the blood, for example, with anemia.
3. Respiratory hypoxia. Occurs when the body’s ability to receive oxygen is impaired due to pathology of the respiratory system.
4. Circulatory hypoxia associated with CVS pathology.
5. Tissue hypoxia. Develops when oxygen is not absorbed by body tissues.
6. Overload hypoxia. May occur as a result of intense physical activity when the body's need for oxygen increases.
7. Mixed hypoxia– prolonged oxygen starvation of severe form for a combination of several reasons.

General signs of oxygen starvation.

With timely, adequate medical care, all body functions are restored.

Symptoms of oxygen starvation

They are quite varied and typical:

1. A sharp headache resulting from a pressure drop or lack of oxygen in the room.
2. A state of absent-mindedness and disorientation after a sudden deterioration of memory. Often the patient cannot understand where he is. Unable to remember where he was going. This condition does not last long. When it passes, the person calms down, attributing these symptoms to overwork or starvation.
3. A sharp transition from a state of excitement, euphoria, increased adrenaline to a state of lethargy and lethargy. There is rapid heartbeat, dizziness, cold sweat, and convulsions.
4. Involuntary and uncontrollable actions of the limbs, impaired skin sensitivity, lethargy, pain in the arms and legs.
5. Frequent mood swings, going to extremes, the desire to laugh and cry for no particular reason.
6. Sleep disturbances, insomnia, awakenings in the middle of the night.
7. Aggression, irritability, weakness against the background of general fatigue of the body. A person cannot concentrate on a specific job.
8. Speech and vision impairment.
9. Decreased mental abilities, difficulties with assimilation of new information.

By ignoring the symptoms of oxygen deprivation of the brain, you are seriously endangering your health. Timely contact with specialists, early diagnosis and correct treatment will help prevent serious complications.

Hypoxia research methods:

Treatment of oxygen starvation

Brain hypoxia is a serious pathological condition of the body, so treatment should be carried out at the first symptoms. Early treatment will prevent Negative consequences and avoid complications.

Treatment of oxygen starvation depends on the causes of the disease, by eliminating which positive dynamics can be achieved.

Emergency assistance for hypoxia.

If signs of hypoxia appear before the doctor arrives, it is important to provide the patient with an influx of fresh air and, if necessary:

• unbutton clothes;
• remove water from the lungs;
• ventilate a smoky or stuffy room;
• take the patient out into fresh air;
• do artificial respiration.

Doctors provide therapy, saturation of the body with oxygen, blood transfusions, and resuscitation measures.

Treatment methods depend on the causes and types of hypoxia. In some cases, it is enough to ventilate the room and walk in the fresh air.

Depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, treatment can take place in a hospital or at home. To normalize the patient's condition, medications and vitamins are prescribed.

Serious treatment will be required if the causes of oxygen starvation are problems of the heart, kidneys, blood, or lungs. Therefore, it is of great importance to establish the functioning of the cardiovascular system, breathing, correct the acid-base state of the blood, and water-salt balance.

1. In case of exogenous hypoxia, oxygen equipment will be needed.
2. In case of respiratory hypoxia, one cannot do without bronchodilators, respiratory analeptics, and antihypoxants.
3. In some cases, artificial ventilation and oxygen concentrators are used.
4. Treatment of hemic hypoxia requires blood transfusion.
5. In the treatment of circulatory hypoxia, corrective operations on the heart and blood vessels are used.

Prolonged oxygen deprivation can cause cerebral edema, requiring the use of decongestants. If resuscitation is untimely, fulminant and acute hypoxia often lead to death. Therefore, preventive measures, early diagnosis and timely comprehensive treatment of hypoxia are so important.

Prevention

To prevent hypoxia, it is necessary to eliminate all causes that lead to a lack of oxygen.

1. Frequent walks in the fresh air - preferably outside the city or in the park.
2. If you have to stay indoors for a long time, frequently ventilate at any time of the year.
3. Periodic preventive examinations by specialists - for early detection of diseases and their timely treatment.
4. Sufficient physical activity.
5. Prevention of vitamin deficiencies: eating fresh fruits and vegetables all year round. If necessary, take vitamin and mineral complexes in courses.
6. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.

Which doctor should I contact if I have oxygen deprivation?

It all depends on the flow of the process. If this is chronic oxygen starvation, then usually the cause is heart or blood disease. Accordingly, the correction is carried out by a cardiologist or therapist. And if the brain suffers, a neurologist is involved in the treatment.

Acute or fulminant hypoxia, as well as severe chronic hypoxia, requires urgent resuscitation measures. Therefore, in these cases, you should immediately call an ambulance.

• Pulse oximetry. The method is accessible and simple - just put a pulse oximeter on your finger. Blood oxygen saturation is determined within a few seconds. The norm is at least 95%.

• Definition acid-base balance(KShchR) and gas composition blood.

• Capnography, CO-metry– study of exhaled air gases.

• Laboratory and instrumental methods studies can establish the fact of hypoxia, but to establish its causes, additional examination will be required, individual for each patient.

Oxygen is an active element, without which the vital activity of the human body ceases within a few minutes. We will talk about what oxygen starvation, called hypoxia, is. Hypoxia is an insufficient supply of oxygen to the body or a violation of the order of carbon dioxide utilization due to oxidation. The continuous process of providing the human body with oxygen occurs thanks to the respiratory system and transport elements of the bloodstream.

The first organ to suffer from a lack of oxygen is the brain. Therefore, the topic of the article will be devoted to brain hypoxia.

More about oxygen starvation

So what is hypoxia? It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the substance O2 for people. The result of hypoxia is the cessation of the functioning of all organs and systems in a matter of seconds from the moment the body begins to starve of oxygen.

The consequences of hypoxia for any living organism are critical. In the first 15 seconds, brain activity stops and the person falls into a coma. With each new second of brain hypoxia, irreversible processes develop. And after 3–4 minutes, the functioning of the brain in adults ceases, in other words, its death.

Types of hypoxia depending on the rate of development, table:

1. How oxygen starvation of the brain manifests itself:
2. The phase of increased excitability is expressed in the inability to fully control one’s actions, movements, and facial expressions.
3. The appearance of cold sweat and perspiration indicates the body’s attempts to cope with the consequences of hypoxia. The unnatural shade of the skin immediately attracts attention. As a rule, there is facial hyperemia, that is, pronounced redness. Either the skin becomes pale color
4. Inhibition on the part of the central nervous system is expressed in damage to the brain structures responsible for hearing, vision, and articulate speech. Brain hypoxia causes disturbances in all of these functions at the same time or in any one. In this case, the patient may complain of signs of oxygen starvation, such as darkening of the eyes, dullness of hearing, tinnitus and others.
5. The loss of unconditioned and conditioned reflexes, such consequences of oxygen starvation, is caused by cerebral edema due to perinatal hypoxia.

If the brain is highly sensitive to hypoxic lesions, a person may fall into a coma. Disabling the main control center as a result of brain hypoxia entails cardiac and circulatory arrest and a complete cessation of the body’s vital functions. It is now clear why one should not allow even a short-term or limited lack of oxygen access to the lungs.

Consequences of cerebral hypoxemia

Why is brain hypoxia dangerous? The consequences of hypoxia depend on the rate of development of oxygen starvation. Instant, subacute and acute stages in the vast majority of cases end in death. The exception is situations when the patient finds himself in the first seconds resuscitation care. The danger of oxygen starvation in the chronic form is determined by the area of ​​damage to the brain matter.

The most common consequences of chronic hypoxia:

• Vomiting, nausea.
• Dizziness, clouding of consciousness, even loss of consciousness.
• Impaired speech, hearing, and visual functions.
• Systematic pain in the head area.

If the patient at the time of brain hypoxia is provided with highly professional assistance, treatment and a course of rehabilitation and preventive measures are carried out. Then complete restoration of brain activity is possible. But when chronic brain hypoxia accompanies a person for a long period of time and no measures are taken to cure the pathological condition. Such a development of events usually threatens with serious consequences. And even if therapy for brain hypoxia is started belatedly, it is unlikely that it will be possible to fully restore the previous state; the consequences of oxygen starvation will still be visible.

Causes of cerebral asphyxia

Oxygen starvation of the brain is not a disease, but a pathological state of hypoxia, the causes of which can be both external and internal. Brain hypoxia can occur not only due to the cessation or limitation of oxygen access, but also due to a disruption in the process of removing carbon dioxide from the body.

But the causes of hypoxia can also be associated with blood pathologies and, first of all, a lack of hemoglobin.

Causes of oxygen starvation associated with any pathologies and circumstances of limited air supply:

• Various types of anemia.
• Atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels.
• Pathologies of the larynx, such as swelling or spasm of the throat.
• Prolonged stay in a room that is not ventilated.
• Gas intoxication.
• Allergic reaction to drinking alcohol.
• Complications after surgery.
• Stress accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure.
• Heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest.
• A stroke that results in an acute lack of oxygen in one or both hemispheres of the brain.
• Asphyxia, paralysis or pathologies of the respiratory organs.

Etiological types of hypoxia:

• Exogenous (hypoxic origin) - occurs in a poorly ventilated, closed room, as well as with reduced atmospheric pressure while ascending to high altitudes.
• Respiratory ( respiratory system) - occurs due to various disturbances in the patency of oxygen flow along the pathways of the respiratory organs.
• Circulatory (cardiac system) is detected as a consequence of circulatory pathologies. It is divided into the general circulatory type of hypoxia, in which the supply of oxygen masses to the organs and systems of the body is disrupted. And a local version of oxygen starvation in case of local disruption of oxygen supply.
• Tissue (histotoxic) is formed when tissue processes fail, as a result of which they absorb oxygen.
• Bloody (hemic) occurs when hemoglobin is completely or partially destroyed by carbon monoxide or oxidizing agents.
• Mixed is a combination of several types of hypoxia.
• Overload occurs when there is a lack of oxygen due to excessive physical exertion.

Symptoms of asphyxia of brain tissue

Symptoms of oxygen starvation of the brain differ depending on the reasons that caused it. But, despite the similarity, there are still minor differences in the symptoms of brain hypoxia, occurring in acute or chronic form.

Acute hypoxia symptoms are characterized by two stages:

1. Overexcitation of the central nervous system, expressed in rapid breathing and heartbeat, all the signs of hypoxia are present - euphoria, perspiration and sticky sweat, sharp headache. The state of overexcitation lasts for seconds, after which it is replaced by depression of the central nervous system until loss of consciousness.
2. Depression of the nervous system is accompanied by symptoms of hypoxia, such as weakness, flashing black spots in the eyes, drowsiness, dizziness, and a general apathetic state of health. Before coma sets in, the patient may experience partial loss of consciousness, accompanied by stupor, somnolence, or stupor. Without providing resuscitation support, the patient’s superficial reflexes fail in a matter of minutes, and after them the deep reflexes—the heart and breathing stop.

Clinical picture of oxygen starvation of the brain symptoms:

• Unreasonable mood swings.
• Decreased mental productivity.
• Deterioration of memory with increasing progression.
• Deviations in coordination of movements and speech.
• Loss of concentration and fatigue.
• Weakening of mental activity, dementia.
• Inability to adequately respond to newly received information.
• Depressive state and other psychoses (irritability, resentment, tearfulness).
• Difficulty falling asleep at night, accompanied by daytime sleepiness.

Symptoms of oxygen starvation of the brain are not specific to hypoxemia. The above signs of chronic hypoxia may accompany other pathologies. But in any case, the attending physician must check in each specific case whether there is cerebral hypoxia.

Treatment of cerebral hypoxemia

How to treat brain hypoxia? Treatment of cerebral hypoxia is directly dependent on the causes of its occurrence. In addition to resuscitation measures, in case of acute oxygen deficiency, there is also a standard treatment regimen for hypoxia treatment.

It consists of taking a number of drugs aimed at treating pathology, eliminating the causes and consequences of oxygen starvation of the brain.

To treat cerebral hypoxemia, medications are prescribed:

• Nootropic.
• Eliminates headaches.
• Normalizing blood circulation.
• Regulating vascular tone.
• Blood thinners.
• Bronchodilators.
• Antiatherogenic.
• Iron-containing.
• Antidepressants and sedatives, as well as sleeping pills.
• General strengthening and vitamin complexes.

Medicines undoubtedly have a therapeutic effect, but without maintaining a healthy lifestyle, recovery will be incomplete with the likelihood of relapse of the pathology. The diagnosis of chronic brain hypoxia requires a review of the diet and daily schedule. To prevent oxygen starvation, breathing exercises are recommended; running, jumping or just walking, preferably as fast as possible, are also suitable. The main rule successful therapy and prevention is systematic.

Hypoxia, or in simple terms - oxygen starvation of the brain, is serious illness, which requires diagnosis and treatment. Hypoxia blocks the flow of oxygen to nerve connections. In the case where there are no symptoms of dysfunction, the brain can withstand 4 seconds of acute hypoxia; just a few seconds after the cessation of blood supply, the person loses consciousness; after 30 seconds, the person falls into a coma.

The most serious outcome of this violation is the death of a person. Therefore, it is important to know the main causes of oxygen starvation of the brain and the symptoms that will help to identify the first signs of the disorder and avoid serious consequences and long-term treatment.

There are 3 types of hypoxia:

• Fulminant hypoxia – development occurs quickly, within a few seconds and minutes;

• Acute hypoxia - lasts for several hours, the cause may be a heart attack, poisoning;

• Chronic deficiency - develops long time, the causes are heart failure, cerebral atherosclerosis, heart disease.

Causes of oxygen starvation

Oxygen deficiency in the brain can be caused by several reasons:

1. Respiratory – the brain is not able to receive the proper amount of oxygen due to impaired respiratory processes. Examples include diseases such as pneumonia, bronchial asthma, and chest trauma.

1. Cardiovascular - a violation of blood circulation in the brain. Causes may include: shock, thrombosis. Normalizing the functioning of the heart and blood vessels helps prevent the development of cerebral stroke.

1. Hypoxic – oxygen starvation, which occurs when oxygen in the air decreases. The most striking example is climbers who, when climbing a mountain, most clearly feel the lack of oxygen.

1. Blood – with this factor, oxygen transport is disrupted. The main reason is anemia.

1. Tissue – development occurs due to disruption of oxygen transport. The cause may be poisons or medications that could destroy or block enzyme systems.

Main symptoms

Symptoms of lack of oxygen in the brain may manifest differently in each person. In one patient, sensitivity may decrease, lethargy may appear, and in another, headaches may begin.

The main symptoms of oxygen starvation of the brain:

• Dizziness, the possibility of loss of consciousness due to inhibition of the activity of the nervous system. The patient appears severe attacks nausea and vomiting;
• Visual impairment, darkness in the eyes.
• Change in skin color. The skin turns pale or red. The brain reacts and tries to restore blood flow, resulting in cold sweat.
• Adrenaline increases, after which comes muscle weakness and lethargy in the patient. A person ceases to control his movements and actions.
• Irritability, resentment appear, depression and other mental disorders develop.
• Inattention, the patient has difficulty absorbing information, mental performance decreases.

The final stage of the disease with oxygen starvation is the development of coma, and then soon respiratory and cardiac arrest.

If the patient receives timely medical care, all body functions can be restored.

Diagnosis and treatment

To determine the patient's current condition and whether he is truly sick, a number of medical tests are required.

These include:

• Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. This method shows the consequences of oxygen deficiency. With this method, you can see areas of the brain where sufficiently saturated oxygen enters.

• Ultrasound is a method that allows you to determine deviations from the norm during the development of a child in the womb. Allows you to determine oxygen starvation on initial stage.

• General blood test and clinical tests on acid-base balance.

• General and selective angiography.

Treatment of oxygen deficiency primarily involves restoring the required supply of oxygen to the brain.

If there is a lack of oxygen in the brain, the following measures are prescribed:

• Maintaining normal functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems;
• Drugs to improve blood circulation in the brain;
• Antihypoxanes;
• Decongestants;
• Bronchodilators.

Radical treatment of the disease is also carried out when the patient is already in serious condition. This treatment includes: blood transfusion, installation of an oxygen mask, procedures for resuscitation of the patient.

Prevention of hypoxia

Preventing a disease is always easier than treating it. For normal oxygen intake into the body, you just need to follow the recommendations of specialists. These tips can be used both for the prevention and treatment of oxygen deficiency.

Key tips include:

1. Fresh air . Walks should take at least 2 hours, preferably before bedtime. It is better to take walks in environmentally friendly places (parks, forests).

1. Sport. Light exercise in the morning promotes better blood circulation, and if you do it outside, the effect will be doubled.

1. Correct daily routine. You need to normalize your routine, allocate the required time for rest and sleep. To normalize processes in the body, you need to devote at least 7-8 hours to sleep. Don't forget to warm up if you work at a desk.

1. Proper nutrition. For the normal supply of oxygen to the brain, nutrition plays an important role. The diet should consist of large quantity vegetables and fruits. You should eat foods rich in iron (buckwheat, meat, dried fruits), while dairy products and coffee consumption should be kept to a minimum.

1. No stress. Try to avoid stressful situations and not get nervous in vain.

Respiratory prevention of oxygen deficiency

One of the most convenient and simplest ways to prevent disease is breathing exercises. This method is very easy to use and does not require any additional effort.

Some useful exercises that are worth taking note:

1. Relax completely, you need to do 4 seconds deep breath, then hold your breath for the same time and exhale slowly. Repeat about 12-15 times. After 1 month, increase the time of inhalation and exhalation.

1. Take a deep breath and take at least 6-7 short exhalations through your nose. The mouth remains closed. Repeat 3-4 times.

It is advisable to repeat these exercises 2 to 4 times a day.

Oxygen starvation in newborns

Symptoms of lack of oxygen in the brain can appear in a newborn during the period when the baby is still in the womb, or immediately during childbirth. Hypoxia in a severe stage, not rarely, can lead to serious consequences for both mother and baby.

Of these we can note:

• Premature birth;

• Intrauterine death of a child;

• Stillbirth;

• Severe disability of the child.

Reasons why these may be caused severe consequences in children:

1. Problems of cardio-vascular system;

1. Intrauterine infections;

1. Improper lifestyle (alcohol, cigarettes, drugs);

1. Fetal pathology;

1. Birth injuries.

Oxygen deficiency, as a diagnosis, is made in approximately 15% of pregnancies.

Most often, brain hypoxia in a child develops due to the mother’s poor lifestyle, drinking alcohol, and smoking.

Therefore, in order for your child to grow up as a healthy and strong child, you should refuse bad habits.

Danger of brain hypoxia

A state of oxygen starvation can lead to pathological changes. Violated brain activity and basic brain functions.

Whether the prognosis is favorable depends on the degree of brain damage and at what stage the disease was discovered.

A person's chances of recovery also depend on his current condition. With a prolonged coma, the basic functions of the body are impaired and the chance of recovery becomes very low.

With a short-term coma, the chances of rehabilitation are very high. However, treatment may take quite some time.

Video

Oxygen starvation, or hypoxia, is a condition of the body in which the normal supply of oxygen to the brain is disrupted. Hypoxia affects its outer part. But, as a rule, this term is also used to refer to the lack of oxygen in the entire brain. Based on the latest statistical studies, the highest prevalence of this disease was identified among residents of megacities and employees of enterprises who work in rooms where there is no normal air ventilation.

Causes

Predisposing factors that provoke oxygen starvation of the brain include:

1. Inhalation of carbon monoxide.
2. Diseases that interfere with the normal functioning of the respiratory muscles.
3. Carbon monoxide poisoning.
4. Greater height.
5. Suffocation.

Kinds

There are several types of this disease:

1. Hypoxic. This variety is quite often diagnosed in people who climb to great heights. As a rule, this manifests itself in the following way: the higher the altitude, the greater the lack of oxygen becomes.
2. Hemic. Characterized by a decrease in oxygen capacity in the blood.
3. Respiratory. A characteristic feature of this disease is the presence of pathological processes, which negatively affects the entire respiratory system.
4. Circulatory. It appears in case of lack of blood circulation.
5. Fabric. The cause of its occurrence is considered to be a decrease in the activity of respiratory enzymes.
6. Mixed. As the name suggests, it is manifested by a combination of various types of this disease.
7. Myocardial. Manifested by a lack of oxygen in the heart muscle. The danger of this type of hypoxia lies in high probability development of a serious complication in the future - ischemia.

According to the period of occurrence they distinguish:

1. Lightning fast, which develops in a split second and lasts a maximum of 3-5 minutes.
2. Spicy. It usually appears after a heart attack or with a large loss of blood, which are predisposing factors for reducing the ability of the blood to supply oxygen to the tissues.
3. Chronic. Most often diagnosed with heart disease, cardiosclerosis or heart failure.

Oxygen starvation, symptoms

It is known that for normal functioning the brain requires about 3.3 million oxygen per 100 g of live weight. And if even the slightest deficiency occurs in the brain, to normalize the situation, cerebral blood flow almost instantly increases, which can exceed the norm by a maximum of two times. When this is not enough, hypoxia begins.

The initial stage of this disease is characterized by increased excitability. Most often, a state close to euphoria is observed, an inability to exercise full control over one’s actions, problems with performing simple mental tasks, and changes in gait.

Important! Evidence of the onset of hypoxia can also be changes in the upper skin of a person and the appearance of cold sweat.

If oxygen starvation continues for a significant period of time, then it characteristic features are severe vomiting and dizziness. In addition, the clarity of vision is significantly impaired, and periodic darkening of the eyes is observed. Cases of loss of consciousness are common.

Advanced cases are characterized by the appearance of cerebral edema. In the future, serious deviations in brain function may occur with further loss of conditioned and then unconditioned reflexes.

Attention! Medical practice includes several dozen cases where, as a result of prolonged hypoxia, the patient fell into a deep coma.

It should be remembered that oxygen starvation of the brain can be caused by other factors. For example, constant stress, lack of sleep, excessive smoking or excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages.

But, as practice shows, the symptoms of this disease rarely occur alone, but rather complement each other.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosis of this disease, in addition to a general examination by the attending physician, also involves conducting specific laboratory and instrumental tests.

Using a pulse oximeter. Today, this method is not only the most accessible to determine whether oxygen starvation of the brain is present or absent, but is also easy to use. To do this, just put a special device on the patient’s finger - a pulse oximeter - and literally in a couple of minutes you will know how saturated the blood is with oxygen. At the moment, the optimal level should not exceed 95%.

Determination of blood composition in veins and arteries. When this study is used, it becomes possible to establish the level of the main indicators of homeostasis, of which the following are distinguished: oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, the state of the bicarbonate and carbonate buffer.

Study of gases contained in exhaled air (CO-metry and capnography are used).

Possible complications

It's no secret that in medical institutions people turn only when it becomes unbearable to endure. But if such an approach is still justified when slight cold, then when hypoxia manifests itself, it can have very serious consequences. These include:

• bronchial asthma;
• serious metabolic disorders;
• stroke;
• deep coma

Hypoxia treatment

Treatment for this disease is to use integrated approach which consists in regularly performing prescribed procedures. The first step is to tell your doctor the reason that led to this condition. It can be chronic fatigue, stress or poorly ventilated room.

1. Drugs plant origin, the action of which is aimed at accelerating blood circulation in the patient’s body and stabilizing his general well-being.
2. Hyperbaric oxygenation. The essence of this treatment method is that the patient is placed in a special chamber where the body is exposed to oxygen under high pressure.
3. Vitamins that restore brain tissue.

If weak oxygen starvation is diagnosed, treatment in this case consists of ventilating the room or taking long walks in the fresh air. Hypoxia that occurs as a result of heart disease or after poisoning is much more difficult to treat.

Treatment of respiratory hypoxia consists of prescribing drugs that dilate the bronchi, respiratory analeptics or antihypoxanes. In special cases, oxygen concentrators or artificial ventilation are used.

It should be remembered that if you consult a doctor in a timely manner and in the presence of fairly mild symptoms, the prognosis for a speedy recovery is very favorable. But in more advanced cases, it is not always possible to eliminate the negative consequences caused by a lack of oxygen.

Hypoxia during pregnancy

This disease is especially dangerous during pregnancy. And sad as it may be, every year the number of women faced with this phenomenon is only increasing. But it should be borne in mind that hypoxia during pregnancy most often means no longer a full-fledged disease, but the course of processes due to which various pathological abnormalities occur in the body of the baby in the mother’s womb. This happens due to the fact that blood with oxygen does not reach the internal organs of the fetus in the required quantities. But it is worth remembering that mother and child are one whole, therefore, if the child suffers, then, accordingly, the mother also suffers.

Hypoxia during pregnancy is a very alarming sign, especially if it was diagnosed more than once over several trimesters. Therefore, to prevent this disease from developing into a chronic form, it is recommended not to hope that this is an accident, and not to attribute everything to an “interesting” situation and possible deviations from the norm, which usually occur in this case, and consult a doctor at the place of observation as soon as possible.

Types of fetal hypoxia

Oxygen starvation of the fetus can manifest itself in both acute and chronic forms. And, as practice shows, each case requires different predisposing factors. Thus, chronic hypoxia develops gradually and over a fairly long period of time. It most often occurs due to placental insufficiency, when, due to the presence of bad habits, serious chronic diseases (asthma), the placenta does not fully perform its functions.

Most often, chronic hypoxia manifests itself in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Acute oxygen starvation of the fetus, unlike chronic, occurs unexpectedly and, as a rule, occurs during the 2nd stage of labor. The main reasons leading to this condition are: placental abruption and the appearance of nodules on the umbilical cord.

Symptoms indicating the imminent onset of hypoxia include:

1. Rapid heartbeat on early and slow - on later ones.
2. Fetal immobility.
3. Weak kicks of the baby in the later stages.
4. Changes in the skin of a newborn baby from natural to green or blue.

Diagnosis of fetal hypoxia

As a rule, during regular gynecological examinations, every expectant mother is recommended to remember not only the day when the baby first moves, but also to carefully monitor them (the movements) in the future. This is necessary, first of all, in order to record and subsequently prevent the development of serious pathologies.

Attention! The norm is considered to be the presence of up to 10 episodes of active movement of the child.

Also on every scheduled gynecological examination the expectant mother is being bugged abdominal wall through a special tube - an obstetrician's stethoscope. The purpose of this examination is to determine the baby's heart rate. Indicators of 110-160 beats per minute are considered normal. If other indicators are present, then this is considered an indication for additional examinations using a Doppler meter or cardiotocograph.

In addition, oxygen starvation can also be determined by visual examination, since with this disease the volume of the abdomen is greatly reduced, and the baby himself, although in his final stages, looks unnaturally thin during an ultrasound examination.

Hypoxia in newborns

Manifestations of this disease in newborns quite often cause irreversible disturbances in the functioning of life. important organs(lungs, kidneys, heart and central nervous system). Therefore, when the initial stage of hypoxia is detected in a baby, it is necessary to warm him up as soon as possible and give him artificial respiration. In more serious cases, it is necessary to clear the airways of mucus accumulated there. For this purpose, special solutions are injected there. It is also recommended to do external massage hearts.

As a rule, oxygen deprivation in newborns subsequently requires constant monitoring by a pediatrician at the place of residence.

Treatment of hypoxia in pregnant women

In most cases, women who have even the slightest hint of intrauterine hypoxia are gradually transferred to hospital treatment. There they are prescribed injections of drugs containing vitamins and substances that thin the blood. But, as a rule, such measures do not always achieve their goal, since oxygen starvation in a child will only go away when the factors that contributed to its occurrence are completely eliminated.

Therefore to preventive measures include:

1. A daily two-hour walk in the fresh air. If for certain reasons this becomes impossible, it is recommended to ventilate the room or install an air conditioner with an air ionization function. But remember that constantly sitting in a closed room, even with daily ventilation, is strictly not recommended.
2. Rejection of bad habits. Since this is not only a predisposing factor for the development of this disease, but also causes serious harm to the unborn baby.
3. Consume foods containing large amounts of iron. As a rule, these are pomegranate, beef liver, beans, herbs, and onions. In addition, drinks saturated with oxygen have proven themselves well - oxygen cocktails.
4. Avoid colds and infectious diseases.
5. If possible, avoid areas with large crowds of people.
6. Stick to a certain daily routine. Remember that to fully restore the body, you need up to 8 hours of continuous sleep.
7. Minimize the occurrence of stressful situations.

Important! Acute oxygen starvation in an unborn baby requires a cesarean section.

IN Lately occurs more and more often. Experts associate the development of the disease with for various reasons.

Firstly, oxygen starvation certainly occurs in people living in large cities. The emergence of a large number of personal and public transport significantly reduces the content of clean, oxygen-rich air.

Oxygen starvation is also felt by people who spend working hours mainly in stuffy, unventilated rooms, in numerous offices and shops where there are no air conditioning systems.

Hypoxia can also develop as a result of a stressful situation. Due to nervous overstrain, the normal supply of oxygen to the blood is disrupted.

Indirect causes of hypoxia include drinking alcohol and smoking.

If signs of the condition appear, it is necessary to provide your body with timely assistance. Lack of oxygen reduces cell growth and development. Hypoxia causes their death. It should be noted that, first of all, hypoxia affects the condition of the skin.

Many experts believe that one of the reasons for the development of cancer pathologies is insufficient oxygen supply to tissues. As a result, toxins accumulate in the body. With metabolic disorders caused by hypoxia, the removal of harmful substances becomes difficult.

Oxygen starvation. Symptoms

The main signs of hypoxia are a sensation throughout the body, a developing dull headache, apathy, deterioration of mental reactions and memory, restlessness during sleep, and decreased sexual activity.

Medical experts divide oxygen deprivation into four types. Hypoxia can be:

Fabric;

Circulatory;

Natural changes in blood pressure;

Against the background of disturbances in the blood supply system.

Prolonged hypoxia can provoke the development bronchial asthma. If there is insufficient oxygen flow through the blood to the brain, there is a risk ischemic stroke. Hypoxia may be a consequence of a shock situation, cardiovascular failure, complete transverse heart block, asphyxia of various origins and poisoning Oxygen starvation of the brain is also a complication during operations on main vessels both heart and early stages postoperative period. In this case, various mental changes and neurological syndromes may develop. It should be noted that general cerebral symptoms predominate, diffuse dysfunction of the central nervous system can be observed microscopically

Prolonged oxygen starvation contributes to disruption of metabolic processes in the body.

If prolonged hypoxia develops, you should immediately consult a doctor. The specialist will be able to identify the exact cause of the condition and, in this regard, prescribe the necessary therapeutic course. Typically, treatment includes taking medicines aimed at improving blood circulation in the brain and developing immunity.

In preventive and therapeutic purposes It is recommended to regularly exercise outdoors and take walks in green areas. An integral part of measures to improve health is maintaining a daily routine and taking nutritious and proper nutrition. The diet must contain the required amount of fruits and vegetables.

• Which doctors should you contact if you have oxygen starvation?

What is oxygen starvation

Oxygen starvation can occur both when there is insufficient oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere, and under certain pathological conditions.

Brain hypoxia is observed in cerebrovascular accidents, shock states, acute cardiovascular failure, complete transverse heart block, carbon monoxide poisoning and asphyxia of various origins. Brain hypoxia can occur as a complication during operations on the heart and great vessels, as well as in early postoperative period. In this case, various neurological syndromes and mental changes develop, with general cerebral symptoms and diffuse dysfunction of the central nervous system predominating.

Pathogenesis (what happens?) during oxygen starvation

Microscopically, cerebral edema may be observed. An early sign hypoxia is a violation of the microcirculatory bed - stasis, plasma impregnation and necrobiotic changes in the vascular walls with a violation of their permeability, the release of plasma into the pericapillary space. In severe forms of acute hypoxia, varying degrees of damage to neurocytes, including irreversible ones, are detected early. Vacuolization, chromatolysis, hyperchromatosis, crystalline inclusions, pyknosis, acute swelling, ischemic and homogenizing state of neurons, and shadow cells are found in brain cells. There are gross disturbances in the ultrastructure of the nucleus, its membranes, destruction of mitochondria, and osmiophilia of some nerve cells.

The severity of cell changes depends on the severity of hypoxia. In cases of severe hypoxia, cell pathology may deepen after the cause that caused the hypoxia is eliminated; in cells that do not show signs of serious damage for several hours, after 1-3 days and later, structural changes of varying severity can be detected. Subsequently, such cells undergo decay and phagocytosis, which leads to the formation of foci of softening; however, gradual restoration of normal cell structure is also possible.

For chronic hypoxia morphological changes nerve cells are usually less pronounced; During chronic hypoxia, glial cells of the central nervous system are activated and intensively proliferate.

Symptoms of oxygen starvation

When acute oxygen deficiency occurs, excitation of the nervous system often develops, followed by inhibition and increasing depression of its functions. Excitement is accompanied by motor restlessness, euphoria, increased heart rate and breathing, pallor of the skin, and the appearance of cold sweat on the face and limbs. Following a more or less long period of excitement (and often without it), phenomena of depression develop with the appearance of darkening in the eyes (after the previous “flickering” before the eyes), dizziness, drowsiness, general lethargy, stupor, with a gradual depression of consciousness.

Disinhibition and inductive enhancement of the activity of subcortical formations are accompanied by erratic motor activity, convulsive muscle contractions, general tonic and clonic convulsions. This period is usually short-lived. Further spread of inhibition is accompanied by a change in unconditioned reflexes: first, cutaneous reflexes (abdominal, plantar, cremasteric) are lost, then periosteal (carpal-radial, superciliary) and, finally, tendon reflexes, which initially sharply intensify and then fade away, usually first on the upper, and then on the lower extremities. Next, the pupillary and corneal reflexes disappear. However, the sequence of disappearance of reflexes is not always the same; There are cases of long-term preservation of individual reflexes in the absence of others. Movement disorders are characterized by the development of spastic paralysis with increased muscle tone, reflexes, the appearance of pathological and protective reflexes, and then muscle tone decreases, reflexes fade. With the rapid development of deep oxygen starvation, loss of consciousness occurs within a few tens of seconds, and after 1-2 minutes coma develops. Due to brain hypoxia, the following neurological syndromes can develop.

. Comatose states (depending on the prevalence of depression of brain function
and level of regulation of preserved functions):

a) state of decortication (subcortical coma); b) anterior brainstem (diencephalic-mesencephalic), or “hyperactive” coma;

c) posterior trunk, or “flaccid” coma; d) terminal (transcendental) coma.

. Conditions of partial impairment of consciousness: a) stupor; b) stunning; c) somnolence.

. Syndromes of diffuse organic damage: a) severe posthypoxic
encephalopathy (with mnestic, visual, cerebellar, striatal disorders);
b) moderately severe posthypoxic encephalopathy.

. Asthenic conditions (posthypoxic asthenia with symptoms of hypo- and hypersthenia).
The listed syndromes may be phases of manifestation of the consequences of brain hypoxia.

The most severe degree of comatose state (exorbitant coma) is based on depression of the functions of the central nervous system, clinically manifested by areflexia, muscle hypotonia, lack of electrical activity of the brain (“silence”), and breathing disorders. The activity of the heart and the automatic activity of other organs are preserved due to peripheral autonomic regulation.

When the functions of the caudal sections of the trunk are restored, spontaneous breathing is resumed (sometimes disturbances in its rhythm are noted), corneal reflexes are evoked - this is a “flaccid” or post-trunk coma. Further recovery functions of the anterior parts of the trunk can manifest itself as mesencephalic and diencephalic symptoms in the form of tonic convulsions, shudders, pronounced vegetative symptoms - hyperthermia, migrating hyperemia, hyperhidrosis, sharp fluctuations in blood pressure. Such a coma is defined as “hyperactive”, or anterior truncal.

Partial restoration of the functions of the subcortical nodes is associated with the features of subcortical coma, or the state of decortication. Its clinical picture is characterized severe symptoms oral automatism (sometimes with sucking and chewing movements), increased activity of subcortical reflex levels - stem, spinal, peripheral, vegetative. Tendon reflexes are increased, skin reflexes are depressed, foot and wrist pathological reflexes are evoked. The phenomena of irritation are manifested by choreiform and athetoid hyperkinesis, myoclonic twitching in individual muscle groups. The EEG reveals diffuse slow waves.

As consciousness is restored, patients develop a state of stupor. A deeper stupor is defined as stupor; mild degrees of stupor are gradually replaced by somnolence, which corresponds to the restoration of the functions of the cerebral cortex. In this case, signs of recovery are combined with symptoms of loss and irritation. The clinical features are largely determined by the state of the limbic-reticular complex.

In soporotic states there are only the most elementary reactions to external stimuli. The EEG is usually dominated by slow waves. Stunning is accompanied by difficulty for the patient to understand complex phrases, limited ability of voluntary movements, and difficulty memorizing. Patients usually lie motionless. Against the background of stunning, dream-like (oneiric) states sometimes occur. In doubtful states, patients can be easily brought out of a drowsy state; they answer questions adequately, but get tired extremely quickly. Against the background of a state of stunning, mnestic, gnostic, praxic disorders, symptoms of damage to the cerebellum and extrapyramidal system, as well as other organic symptoms are revealed. Such disorders are defined as posthypoxic encephalopathy, which is characterized mainly by pronounced disorders of consciousness, memory, agnosia, apraxia, speech disorders (in the form of aphasia, dysarthria or mutism), cerebellar symptoms, striatal hyperkinesis, diffuse focal organic symptoms. Subsequently, with the restoration of functions (sometimes far from complete), neurasthenia-like symptoms characteristic of posthypoxic asthenia persist for a long time. These conditions are based on a weakening of the inhibitory process with the development of irritable weakness, increased excitability, insomnia, decreased attention and memory (hypersthenic form) or a weakening of both inhibitory and excitatory processes, accompanied by lethargy, drowsiness, and general retardation (hyposthenic form).

Treatment of oxygen starvation

Of particular importance is maintaining the activity of the cardiovascular system, respiration, water-salt balance and acid-base state. In the treatment of the consequences of circulatory hypoxia, narcotic drugs and neuroleptics are of particular importance. general and cerebral hypothermia, extracorporeal circulation, hyperbaric oxygenation. To prevent microcirculation disorders, it is advisable to use anticoagulants, rheopolyglucin. For cerebral edema, often a consequence of hypoxia, decongestants are used. However, it should be taken into account that cerebral edema sometimes occurs many hours after the development of circulatory disorders and therefore may coincide in time with the phenomenon of “recoil” (an increase in osmotic pressure due to previously used dehydrating agents).

Antihypoxic drugs are very promising, but so far they are used mainly in experiments. Attempts to create new quinones (based on orthobenzoquinone) deserve great attention. Drugs such as gutimin, sodium hydroxybutyrate, as well as drugs from the group of nootropics have protective properties.

When there is insufficient oxygen supply to the brain, hypoxia develops. Tissue starvation occurs due to a lack of oxygen in the blood, a violation of its utilization by peripheral tissues, or after the cessation of blood flow to the brain. The disease leads to irreversible changes in brain cells, disruption of the central nervous system and other serious consequences.

Causes of oxygen starvation

On initial stages dysfunction of the brain microcirculation, changes in the condition of the walls of blood vessels, neurocytes, and degeneration of areas of brain tissue are observed. Subsequently, the cells soften or gradually recover with timely treatment.

The main causes of acute cerebral hypoxia:

• asphyxia;
• transverse heart block;
• traumatic brain injuries;
• atherosclerosis;
• previous heart surgery;
• carbon monoxide poisoning;
• thromboembolism of cerebral vessels;
• stroke;
• diseases of the respiratory system;
• anemia.

Chronic hypoxia develops when working in unfavorable conditions, living in mountainous areas where the air is thin. Gradual deposition atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels leads to a decrease in the lumen of the arteries, slowing blood flow. If a complete blockage of a vessel occurs, brain tissue dies and a heart attack develops, which can cause severe complications, death.

Symptoms of hypoxia

Signs of oxygen starvation vary depending on the form of the pathology. During acute hypoxia, patients experience motor and psychoemotional agitation, heartbeat and breathing become more frequent, the skin turns pale, sweating increases, and midges “flash” before the eyes. Gradually the condition changes, the patient calms down, becomes lethargic, sleepy, his eyes darken, and tinnitus appears.

At the next stage, the person loses consciousness, clonic convulsions and chaotic muscle contractions may occur. Movement disorders are accompanied spastic paralysis, an increase and then a decrease in muscle reflexes. The attack develops very quickly, coma can occur within 1–2 minutes, so the patient needs urgent medical attention.

Brain hypoxia chronic form proceeds slowly. Characterized by constant fatigue, dizziness, apathy, depressive state. Hearing and vision often deteriorate and performance decreases.

Neurological signs of hypoxia in adults:

• With diffuse organic damage to the brain, posthypoxic encephalopathy develops, accompanied by visual and speech disorders, impaired coordination of movements, tremor of the limbs, twitching of the eyeballs, etc.
• With partial impairment of consciousness, the symptoms of hypoxia manifest themselves as lethargy, numbness, and stupor. A person is in a depressed state, from which he can be brought out with persistent treatment. Patients retain protective reflexes.
• Asthenic condition: increased fatigue, exhaustion, deterioration intellectual abilities, motor restlessness, low performance.

Brain hypoxia can be fulminant, acute or chronic. In the acute stage, signs of oxygen deficiency develop rapidly, and chronic illness proceeds, gradually progressing, with less pronounced signs of malaise.

Acute hypoxia is accompanied by cerebral edema and dystrophic changes in neurons. Even after normalization of oxygen delivery to brain cells, degenerative processes persist and progress, leading to the formation of softened lesions. Chronic hypoxia of brain tissue does not cause pronounced changes in nerve cells, therefore, when the causes of the pathology are eliminated, patients recover completely.

Types of hypoxia

Depending on the reasons that caused oxygen starvation:

• The exogenous form of the disease develops when there is a lack of oxygen in the air.
• Respiratory hypoxia of brain tissue occurs when the functioning of the upper respiratory tract(asthma, pneumonia, tumors), drug overdose, mechanical chest injuries.
• Hemic hypoxia of the brain is diagnosed when the transport of oxygen by blood cells is impaired. Pathology develops with a lack of hemoglobin and red blood cells.
• Circulatory develops when the blood circulation in the brain is impaired due to heart failure and atherosclerosis.
• Tissue hypoxia is caused by a disruption in the process of oxygen utilization by cells. This can be caused by blockade of enzyme systems, poisoning with poisons, and medications.

Hypoxia

Coma

When oxygen supply is stopped, brain tissue can survive for 4 seconds, after 8–10 seconds the person loses consciousness, after another half a minute the activity of the cerebral cortex disappears and the patient falls into a coma. If blood circulation is not restored within 4-5 minutes, the tissues die.

Symptoms of acute oxygen starvation of the brain, that is, coma:

• Subcortical coma causes inhibition of the cerebral cortex and subcortical formations. The patient is disoriented in space and time, reacts poorly to speech, external stimuli, does not control urination and bowel movements, he has increased muscle tone, reflexes are depressed, heart rate increases. Breathing is spontaneous, the reaction of the pupils to light is preserved.
• Hyperactive coma causes dysfunction of the anterior parts of the brain; symptoms are manifested by convulsions, lack of speech, reflexes, hyperthermia, surges in blood pressure, respiratory depression, and weak pupillary response to light.
• In a “flaccid coma,” the medulla oblongata is affected. Reactions to external stimuli completely disappear, reflexes are absent, muscle tone is reduced, breathing is shallow, blood pressure drops, the pupils are dilated and do not respond to light, and convulsions occur periodically.
• Terminal coma is a complete cessation of brain function. A person cannot breathe on his own, blood pressure and body temperature drop sharply, there are no reflexes, and muscle atony is observed. The patient is on artificial support of vital processes.

Prolonged oxygen deprivation of the brain, stage 4 coma has a high risk of death, death occurs in more than 90% of cases.

Hypoxic form of hypoxia

With low oxygen pressure in the air, hypoxic hypoxia develops. The cause of the pathology is:

• breathing in confined spaces: tanks, submarines, bunkers;
• during rapid ascent on aircraft;
• during a long climb or stay in the mountains.

Lack of oxygen in the air leads to a decrease in its concentration in the alveoli of the lungs, blood and peripheral tissues. As a result, the level of hemoglobin decreases, chemoreceptors are irritated, the excitability of the respiratory center increases, hyperventilation and alkalosis develop.

Violated water-salt balance, vascular tone decreases, blood circulation in the heart, brain and other vital organs worsens.

Symptoms of hypoxic hypoxia:

• Increased energy, faster movements and speech.
• Tachycardia and shortness of breath on exertion.
• Impaired coordination of movements.
• Rapid breathing, shortness of breath at rest.
• Decreased performance.
• Deterioration of short-term memory.
• Lethargy, drowsiness;
• Paresis, paresthesia.

At the last stage, brain hypoxia is characterized by loss of consciousness, the appearance of convulsions, muscle rigidity, involuntary urination and defecation, and coma occurs. When rising to an altitude of 9–11 km above sea level, cardiac activity is sharply disrupted, breathing is depressed and then completely disappears, coma and clinical death occur.

Therapy methods

If a patient is diagnosed with acute brain hypoxia, it is important for the attending physician to ensure the maintenance of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, normalize metabolic processes, and prevent acidosis, which worsens the condition of brain tissue.

How to treat hypoxia in case of cerebrovascular accident? Patients are prescribed vasodilators, anticoagulants, blood thinners. Medicines are selected taking into account the causes of the development of pathology.

The following methods are also used to treat hypoxia:

• craniocerebral hypothermia;
• hyperbaric oxygenation;
• extracorporeal circulation.

Neuroprotectors, nootropic drugs and antihypoxants protect nerve cells and contribute to their recovery. Decongestants are used for cerebral edema. Treatment of the consequences of hypoxia is carried out with narcotic drugs and neuroleptics.

If cerebral hypoxia has led to coma, the patient is connected to a ventilator and drugs that increase arterial pressure, normalizing heartbeat and circulating blood volume. And also applies symptomatic treatment, the causes of oxygen deficiency are eliminated.

Acute or chronic cerebral hypoxia occurs when oxygen supply is disrupted brain structures. The disease can lead to irreversible changes in organ cells, nerve trunks, severe disability and death of the patient. With timely assistance, it is possible to minimize the pathological process and restore brain function.

Video: Hypoxia Oxygen starvation