Oxygen starvation of the body

Oxygen starvation or hypoxia is a condition where the energy production in the body does not correspond to the needs of tissue cells. This happens due to insufficient oxygenation of blood, tissues, and lungs. Nervous tissues react most acutely to its lack, as a result - cerebral hypoxia, but oxygen starvation can also be observed in other organs.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Epidemiology

Oxygen starvation is inherent in many diseases, so it is impossible to determine the statistics in its pure form. It lies in the numbers of specific pathologies.

[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]

Causes of the oxygen starvation of the body

There are many reasons provoking a completely unseemly state of the body. They are conventionally divided into external and internal. The most frequent external include:

• low oxygen saturation of the space;
• overlapping air intake;
• various acute and chronic diseases.

Among the internal causes prevail:

• blood loss in injuries;
• anemia;
• cardiovascular pathology;
• poisoning by poisons;
• an increase in the cost of oxygen in the case of heavy physical work if it is impossible to provide them.

[12], [13]

Risk factors

For the first group of causes, the risk factors are as follows:

• long stay in close unventilated areas;
• being in a mountainous area at a high altitude above sea level;
• poor environmental conditions;
• carbon monoxide poisoning.

The overlapping of oxygen is also possible due to asphyxia when a foreign body enters the respiratory tract, their narrowing as a result of allergic edema, mechanical pressure, the formation of a tumor, and drowning. Contribute to this bronchial asthma, obstructive bronchitis, pneumonia.

[14], [15], [16], [17], [18]

Pathogenesis

Oxygen starvation is associated with impaired metabolic reactions - the accumulation of energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), obtained by the oxidation of nutrients in the mitochondria of cells. The pathogenesis of hypoxia is based on the impossibility of providing vital processes with energy due to the insufficiency of its generation.

[19], [20], [21], [22]

Symptoms of the oxygen starvation of the body

Manifestations of oxygen starvation largely depend on the reasons for their causing, the age of the person. Its first signs are manifested by increased and deepening of breathing, frequent yawning. There is a slight euphoria, excitement. If oxygen does not compensate for a long time, new symptoms occur:

• shortness of breath, palpitations;
• headache, dizziness, mental decline;
• sleep disorders;
• sweating, weakness, sweating;
• pallor and blueness of the skin;
• convulsions.

Forms

Depending on the causes and mechanism of development of pathology, it is divided into several types:

• oxygen deprivation of tissues is associated with impaired ability to absorb oxygen, the imbalance of the processes of biological oxidation and phosphorylation - important biochemical reactions. Observed by radiation, poisoning by salts of heavy metals, carbon monoxide;
• oxygen starvation of the brain  - develops due to failure of cerebral circulation. Acute hypoxia causes swelling of the brain, coma, irretrievable changes in the nerve tissues, often death. Chronic course can last for years and make itself felt constant fatigue, low working ability;
• oxygen starvation of the heart - more commonly known as ischemic disease. The blood supply to the organ is in most cases associated with atherosclerosis of the vessels. On the walls are deposited cholesterol plaques, due to which their clearance is reduced. When the diameter of the coronary vessel narrows by half, pain in the heart and angina attacks occur - a feeling of lack of air;
• oxygen starvation of the blood - reducing oxygen in its volume. Often the reason for this is the low hemoglobin index (anemia) - a protein that performs the function of transporting oxygen, and also hydromy - a strong blood thinning;
• vascular oxygen deprivation - circulatory hypoxia occurs when the minute volume of blood decreases as a result of heart attacks and other cardiac disorders, and large blood loss;
• oxygen starvation of the lungs - respiratory hypoxia occurs as a result of pathologies of the respiratory organs, impairment of their functions, mechanical obstructions of air intake, including ingress of foreign bodies. Failure in the gas exchange of the lungs leads to a decrease in oxygen tension in arterial blood;
• oxygen starvation of the skin - between 1 and 2% of the total gas exchange of the body occurs through the skin. Oxygen from the air penetrates into its pores, getting into the blood vessels, and carbon dioxide is removed. The imbalance of respiratory processes causes the deterioration of all cellular functions, adversely affects the condition of the epidermis: contributes to its dullness, rash, premature aging;
• oxygen starvation in sports - overload, is associated with strong physical exertion on the tissue or organ, when there is a sharp need for additional oxygen. So there is oxygen starvation of the muscles;
• cigarette smoking and oxygen starvation are interrelated. In addition to its main function, light smokers are required to cope with nicotine and smoke. Only getting rid of the bad habit will increase the portion of inhaled air.

Acute oxygen starvation

For the clinical picture of the disease is characterized by several forms. One of them - lightning, develops as a result of inhalation of chemical gases or compression of the trachea.

The acute form does not occur so quickly and occurs with a sharp decrease in atmospheric pressure, heart attacks, and carbon monoxide entering the respiratory system.

It is accompanied by a decrease in heart rate, the appearance of shortness of breath, irregular breathing, impaired human functions. In this case, inaction within 2-3 hours is fatal. An example would be death in a closed car with a running engine, in homes with stove heating, or gas leaks in the kitchen.

Chronic oxygen starvation

This type of oxygen starvation is preceded by a prolonged presence of oxygen deficiency in the atmosphere. Manifested by erythrocytosis (an increase in red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood), disruptions in the system of human life. There are signs resembling alcohol intoxication: lethargy, nausea, dizziness, impaired coordination, often spontaneous discharge of urine and feces.

The length of the chronic phase - from short periods of up to several years.

Complications and consequences

Oxygen starvation entails serious violations in the body, even death. The consequences depend on the duration of the pathology and on how much the body's compensatory mechanisms are enough. The brain can withstand the absence of oxygen for 3-5 minutes, the kidney and liver - up to 40 minutes.

With the timely elimination of oxygen deficiency, everything ends safely. Otherwise it is fraught with such complications as a significant decrease in immunity, dementia, Parkinson's disease, memory impairment, fatty degeneration of myocardial, liver and muscle tissues.

[23], [24], [25], [26], [27]

Diagnostics of the oxygen starvation of the body

For the diagnosis, you will need a general and biochemical (it determines the state of all organs) blood tests, in which hemoglobin, its density, and ATP are important.

With the help of a pulse oximeter (a special non-invasive medical device) for respiratory disorders, arterial blood saturation with oxygen is determined. To diagnose oxygen starvation, instrumental methods such as an electrocardiogram, MRI, CT, ultrasound of organs can be connected.

[28], [29]

Differential diagnosis

Hypoxia is a common pathological process inherent in the pathogenesis of any disease. The task of differential diagnosis is to correctly diagnose, in order to establish the root cause of such a condition as quickly as possible and to direct efforts to eliminate it.

[30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39], [40], [41]

Treatment of the oxygen starvation of the body

The primary treatment measures include the elimination of hypoxia. To meet the cells' need for oxygen, hyperbaric oxygenation is used - the procedure of pumping it into the lungs under pressure. This is how oxygen enters directly into the blood without communication with red blood cells, the vessels of the brain and the heart expand.

With oxygen starvation of vessels, heart and pressure-raising drugs are indicated. To saturate the blood, it is transfused, cleansed, and enzymes, glucose, and steroid hormones are prescribed. Anemia eliminate iron-containing drugs. Neuroleptics are also shown to reduce the response to external stimuli, reducing psychomotor tension.

To get rid of secondary metabolic disorders, so-called metabolic therapy is used. Antihypoxant drugs are used that utilize oxygen circulating in the blood and increase resistance to hypoxia.

Medicines

Maintenance of the cardiovascular system is carried out with the help of anticalcium drugs. They relax the heart muscle, reduce vascular spasms, lead to their full blood supply. One of them is verapamil.

• Verapamil is an injection solution that blocks the calcium channels of the smooth muscles of the coronary arteries. Introduced intravenously slowly (at least 2 minutes). Children up to one year old should be administered 0.75-2mg of verapamil hydrochloride, up to 5 years - 2-3mg, 6-14 years - 2-5mg. For patients weighing more than 50 kg, a dose of 5–10 mg of the substance is one-time, not exceeding 100 mg per day.

Drug use can cause tinnitus, dizziness, drowsiness, depression, trembling of the limbs, fatigue, constipation and abdominal pain.

Be wary of using for people with low blood pressure, severe bradycardia, and heart failure. Pregnant drug in the first two trimesters of pregnancy is contraindicated.

Drugs that improve cerebral circulation include Vinpocetine.

• Vinpocetine - concentrate for preparing a solution for droppers. Enter at a rate of 80 drops per minute. Children are not assigned. The initial daily dose for adults is 20 mg per 500ml solution for infusion. After 2-3 days can be increased to 50mg. Duration of treatment is 10-14 days.

Of the adverse reactions are possible arrhythmia, tachycardia, fluctuations in blood pressure, tremor, headache, sleep disturbance, agitation. Contraindicated in children, pregnant, lactating women, people with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, with caution to use diabetics.

• Mexidol - solution for intramuscular and intravenous administration, affecting the nervous system. Shown in violation of the blood circulation of the brain, traumatic brain injuries, on the first day of acute myocardial infarction, dystonia of cerebral vessels.

For use diluted in sodium chloride solution. Doses are selected individually. Begin treatment of adults with a small dose, on average 50-100mg up to three times a day, gradually increasing to the maximum daily 800mg.

Not prescribed to children, pregnant, during lactation, with increased sensitivity to the drug. It should not be mixed with other drugs. Of the adverse reactions rarely observed nausea, anxiety, drowsiness, fluctuations in blood pressure.

Attacks of bronchial asthma are eliminated with the help of bronchodilators. This may be salbutamol, aminophylline, theophylline.

• Euphyllinum - tends to irritate the stomach, so it is preferable to inject by injection. Antispasmodic, vasodilator. Normalizes breathing, saturates the blood with oxygen, reduces the concentration of carbon dioxide. The drug is not used for children under 3 years. At the age of up to 9 years, the average daily dose is 24 mg per kilogram of body, in the interval of 9-12 years - 20mg / kg, 12-16 years - 18mg / kg, older than 16 years - 13mg / kg.

It has contraindications for people with kidney and liver failure, with hemorrhagic stroke, peptic ulcer, bleeding, pulmonary edema, epilepsy.

Possible adverse reactions from the digestive, urinary, cardiovascular systems, increased body temperature, the appearance of lesions on the skin.

[42], [43], [44]

Vitamins

With oxygen starvation, it is necessary to take vitamins that improve the metabolic processes in the cells. These can be vitamins E, group B, ascorbic and glutamic acid. Special preparations have been developed that contain the necessary vitamins, for example, neuromax. It contains vitamin B1 in combination with B6, B12.

Physiotherapy

Physiological methods play a significant role in the elimination of oxygen starvation. First of all, it is oxygen cocktails. They are herbal infusions enriched with oxygen to the state of air foam.

Therapeutic exercise helps to strengthen the muscular corset, which is important to eliminate the phenomena of osteochondrosis, which squeezes the vertebral artery and the vessels of the cervical region, thus preventing the full supply of blood to the brain. In addition, the respiratory muscles are strengthened.

Pressotherapy is also used - apparatus lymphatic drainage, speleotherapy, mud therapy, massage and other physiotherapy procedures according to indications.

[45], [46], [47], [48], [49], [50]

Alternative treatment

Alternative recipes occur when hypoxia is chronic. So, for the normalization of the metabolic processes of the heart muscle, such herbs as motherwort, lemon balm, hawthorn, valerian are used. Also used oatmeal broth, a mixture of honey and grated garlic.

Hydrogen peroxide has gained wide popularity in the treatment of various diseases, including oxygen starvation, because it participates in metabolic processes, the assimilation of many vitamins and minerals, the removal of toxins from the body. Its more habitual use is external, but in this case we are talking about internal. To do this, use a 3% solution. Initially, 2 tablespoons of water will need a drop of peroxide. Drink the solution 30 minutes before meals three times a day, gradually bringing to 10 drops, then make a two-day break and conduct a course with 10 drops of 10 days. After 3 days break, you can repeat again.

[51], [52], [53], [54], [55]

Homeopathy

The use of homeopathy in the treatment of oxygen starvation depends on the individual clinical symptoms. Mainly used antihypoxic drugs that affect the energy metabolism in the cells. This may be Phosphorus, Amylum nitrosum, Opium, Acidum cyanatum, Laurocerasus. In homeopathy, the specific drug and dose depend on the constitution of a person, the properties of character, therefore, only a homeopath can determine them.

[56]

Surgery

There are frequent cases of acute hypoxia requiring immediate surgical intervention. These include strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary hemorrhages, and various life-threatening injuries. Surgeries are necessary to maintain the airway, stop blood loss.

[57], [58], [59], [60], [61]

Prevention

The best prevention of oxygen starvation is an active lifestyle, a long stay in the fresh air, airing the premises, walking, swimming, restriction of heavy physical exertion, timely medical support for cash pathologies, avoidance of traumatic conditions.

Forecast

Lightning hypoxia leaves no chance for life. With acute, it all depends on the speed of the reaction and the provision of assistance. Chronic oxygen starvation has many chances for a favorable outcome.

[62], [63]