Anoxiaoccurs when the body or parts of the body do not receive oxygenit’s a life-threatening condition.
Anoxia can cause serious health complications, including brain damage and organ failure.
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What Is Anoxia?
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Anoxia is a complete lack of oxygen in some part of your body.
The oxygen deprivation may affect one organ, multiple organs, or the entire body.
When anoxia affects your brain, it’s typically called cerebral anoxia-hypoxia or an anoxic-hypoxic brain injury.
Is Anoxia an Emergency?
Anoxia is an extreme medical emergency.
Your organs can’t function or survive without oxygen.
Most organs can survive longer than the brain, but irreversible brain damage occurs after four minutes without oxygen.
Death follows about four to six minutes after that.
Causes and Types
Some anoxia causes result in immediate oxygen loss.
Others begin with hypoxia that progresses to anoxia.
The progression may be slow or fast.
There are four general types of anoxia, each with different causes.
Conditions that interfere with lung function also limit the amount of oxygen reaching your blood stream.
Anemic
Anemic anoxia develops when there’s not enough hemoglobin in red blood cells.
Hemoglobin is a protein responsible for carrying oxygen through your bloodstream.
However, the exact treatment needed for anoxia depends on its underlying cause.
Long-Term Treatment
Long-term anoxia treatment typically involves addressing the underlying cause and managing the complications.
Each individual’s recovery pathway is different and depends on the duration of anoxia.
Some individuals recover quickly while others may experience ongoing difficulties with everyday tasks and activities.
Prevention
You may not be able to prevent all the conditions and accidents responsible for anoxia.
But you’re free to take steps to lower your risks.
Your outlook varies depending on the severity of your anoxia.
Most people can successfully rehabilitate after mild to moderate anoxic brain injuries.
For more severe brain injuries, rehabilitation helps you recover as much function as possible.
The underlying cause may also make a difference.
Treatment for anoxia depends on the underlying cause.
A multidisciplinary approach involving a team of healthcare professionals is often required to manage the long-term symptoms of anoxia.
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