Anoxia and hypoxia are conditions caused by low levels of oxygen in the blood, with anoxia being a complete lack of oxygen. They can result from various causes, including heart attacks, and can lead to brain and tissue damage or death. Emergency care is necessary, and rehabilitation may be needed for those who recover.
Anoxia and hypoxia are related conditions that are a result of the blood not carrying enough oxygen to support the brain and organs. While hypoxia describes a low level of oxygen in the blood, anoxia is a complete lack of oxygen. Both conditions are often the result of a heart attack.
Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, anoxia and hypoxia are two different, but related conditions. A person suffering from hypoxia has a reduced amount of oxygen in their blood, even though their blood flow is normal or adequate. Anoxia occurs when there is no oxygen in the blood at all.
A number of conditions can cause these problems, including smoke inhalation or carbon monoxide poisoning, which prevents the blood from absorbing oxygen. Spending time at high altitudes where there are low levels of oxygen in the air can also reduce the amount of oxygen available in your blood. Strangulation or poisoning can also cause low blood oxygen. More commonly, however, they are the result of a heart attack, heart arrhythmia, or stroke.
Both anoxia and hypoxia can be extremely dangerous. Depending on the severity of hypoxia, an individual may make a full recovery if oxygen levels remain high enough, or may suffer brain damage, other tissue damage, or death if oxygen levels in the body are too low. An individual suffering from anoxia is always at high risk, as they have no oxygen in their blood and must receive immediate treatment.
If a person suffers from anoxia or hypoxia, they should receive emergency care. Oxygen must be given to the patient immediately to saturate the blood with oxygen and increase the delivery of oxygen to the brain and other organs. In severe cases, patients may need respiratory assistance.
When an individual recovers from anoxia and hypoxia, they may experience some long-term or short-term side effects related to lack of oxygen in the brain. These effects may also vary depending on which areas of the brain were most affected. Memory loss, long-term or temporary, is not uncommon, as are confusion or hallucinations. Changes in vision, motor skills and cognition may also occur.
An individual who recovers from initial unconsciousness or a coma produced by low blood oxygen will most likely need to go through rehabilitation to recover from the brain damage that has occurred. This can include speech therapy, cognitive therapy, physical therapy, or all three, depending on which areas of the brain are affected.
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