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Asphyxia can be caused by suffocation, drowning, vomit inhalation, strangulation, chemical inhalation, chest or abdominal pressure, asthma attacks, sleep apnea, and diving. It can lead to unconsciousness and death if not treated promptly.
Asphyxia, or suffocation, is caused by a severe lack of oxygen in the body. Loss of consciousness and death will result if the lack of oxygen is prolonged or if no medical action is taken to combat the deficiency. It has many different causes, most of which are accidental.
One of the most common reasons for asphyxiation is suffocation. A lump of food blocking the airways causes suffocation due to lack of oxygen. The time required to reach unconsciousness with this method is very fast. Help can be provided through techniques such as the Heimlich maneuver, but in a number of cases the person is alone and unable to get help.
Other very common deaths from suffocation are drowning and vomit inhalation. Vomit inhalation has a very high incidence rate among people who have alcohol or drug abuse problems. People can pass into unconsciousness and then start vomiting. Because they are unaware, they can begin to suffocate and unless assistance is provided, death can result.
Asphyxiation can also be the result of strangulation, which can be accidental or intentional. Choking will happen very quickly if one person constricts another person’s airway. Likewise, hanging is an extremely quick way to die of asphyxiation.
There is also chemical induced asphyxiation. If chemicals such as carbon monoxide are inhaled, a person will suffocate. A common suicide is death from carbon monoxide poisoning, the result of breathing in car exhaust in an enclosed area.
Any type of tightness in the chest or abdominal area can cause suffocation. Strong pressure placed on the center of the body will make it very difficult for the person to breathe. Known as compressive asphyxiation, this is a popular method of hand-to-hand combat used by the military.
An asthma attack can also lead to asphyxiation. Severe asthma attacks in which the sufferer is unable to use an inhaler have been known to end in death because the person cannot get enough air into the lungs. Choking is also known to occur due to sleep apnea, which is a breathing problem that occurs when a person stops breathing during sleep. If the sleeper does not wake up or start breathing again, lack of oxygen could cause death.
A number of divers have been killed by asphyxiation. The difference in gas mixture breathing in shallow water can cause unconsciousness. In cases that do not result in death, there is still a serious risk of brain damage.
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