Symptoms, causes and treatment of oxygen starvation of the brain

What and how can you treat hypoxia?

How to determine hypoxia

• Ultrasound - echography of hypoxic changes - is a fairly reliable method that is widely used to diagnose abnormalities during the intrauterine development of a child. The method makes it possible to determine oxygen starvation even at an early stage. Sonographic signs of hypoxic brain damage indicate the total volume of necrotic phenomena in adults, and make it possible to make an approximate prognosis of the development of the disease.
• Pulse oximetry is one of the quickest ways to find out about existing disorders. The device shows the percentage of blood oxygen saturation.
• Clinical tests - acid-base balance is examined. The presence of carbon dioxide and oxygen, as well as the state of the bicarbonate buffer.
• Tomography helps to see the consequences of the disease: post-hypoxic cerebral edema, as well as necrotic phenomena. The tomography clearly shows areas of the brain with sufficient oxygen saturation. Rhizideal changes in the brain of a hypoxic nature on MRI indicate disorders that appeared as a result of previous infectious diseases.

1. Bronchodilators.
2. Respiratory analeptics.
3. Antihypoxanes.

Breathing exercises for hypoxia

1. Strelnikova's method.
2. Bodyflex gymnastics.
3. Eastern gymnastics.
4. The principle of oxygen starvation or the system of healthy breath holding.

Folk remedies for hypoxia

• Birch sap - drink 1 liter per day. If necessary, you can use tinctures from birch leaves or buds.
• Hawthorn - infused in cognac. The tincture is made at the rate of 70 grams, hawthorn buds per ½ alcoholic beverage. The composition is left for 2 weeks. Take 1 tbsp. l. before every meal.
• Lingonberry - tinctures from leaves and berries have a positive effect. Lingonberry leaves are poured with boiling water and infused like tea. Lingonberry decoction is taken after every meal. Fresh or soaked lingonberries are consumed on an empty stomach or before bed.

Hypoxia treatment

Treatment of this disease consists of using an integrated approach, which consists of regularly performing prescribed procedures. The first step is to tell your doctor the reason that led to this condition. This could be chronic fatigue, stress or a poorly ventilated room.

Next, depending on the patient’s condition, treatment is prescribed, which can take place both at home and in a hospital. The treatment regimen may include:

1. Preparations of herbal 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.

In case of exogenous hypoxia, the use of specific oxygen equipment is recommended - masks, cans, pillows.

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.

Treatment of oxygen starvation of the brain

Treatment of oxygen starvation of the brain is carried out using complex methods. Patients are prescribed medications, vitamins and homeopathy are selected, taking into account the state of the body and the symptoms of the pathological condition.

In the absence of serious contraindications, folk remedies can be used. During the period of remission, visiting physiotherapeutic procedures is indicated. In severe situations, patients are prescribed surgery.

Drugs

The doctor selects medications after conducting a comprehensive examination. The specialist takes into account the reason that provoked oxygen starvation of the brain and the condition of the victim.

It is important to follow the treatment regimen prescribed by your doctor. Many medications cause side effects, so it is not recommended to take them on your own.

Vitamins

Vitamin complexes contain useful substances that promote the restoration of brain tissue.

Multivitamin complexes are used in all cases of oxygen starvation of the brain, regardless of the cause of the pathological condition.

Physiotherapy

In complex therapy for oxygen deprivation of the brain, patients are recommended to attend physiotherapeutic procedures. Treatment helps restore the functioning of the respiratory system. Eliminate problems with blood vessels and blood circulation. Most patients with cerebral hypoxia are indicated for physical treatment.

The following procedures will help saturate the brain with oxygen:

• baths;
• subcutaneous injections;
• inhalation;
• cocktails;
• UHF;
• laser therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• massage treatments.

For hypoxia, oxygen barotherapy is also used. The patient breathes compressed oxygen in a special pressure chamber. Eastern medicine also successfully helps to cope with oxygen starvation. Treatment includes exercise, acupuncture, herbal teas and natural remedies.

Homeopathy

Oxygen starvation of the brain (symptoms and treatment are determined by the doctor after examining the patient) allows the use of homeopathic remedies, the action of which is aimed at the main cause of the appearance of pathological processes.

Treatment is prescribed by a neurologist after a comprehensive examination, based on the data obtained. It is not recommended to take medications on your own to avoid serious complications and consequences.

Folk remedies

Recipes from witch doctors and healers will not help to completely eliminate the main cause against which cerebral hypoxia occurred. Alternative medicine recipes help reduce the unpleasant symptoms that accompany the pathological condition.

It is important to discuss the use of folk remedies with your neurologist in order to prevent an allergic reaction or side effects. There is always a possibility of individual sensitivity to the components used.

Exercises for the respiratory tract

Exercises for the respiratory tract can increase the resistance of brain cells to oxygen starvation. During exercise, muscles are strengthened and the extensibility of the chest increases. The airways are cleared of accumulated mucus.

Gymnastics is carried out using various methods:

• yoga;
• Strelnikov's technique;
• bodyflex;
• air retention technique.

It is important to draw up a set of exercises with a neurologist or physiotherapist in order to select the most effective activities and movements, taking into account the state of the body and the development of the pathological condition.

Surgical intervention

The operation is indicated for the patient during oxygen starvation, if medications do not help eliminate the pathological condition. Surgical treatment will also be needed if the functions of the cardiovascular system are impaired and the development of processes occurs rapidly.

Diagnostics

Carrying out diagnostics for symptoms of brain starvation is necessary to confirm or refute the diagnosis, establish the form and degree of its occurrence. It consists of 3 stages: inspection, laboratory research, precise research.

Inspection

The examination can be carried out by a pediatrician, therapist, neurologist, neurosurgeon or cardiologist. At this stage, all the patient’s concerns related to changes in his condition will be listened to. This type of diagnosis involves examining complexion, measuring pulse, blood pressure, checking reflexes, vision and hearing.

In the acute or fulminant stage of the pathology, medical specialists first provide the patient with the necessary resuscitation care, and only after this an examination is carried out. For chronic hypoxia disease, the doctor prescribes an individual diagnostic plan based on the patient’s symptoms.

Laboratory research

To make an accurate diagnosis, a person needs to undergo a general and biochemical blood test. Anemia. That is, oxygen deficiency can be determined by the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin. At this stage of diagnosis, it becomes possible to assess the acid-base balance of the blood plasma along with its gas composition.

Accurate research

An accurate study is carried out only after the attack has subsided or in the chronic form of the pathology, when the person does not need emergency help. This is a reliable method that allows the physician to study the patient’s body. Such measures include computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ECG, rheovasography, capnography, pulse oximetry and electroencephalogram.

Kinds

In medicine, several types of oxygen deficiency are known, all of them are divided into several groups: by etiology, by period of exposure and by localization.

By etiology

According to the etiology of the medical point of view, this condition is divided into 7 types:

1. Hypoxic. Lack of oxygen from the environment is a consequence of prolonged stay in a poorly ventilated, unventilated room or when climbing a high mountain.
2. Respiratory – a malfunction of the respiratory muscle caused by disease or dysfunction of the respiratory center.
3. Tissue - a consequence of blocking the respiratory chain, which was caused by the penetration of a toxic substance or drug into the body.
4. Cardiovascular – a deviation due to dysfunction of the heart muscle. This type of hypoxia leads to stroke.
5. Technogenic. Formed due to prolonged inhalation of toxic substances released at work or exhaust gases.
6. Hemic - a lack of hemoglobin molecules in the body, which transports oxygen throughout the body.
7. Reloading. Caused by prolonged stress on muscle or nerve tissue.

There is another type of lack of oxygen in the brain according to etiology - mixed. It implies several forms of the disease at the same time. For example, any of the 6 types can result from the development of tissue pathology.

By exposure period

The period of influence of this condition varies. The most dangerous form of manifestation is lightning fast. The pathology develops quickly, making it impossible to predict and control. The cause of the appearance is injury or hemorrhage in the respiratory center. If medical assistance is not provided, death occurs.

Less dangerous acute and chronic forms of pathology that are better controlled. In the first case, the pathology develops within 3 hours. The cause of its appearance is poisoning with toxic substances

It is important that help is provided as quickly as possible. The more internal organs lack oxygen, the more serious the complications of hypoxia can be.

The last type, chronic, does not pose a threat to life, but noticeably reduces its quality. The body strives to improve activity and uses all possible resources to saturate the brain with oxygen.

By localization

Hypoxia in all its manifestations is dangerous for both adults and children. Moderate severity includes diffuse and central types of lesions. In the first case, there is a general lack of oxygen in the blood. In the second case, the blood supply to a separate area of ​​the brain is disrupted, which is a consequence of extensive pathology.

Global, ischemic and cerebral oxygen deficiency will lead to serious consequences, when the flow of blood to the brain completely stops. Rapid narrowing and obstruction of blood vessels (ischemic stroke) also does not lead to the most favorable consequences. In this case, several areas are affected simultaneously.

Forms of cerebral oxygen deficiency

Taking into account the degree of development of pathological processes and the area of ​​brain damage , the following forms of hypoxia are distinguished:

The prognosis and condition of a person in the future depends on the speed of medical care provided. Prolonged oxygen starvation has dangerous consequences.

Types and forms of oxygen starvation

Depending on how quickly oxygen starvation develops, hypoxia occurs:

• Spicy. The occurrence of obstacles to the blood supply to brain tissue. May appear as a result of large blood loss, poisoning or heart attack.
• Chronic. May occur in patients with cardiosclerosis, heart failure and other heart diseases.
• Lightning fast. It is developing rapidly. The duration of this hypoxia phase can last several seconds or minutes.

Depending on what caused the disorder, the following forms of hypoxia are distinguished:

1. Exogenous hypoxia. Occurs when a person inhales air with low amounts of oxygen.
2. Respiratory hypoxia. The cause is various disturbances in the functioning of the body, which prevent the supply of the amount of oxygen necessary for the brain.
3. Cardiovascular hypoxia. This form can be caused by disturbances in the functioning of the heart or blood vessels. Characterized by rapid development.
4. Fabric. Appears due to a violation of the absorption of oxygen by the tissues of our body.

1. Hemic (blood). It is a consequence of a decrease in the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood.
2. Mixed. Most often it develops gradually and can have serious consequences. It arises as a result of a whole complex of negative factors.
3. Reloading. It occurs in people when the amount of oxygen that enters the body does not fully satisfy its need. May occur during heavy physical exertion.

Brain hypoxia in children

Brain hypoxia in children most often manifests itself:

• frequent mood swings;
• restlessness;
• nervousness;
• aggressiveness;
• mental retardation;
• unsteadiness of gait;
• speech disorders;
• inability to assimilate new information;
• insomnia;
• frequent fainting conditions.

Intrauterine fetal hypoxia

Intrauterine fetal hypoxia leads to oxygen starvation of all tissues and organs of the fetus.

Important. Chronic intrauterine fetal hypoxia leads to impaired fetal development, premature birth, and intrauterine fetal death. In the future, such a child may lag behind in mental and physical development; such children also often have weak immunity and a greater risk of developing diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases.

Acute hypoxia in the absence of timely assistance most often leads to rapid fetal death. The main risk factors for the development of intrauterine fetal hypoxia are considered to be the presence in a pregnant woman of:

• diabetes mellitus;
• anemia;
• concomitant diseases of the kidneys, liver or cardiovascular system;
• severe gestosis of pregnancy;
• bleeding disorders;
• polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios;
• multiple births;
• Rh conflict with the fetus;
• post-term pregnancy.

Also, the risk of developing fetal hypoxia increases with rapid labor, breech presentation of the fetus, a long anhydrous period, entanglement of the fetal neck with the umbilical cord, placental abruption, the presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid, and in premature pregnancy.

Apgar grades

A child is given a grade at birth based on how well all systems in the body function. For this purpose, the Apgar scale is used, which is used by doctors. First, the condition is assessed in the first minute of life, and then after 5 minutes.

What are the possible points:

• from 0 to 3 (severe form of hypoxia),
• from 4 to 5 (moderate severity of oxygen starvation),
• from 6 to 7 (mild impairment),
• from 8 to 10 (the child is fine).

For reference. The frequency of breathing, the presence of reflex activity, skin color, and muscle tone will be assessed. Attention is also paid to the heart rate.

Depending on whether the child has impairments, a specific score will be assigned. Mild hypoxia goes away on its own within 5 minutes, but other degrees require treatment.

Brain hypoxia - what is it?

• Lightning oxygen starvation - develops quickly, lasting only a few minutes or seconds.
• Acute deficiency - develops due to severe poisoning, blood loss, and heart attacks. With this diagnosis, the blood loses its ability to transport oxygen.
• Chronic hypoxia – the cause of hypoxia is heart failure, heart defects, cardiosclerotic changes.

Causes of oxygen starvation of the brain

• Exogenous - occurs due to low oxygen content in the air. Occurs when rising to a height, staying in a closed room for a long time, or low air pressure.
• Tissue – characterized by impaired metabolism of the body. As a result of the disorders, the soft tissues are not able to adequately absorb the oxygen supplied by the blood.
• Respiratory – appears due to respiratory disorders and the inability to obtain sufficient oxygen naturally.
• Circulatory – develops as a result of disorders of the cardiovascular system. The fight against brain hypoxia is aimed at improving blood circulation. By normalizing the functioning of the heart, blood vessels and arteries, and restoring normal metabolism, it is possible to significantly improve the patient’s condition.
• Hemic - manifests itself in patients with a reduced ability of the blood to transport oxygen. Observed due to the development of anemia.

How does a lack of oxygen manifest itself in the brain?

• Stage of increased excitability - moderate post-hypoxic changes in brain structures lead to a state of euphoria, the ability to fully control one’s actions and movements is lost.
• Change in skin color - a person’s skin becomes pale, with a bluish tint, or becomes excessively red. The natural reaction of the brain to hypoxia is to restore normal blood supply and metabolism. A symptom of the brain’s attempts to correct the disturbances is the appearance of cold sweat and perspiration.
• Inhibition of the activity of the nervous system - at this stage, pronounced post-hypoxic changes in brain structures appear. The patient complains of dizziness, nausea, severe vomiting. At the same time, there is a violation of visual functions: clarity of vision, darkening of the eyes. The development of oxygen starvation leads to loss of consciousness.
• Perinatal hypoxic damage in the severe stage is accompanied by cerebral edema. Violations are accompanied by disorders and loss of unconditioned and conditioned reflexes. With the further development of the pathology, there is a violation of the sensitivity of the skin and the cessation of the normal functioning of internal organs. With increased sensitivity of the brain to hypoxia, the condition is accompanied by coma.

Under normal conditions, the human brain consumes 25% of the total amount of oxygen and glucose absorbed by the body. Any deviations lead to hypoxia and serious, often irreversible consequences.

1. Bedsores.
2. Infectious diseases.
3. Malnutrition.
4. Thrombosis.

Post-hypoxic brain changes

• Complete restoration of brain function – rapid or delayed recovery of functions is observed. Normalization of the condition occurs within several days or months. Possible deterioration in well-being. Interrupted recovery is also diagnosed, in which a rapid improvement in well-being occurs. In this case, after several weeks or months, secondary deterioration occurs, transforming into persistent neurological dysfunction.
• Restoration of neurological functions. The death of brain cells without oxygen leads to partial recovery with a defect in higher functions. In this case, gradual rehabilitation and the patient’s return to normal life are diagnosed.
• Temporary partial recovery - in this case, the patient does not come out of a comatose state and dies in the post-resuscitation period.

Brain hypoxia - symptoms

Symptoms of brain hypoxia depend on the type of oxygen starvation of brain tissue (chronic or acute brain hypoxia), as well as on the severity of hypoxia.

Symptoms of chronic cerebral hypoxia progress gradually. Initially, the patient is concerned about:

• frequent headaches;
• constant attacks of dizziness ;
• ringing and noise in the ears;
• progressive decrease in vision;
• flickering of flies and spots before the eyes;
• constant daytime sleepiness;
• unsteadiness of gait;
• night insomnia;
• frequent mood swings, chronic tearfulness, anxiety, depression, panic attacks.

As chronic cerebral hypoxia progresses, impaired coordination of movements, impaired fine motor skills, and speech impairments occur.

There may also be signs of dementia.

Chronic progressive cerebral hypoxia is often observed in elderly people with cerebral vascular atherosclerosis. Against the background of blockage of blood vessels with atherosclerotic plaques and impaired cerebral circulation, chronic oxygen starvation and dementia develop.

Dementia is manifested by changes in the patient's behavior, memory deterioration, the appearance of foolishness, inappropriate behavior, constant irritability or tearfulness, impaired coordination of movements, decreased ability to self-care, and the appearance of involuntary urination.

Symptoms of acute cerebral hypoxia

For reference. Symptoms of acute oxygen starvation of the brain most often manifest themselves as TIA (transient ischemic attacks) or ischemic stroke .

Acute cerebral hypoxia during ischemic stroke can manifest itself:

• severe lethargy, stupor, impaired consciousness of the patient;
• disorientation in space and time;
• severe headaches;
• nausea and vomiting;
• tremors of limbs and convulsions;
• loss of facial expressions on one half of the face (“distorted” face due to drooping of the eyelid and corner of the lips on one side of the face);
• unilateral paralysis of the limbs or loss of sensation in the limbs on one side.

Symptoms of transient ischemic attacks are similar to those of a stroke , however, the duration of neurological disorders with TIA usually does not exceed an hour.

A transient ischemic attack is most often manifested by severe dizziness, the appearance of nystagmus (oscillatory movements of the eyeballs), double vision, nausea, flashing of colored circles before the eyes, vomiting, temporary memory loss, loss of consciousness, impaired coordination of movements, impaired sensitivity of the limbs, unsteadiness of gait.

Description

Hypoxia is a state of oxygen starvation of organs and tissues of the body.

Hypoxia can be short-term, in which no harm is done to the body, or it can last for quite a long time, causing many disorders in the body. With prolonged oxygen starvation, a number of pathological changes can occur that are dangerous for the human body, since brain cells die.

The following reasons for the development of hypoxia are identified:

• hypoxic (exogenous) – hypoxia is associated with a reduced oxygen content in the inhaled air. Often this phenomenon occurs in a stuffy, unventilated room, in high altitude conditions, etc.;
• respiratory - hypoxia develops as a result of a violation of the movement of air through the respiratory tract, for example, with suffocation, bronchospasm, swelling of the bronchial mucosa, pulmonary edema, pneumonia;
• hemic - hypoxia is associated with a reduced oxygen capacity of the blood, which usually occurs with carbon monoxide poisoning or hemolytic anemia. In this case, the blood loses its ability to attach oxygen to the hemoglobin of red blood cells;
• circulatory – hypoxia occurs due to the presence of cardiovascular insufficiency;
• overload – hypoxia develops when the absorption of oxygen by the tissues of the body is impaired. Often occurs during excessive physical activity, when the need for oxygen significantly exceeds its actual flow to the tissues;
• histotoxic - hypoxia occurs as a result of poisoning with heavy metal salts, which block enzymes involved in “tissue respiration”. As a result, the absorption of oxygen by the tissues of the body is disrupted;
• mixed - hypoxia occurs due to the influence of several of the above reasons.

The prognosis depends on the cause of hypoxia and the time of medical care. As is known, subsequent oxygen starvation causes certain irreversible processes in the body, which are more difficult to correct. To prevent this, it is strongly recommended to immediately seek help from a medical facility when the first symptoms appear.

Causes

The causes of each type of hypoxia are different and are briefly presented below.

Exogenous types of hypoxia (normo/hypobaric varieties)

The cause of exogenous hypoxia is a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen in the air entering the body. Hypoxia of this type can develop at normal barometric pressure (normobaric hypoxia) or with a decrease in barometric pressure (hypobaric hypoxia). The causes of normobaric hypoxia are conditions that contribute to limiting the supply of oxygen with air into the body against the background of normal barometric pressure:

• Disturbance in the supply/regeneration of breathing air in deep/airborne vehicles, autonomous suits of rescuers, pilots, firefighters, divers.
• Finding people in a poorly ventilated/small confined space (elevator shaft, well).
• In cases of violation of the technique of artificial ventilation.

The causes of hypobaric hypoxia are reduced barometric pressure. Hypoxic hypoxia develops mainly when a person rises to an altitude of more than 3000–3500 m (hypoxic hypoxia is observed when the air O2 pressure decreases to 100 mm Hg) or in a pressure chamber. In such conditions the following may develop:

• Mountain sickness, which is observed when a person climbs the mountains on foot, where his body is exposed to low oxygen content in the air and barometric pressure, as well as severe physical activity, increased insolation, and cooling.
• Altitude sickness - develops when a person is lifted in open aircraft to a high altitude or in cases of decreased pressure in the pressure chamber.
• Decompression sickness (caisson sickness) occurs when there is a sharp decrease in barometric pressure when a person quickly rises from great depths to the surface.

Endogenous types of hypoxia

The causes of endogenous hypoxia are, in most cases, pathological processes in the human body and diseases that contribute to insufficient transport of oxygen, metabolic substrates to various organs or their use by tissues. Also, hypoxia of this type can develop as a result of a significant increase in the body’s need for energy due to excessive physical/mental stress.

Respiratory hypoxia

The main cause of respiratory hypoxia is respiratory failure (insufficient gas exchange in the lungs), which is most often caused by hypoventilation of the alveoli ; decreased diffusion through the airborne oxygen barrier ; hypoperfusion of lung tissue with blood.

Circulatory hypoxia (local and systemic)

The main cause of circulatory hypoxia is insufficient blood supply to organs/tissues. The causes of local hypoxia are most often local circulatory disorders in the form of ischemia , venous hyperemia , stasis, and regional disorders of the process of oxygen diffusion to cells. The causes of systemic hypoxia are mainly heart failure , hypovolemia , generalized decrease in the tone of the walls of arterioles / venules .

Hemic hypoxia

The cause of blood (hemic) hypoxia is a decrease in the oxygen-transporting function of the blood, i.e., a decrease in the effective oxygen capacity, which causes a lack of oxygen in the patient’s blood.

Tissue hypoxia

The main causes of tissue hypoxia are factors that disrupt the process/reduce efficiency:

• utilization of oxygen by tissue cells;
• of phosphorylation and oxidation processes in mitochondria

Substrate type of hypoxia

The main reason for its development is a deficiency of biological oxidation substrates (glucose) in cells in the absence of significant disturbances in the delivery of oxygen to cells.

Overload type of hypoxia

The reason is a long-term (significant) increase in the function of organs, systems and tissues. Most often develops in situations caused by prolonged/increased functioning of skeletal muscles and myocardium.

Types of pathological condition

Types by etiology

In relation to external factors, the condition is classified as follows.

• Hypoxic - or exogenous. The condition develops due to a lack of oxygen in the inhaled air. The most trivial reason is a poorly ventilated room, ineffective ventilation in a completely enclosed room. Climbers encounter this kind of condition when climbing, since the volume of oxygen in the air decreases with altitude.
• Respiratory - or breathing. Here, disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory tract are observed: pneumonia, exacerbation of bronchial asthma, dysfunction of the respiratory center, injuries, and so on. The reasons here are obvious and all efforts are aimed at treating the primary disease.
• Cardiovascular - or circulatory. The cause is changes in the composition of the blood that disrupt the normal flow of blood. This condition occurs with heart failure, narrowing of the working channel of the vessel due to thrombosis, atherosclerotic plaque, and so on. The consequences of hypoxia here are much more serious, including ischemic stroke of the brain.
• Hemic – associated with changes in blood composition. In the human body, oxygen molecules are transported in the form of a complex with hemoglobin. When the amount of hemoglobin or red blood cells decreases, oxygen remains unbound and, accordingly, cannot be delivered to the cell. The same picture is observed when the mechanism of binding hemoglobin with oxygen is destroyed.
• Tissue - in this case, the mechanism of oxygen utilization in the cell is disrupted, for example, when a fragment of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is blocked. Some poisons and medications have this effect.
• Overload is usually a temporary phenomenon associated with excessive stress on muscles, nerve tissue or organ.
• Technogenic - such hypoxia is formed due to the constant action of harmful, toxic substances in some industries.
• Mixed - any type of hypoxia, extended in time enough to cause tissue hypoxia. Here we need treatment of both the primary form and the secondary one.

Varieties by development time

• Lightning - for example, due to hemorrhage in the respiratory center or as a result of injury. If urgent assistance is not provided, this condition ends in death.
• Acute cerebral hypoxia develops over several hours. An example of this is cyanide poisoning, which blocks an enzyme in the respiratory chain. Help here is needed immediately, otherwise neither life nor health of a person is guaranteed. However, more time is allocated for treatment activities.
• Chronic brain hypoxia is not so life-threatening, but significantly reduces its quality. To compensate for the constant lack of oxygen, the body uses a variety of additional mechanisms. However, any of them are aimed only at maintaining vital functions, but not at all at fully restoring functions.

The most obvious compensation mechanisms include increasing the depth and frequency of inputs. Reserve alveoli begin to participate in breathing in order to maximize the working surface. Outwardly, this manifests itself as severe shortness of breath, which noticeably limits mobility. This increases the heart rate and blood pressure.

A redistribution of blood flow occurs: more blood is sent to the internal organs, and the periphery begins to experience secondary oxygen starvation. Lack of oxygen creates the need to increase the number of red blood cells, which significantly increases the risk of blood clots.

All this leads to rapid wear and damage to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Therefore, treatment of hypoxia should be started at the earliest stages. Later, coping with the painful condition and the consequences of its compensation is much more difficult.

Classification by localization

A lack of oxygen can be observed in a specific area of ​​the brain, or it can cover the entire organ.

The following types are considered:

• Scattered is a consequence of a general lack of oxygen in the blood. Causes low to moderate impairment. Curable with the most favorable prognosis.
• Central cerebral ischemia occurs when the blood supply to some part of the brain is disrupted. The cause, as a rule, is a narrowing of the vessel - an aneurysm, a blood clot. This condition is usually part of a larger medical condition.
• Global cerebral ischemia is a complete cessation of blood flow.
• Ischemic stroke – also caused by a sharp narrowing or obstruction of a blood vessel. Typically, a stroke affects several areas.

Types of hypoxia

Depending on the speed of progress and the increase in symptoms, hypoxia can be acute, subacute or chronic.

According to the level of oxygen deficiency, hypoxic syndrome is divided into several types: mild, moderate, severe and critical.

Depending on the cause and mechanisms of development, oxygen starvation is classified into types, which are determined by the location of the pathology.

For example, endogenous or mixed hypoxia occurs due to dysfunction of various systems or organs, as well as the influence of certain factors on the body.

Let's take a closer look at the main types of hypoxia.

Tissue (histotoxic)

This type occurs when the activity of respiratory enzymes in the mitochondria of tissue cells decreases.

Impaired utilization of oxygen molecules by tissue cells causes hypoxia. The cause may be some poisons or heavy metal salts.

Circulatory (cardiovascular)

Occurs when there are disturbances in hemodynamics or general circulation in the arteries and vessels of the brain. Cardiovascular failure, shock or stress conditions, vasculitis, heart disease, myocardial infarction, vascular damage due to diabetes are the main causes of circulatory hypoxia. Secondary factors include the formation of thrombosis, embolism, and atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels that impede blood flow.

Exogenous (hypoxic)

Occurs when oxygen levels in the environment decrease. For example, thin air on a high mountain plateau or when paragliding.

At normal atmospheric pressure, oxygen deficiency can be caused by the following factors:

• severe gas pollution;
• air pollution with dispersed particles, for example, in mines during mining;
• in submarines;
• just in a stuffy room with poor ventilation.

Hemic (blood)

It is observed against the background of a decrease in the oxygen capacity of the blood. Main factors:

• disruption of oxygen transport by cells;
• lack of red blood cells;
• a sharp decrease in hemoglobin levels;
• disruption of the process of combining hemoglobin with oxygen molecules.

More often occurs with hemolysis of red blood cells, carbon monoxide poisoning or anemia.

Respiratory (breathing)

Occurs when the functions of the respiratory organs are destabilized. Eg:

• for pneumonia (pneumonia);
• bronchial asthma;
• germination of a malignant tumor in the bronchopulmonary system;
• inflammation of the adenoids or tonsils.

Timely surgery to remove the tumor or tonsils can quickly eliminate the problem.

Respiratory hypoxia can be caused by drug overdose, pathology of the spinal cord and brain.

Ischemic stroke

Ischemic cerebral stroke is an acute oxygen deprivation that occurs as a result of impaired blood supply in the arteries of the brain. It usually lasts more than a day and goes away in combination with pronounced neurological signs. This condition threatens to soften the brain tissue in the affected area, which leads to a heart attack.

Central and global cerebral ischemia

This pathology occurs due to a violation of the blood supply at a specific location.

Cerebral hypoxia also manifests itself as a result of the development of various diseases. For example, an aneurysm, blood clot formation, blockage of blood vessels.

The clinical picture of the condition complements the picture of the occurrence of heart attacks. Global ischemia is a complete cessation of blood supply to the brain.

Absent-minded

This dysfunction is classified as mild to moderate in severity. Occurs when there is a low level of oxygen in the bloodstream.

Acute

Acute hypoxia is observed in connection with poisoning, severe heart disease, and bleeding.

But a similar condition can also be caused by asphyxia, cardiac arrest or hypovolemic shock.

Lightning fast

It develops over several minutes or even seconds, during which hemorrhage occurs in the respiratory center. Occurs when respiratory processes are completely blocked.

Chronic brain hypoxia

It is associated with heart disease (failure, defects, cardiosclerotic changes, etc.), but the development of pathology takes a long time.

Main symptoms:

• increased fatigue;
• constant shortness of breath;
• headaches, dizziness, nausea;
• state of irritation or agitation;
• cognitive disorders;
• loss of appetite.

If a patient experiences negative processes for a long time and does not undergo treatment, hypoxic encephalopathy may develop. This condition usually ends in serious mental disorders. Without proper therapy, death occurs.

Diagnostics

Photo: clinica-blagodat.ru

The simplest way to determine hypoxia is pulse oximetry - a non-invasive method for determining the degree of oxygen saturation in the blood. The research method is based on the use of various properties of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. To measure indicators, the sensor is installed on a finger or earlobe. After a few seconds, the result of determining blood oxygen saturation is displayed. Normally, this figure should not be lower than 95%.

The gas composition and acid-base balance of arterial and venous blood are also examined. During the study, the following indicators of the body's homeostasis are determined: partial pressure of oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, blood pH, state of carbonate and bicarbonate buffer, etc.

Based on these indicators, it is possible to identify oxygen starvation of the body

However, for successful treatment it is important to establish the cause of hypoxia. For this purpose, laboratory blood parameters are additionally studied, instrumental diagnostic methods are used (electrocardiography, chest radiography, ultrasound examination of the heart, abdominal organs, etc.)

Adaptation of the body to hypoxia

When oxygen starvation occurs, a protective mechanism awakens in the body, working towards eliminating or reducing the severity of hypoxia.

These processes appear already at the earliest stage of hypoxia. Such adaptation mechanisms are called emergency. If the disease becomes chronic, the process of organ adaptation to hypoxia becomes more complex and lengthy.

Emergency adaptation consists of transporting oxygen and metabolic substrates and turning on tissue metabolism.

Long-term adaptation occurs more slowly and includes adjustments in the functions of the pulmonary alveoli, pulmonary ventilation blood flow, compensatory myocardial enlargement, bone marrow hyperplasia, and hemoglobin accumulation.

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 its 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

If oxygen starvation continues for a significant period of time, then its 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

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.

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 a sharp excitation of the nervous system up to a state of euphoria, followed by sharp 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.

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.

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.

Consequences of fasting

Even with timely assistance, brain hypoxia can lead to various consequences:

• persistently deteriorated blood circulation, including in the lungs;
• temporary oxygen starvation leads to loss of hearing, vision, heart pain and weak immunity;
• prolonged cerebral hypoxia leads to serious heart diseases, including heart attack, failure, angina pectoris, stroke;
• with a long-term form of the disease, metabolism in cells deteriorates, which leads to diabetes, obesity and endocrine disorders;
• the risk of oncological processes and benign tumors increases.

Prolonged brain hypoxia prevents normal recovery of the body . Some of the dead tissue is no longer regenerated.

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 oxygen starvation of the body begins

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:

How oxygen starvation of the brain manifests itself:

The phase of increased excitability is expressed in the inability to fully control one’s actions, movements, and facial expressions. 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.

Or the skin becomes pale in color with a bluish tint. 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. 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.

Causes

Sometimes physiological hypoxia of brain areas develops as a result of intense mental activity. In contrast to pathological hypoxia, in the physiological form, the balance of gases is restored independently, and disturbances in brain function are temporary. A reduction in the volume of incoming oxygen occurs for various reasons:

• Heart failure.
• Diseases of the respiratory system.
• Electric shock.
• Birth injuries. Anoxic damage to brain tissue in newborns is almost always associated with birth trauma. Usually the condition is provoked by factors: malpresentation, entanglement of the umbilical cord, weak labor, premature birth or post-term pregnancy.

Flow forms

Based on the form of the process, we can indicate:

• fulminant form - when the process develops rapidly and leads to many degenerative irreversible consequences, the treatment of which is impossible;
• acute form - the condition occurs against the background of a chronic process or as a result of a sharp change in environmental conditions, the appearance of sudden disturbances in oxygen transport and gas exchange, for example, an acute form of hypoxia in children can occur during complicated childbirth, the treatment of such a condition is complex and long-term; symptoms are pronounced;
• subacute form - in this condition, much depends on the body’s resistance, it occurs as an exacerbation of the chronic form;
• chronic form - when oxygen starvation of tissues occurs for a long time for various reasons and the body launches compensatory mechanisms that adapt it to conditions of insufficient oxygen supply, treatment is possible with timely elimination of the cause, for example, quitting smoking.

With the fulminant form of hypoxia, it is practically impossible to notice the symptoms, since the person’s death occurs. This happens, for example, with cyanide poisoning. Symptoms: the color of the skin remains pinkish due to the presence of bound hemoglobin in the blood.

The acute form can last from several minutes to several hours. First of all, the symptoms are impaired cardiac activity, respiratory function, and the brain suffers from hypoxia.

The subacute form can last several weeks, and the chronic form can last several years. In this case, most of the violations occur due to oxygen starvation of the brain. Symptoms: complex disorders of the central nervous system and various pathological brain manifestations occur, the treatment of which may take years.

Symptoms

Lack of oxygen in the body can manifest itself with various symptoms depending on the severity of hypoxia and the specific disease causing it. Thus, with acute hypoxia, symptoms of oxygen starvation of the brain first appear in the form of decreased critical/logical thinking, a feeling of discomfort, incoordination of movements, and disturbances of consciousness. Symptoms of cerebral hypoxia can manifest themselves in the appearance of various “bulbar disorders.”

In subacute forms of hypoxia, there is increased drowsiness , fatigue, memory impairment, decreased concentration, headache , and periodic dizziness . Myocardial hypoxia can be manifested by decreased blood pressure , tachycardia , increased cardiac output; pallor/blueness of the skin, increased depth/frequency of breathing or, conversely, rare and shallow breathing, swelling of the lower extremities. In this case, symptoms can be of varying degrees of severity and vary significantly. As an example, the symptoms of altitude sickness will be discussed in more detail.

Altitude sickness

Exogenous acute hypoxia with hypobaria , as already indicated, can develop due to a decrease in general atmospheric pressure, which occurs when climbing mountains, especially in the absence of acclimatization (mountain sickness) or in cases of flying in unpressurized aircraft (altitude sickness). When assessing the effect of hypoxia on physiological processes, it is important to understand that the speed/severity of the body’s response to a decrease in pressure is determined by several factors: the degree of hypobaria; rate of pressure reduction; duration of hypobaria; individual sensitivity of individuals to oxygen deficiency; physical condition of the body. It is also important to take into account that in high altitude conditions, in addition to hypobaria/hypoxia, a person is additionally influenced by a complex of natural factors - the “mountain complex”, including low air humidity, exposure to low temperature, high solar radiation/air ionization, wind and high physical activity.

For the vast majority of untrained people, the altitude at which the normal level of partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere is maintained and normal mental activity is 3000 m, but the first changes in a person’s well-being when climbing are observed already at an altitude of 2200-2500 m. Mild malaise and headache , dizziness , drowsiness , nausea . Objectively - increased breathing, slight tachycardia , less often - the appearance of euphoria .

shortness of breath occur , and behavior resembles a state of alcohol intoxication. Attacks of suffocation may occur, breathing becomes arrhythmic. Some individuals develop noncardiogenic pulmonary edema . When climbing to a height of 5000 meters or more, acute physical weakness, pale skin, dizziness , tachycardia , severe shortness of breath , intense headaches, and bleeding from the ears/nose appear. Possible mental disorders. Affected individuals experience a feeling of doom/helplessness, facial features become sharpened, and clonic convulsions .

Against the background of low temperatures, pulmonary/brain edema can occur quickly (8-12 hours). These complications develop mainly at night due to:

• a decrease in the activity of the central nervous system, which, against the background of respiratory acidosis, contributes to a weakening of respiratory function;
• increased venous return (due to a change in body position) to the upper half of the body;
• increased tone of the vagus nerve, which increases bronchospasm .

Treatment of hypoxia

Since hypoxia is a very dangerous disease, with a possible fatal outcome, a lot of attention is paid to its treatment. To treat hypoxic hypoxia, complex treatment is used, which includes eliminating the causes of the disease, as well as adjusting the functioning of the body’s blood supply system. If hypoxia is in a mild form, it can be corrected by taking walks in the fresh air, as well as increasing the ventilation of the premises.

In case the degree of hypoxic hypoxia is more severe, there are several comprehensive treatment methods. Most often, artificial saturation of the lungs with oxygen is used. This method uses various oxygen pillows, masks, and a mechanical ventilation system. In addition to this, the patient is prescribed drugs that expand the respiratory structures.