Anemic hypoxia is caused by a decrease in the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, resulting in fatigue, air hunger, and confusion. It can be caused by anemia, carbon monoxide poisoning, or certain medications. Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause and administering oxygen.
Anemic hypoxia is oxygen deprivation in body tissues caused by a decline in the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. This can be caused by a number of factors including true anemia, in which the number of red blood cells decreases, making it more difficult for the blood to supply the body with the oxygen it needs. Patients with this condition may initially appear healthy, but begin to develop fatigue, air hunger, and confusion as the limited oxygen supply persists and affects the brain. Prompt treatment is needed to prevent permanent damage or death.
In patients with anemia, the reduced number of red blood cells limits the amount of oxygen the blood can carry. Although gas exchange in the lungs is normal—because the lungs exchange carbon dioxide from cells for fresh oxygen from the air—there aren’t enough red blood cells circulating to meet the body’s needs. The result is anemic hypoxia, which can be seen in cases of both acute and chronic anemia. Patients may need transfusions and other treatments to address the underlying cause of the anemia.
Another potential cause of this condition is carbon monoxide poisoning. In patients who have inhaled carbon monoxide, the chemical binds to receptors that normally carry oxygen, effectively blocking oxygen out of red blood cells. As blood circulates through the body, it has the normal amount of red blood cells, but they carry carbon monoxide instead. Over time, the patient’s tissues become starved of oxygen, leading to anemic hypoxia.
Some medications, especially nitrates, can also cause this condition. They change the receptors on red blood cells so they can’t carry oxygen as efficiently. As in carbon monoxide poisoning, the patient has red blood cells available, but they are effectively useless because they cannot carry the necessary oxygen. This is a known complication of some drug therapies, and patients may be monitored for signs and symptoms to determine if they need treatment.
When a patient shows signs of anemic hypoxia, or any form of oxygen deprivation, healthcare providers can administer oxygen and take other steps to stabilize the patient immediately. They also take a medical history and conduct tests to find out why the patient isn’t getting enough oxygen. This information can help them determine the best course of treatment. For example, if the patient has a bone marrow disease that is destroying red blood cells and limiting the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, that disease must be treated or controlled to resolve the anemic hypoxia.
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