Oxygen deprivation of the body

Oxygen starvation or hypoxia is a condition when the body's energy production does not meet the needs of tissue cells. This occurs due to insufficient oxygen saturation of the blood, tissues, and lungs. The nervous tissues react most acutely to its lack, resulting in hypoxia of the brain, but oxygen starvation can also be observed in other organs.

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Epidemiology

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

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Causes oxygen deprivation

There are many reasons that provoke a not at all harmless condition of the body. They are conventionally divided into external and internal. The most common external ones include:

• low oxygen saturation of the space;
• blocking the air supply;
• various acute and chronic diseases.

Among the internal causes, the following are predominant:

• blood loss due to injuries;
• anemia;
• cardiovascular pathologies;
• poisoning with toxins;
• increased oxygen consumption in case of heavy physical work when it is impossible to provide it.

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Risk factors

For the first group of reasons, the risk factors are the following:

• prolonged stay in a cramped, unventilated room;
• being in a mountainous area at a high altitude above sea level;
• unfavorable environmental conditions;
• carbon monoxide poisoning.

Oxygen deprivation is also possible due to asphyxia when a foreign body enters the respiratory tract, their narrowing as a result of allergic edema, mechanical compression, tumor formation, drowning. Bronchial asthma, obstructive bronchitis, pneumonia contribute to this.

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Pathogenesis

Oxygen starvation is associated with disturbances in metabolic reactions - accumulation of energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), obtained during oxidation of nutrients, in the mitochondria of cells. The pathogenesis of hypoxia is based on the inability to provide energy for vital processes due to insufficient generation.

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Symptoms oxygen deprivation

The manifestations of oxygen starvation largely depend on the causes that caused them, the age of the person. Its first signs are manifested by increased and deep breathing, frequent yawning. Mild euphoria and excitement appear. If oxygen compensation does not occur for a long time, new symptoms appear:

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

Forms

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

• oxygen starvation of tissues - associated with disturbances in their ability to absorb oxygen, imbalance in the processes of biological oxidation and phosphorylation - important biochemical reactions. Observed with radiation, poisoning with salts of heavy metals, carbon monoxide;
• oxygen starvation of the brain - develops as a result of a failure of cerebral circulation. Acute hypoxia causes cerebral edema, coma, irreversible changes in nerve tissue, and often death. Chronic course can last for years and make itself known by constant fatigue, low work capacity;
• oxygen starvation of the heart - better known as ischemic disease. Impaired blood supply to the organ in most cases is associated with atherosclerosis of the vessels. Cholesterol plaques are deposited on the walls, due to which their lumen decreases. 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 blood - a decrease in oxygen in its volume. Often the cause of this is a low hemoglobin level (anemia) - a protein that performs the function of transporting oxygen, as well as hydromia - severe thinning of the blood;
• oxygen starvation of blood vessels - circulatory hypoxia occurs when the minute volume of blood decreases as a result of heart attacks and other cardiac disorders, large blood loss;
• oxygen starvation of the lungs - respiratory hypoxia occurs as a result of pathologies of the respiratory organs, dysfunction of their functions, mechanical obstruction of air flow, including the ingress of foreign bodies. A failure in gas exchange in the lungs leads to a decrease in oxygen tension in the arterial blood;
• oxygen starvation of the skin - from 1 to 2% of all gas exchange in the body occurs through the skin. Oxygen from the air penetrates its pores, entering the blood vessels, and carbon dioxide is removed. Imbalance of respiratory processes causes deterioration of all cellular functions, adversely affects the condition of the epidermis: contributes to its dullness, rashes, premature aging;
• oxygen starvation in sports is overload, associated with strong physical loads on tissue or organ, when an additional need for oxygen suddenly appears. This is how oxygen starvation of muscles occurs;
• Cigarette smoking and oxygen starvation are interconnected concepts. In addition to their main function, the smoker's lungs must also cope with nicotine and smoke. Only getting rid of the bad habit will increase the portion of inhaled air.

Acute oxygen starvation

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

The acute form does not occur as quickly and occurs with a sharp drop in atmospheric pressure, heart attacks, or the ingestion of carbon monoxide into the respiratory system.

It is accompanied by a decrease in heart rate, shortness of breath, irregular breathing, and a disruption of human functions. In this case, inactivity for 2-3 hours leads to death. An example could be death in a closed car with the engine running, in houses with stove heating, or when gas leaks in the kitchen.

Chronic oxygen starvation

This type of oxygen starvation is preceded by a long stay in an atmosphere of oxygen deficiency. It manifests itself as erythrocytosis (an increase in red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood), and failures in the human vital functions. Signs appear that resemble alcohol intoxication: lethargy, nausea, dizziness, loss of coordination, and often spontaneous urination and stool.

The duration of the chronic phase ranges from short periods to several years.

Complications and consequences

Oxygen starvation leads to serious disorders in the body, even death. The consequences depend on the duration of the pathology and how long the body's compensatory mechanisms last. The brain can withstand the absence of oxygen for 3-5 minutes, the kidneys and liver - up to 40 minutes.

If oxygen deficiency is eliminated in a timely manner, everything ends well. Otherwise, complications such as a significant decrease in immunity, dementia, Parkinson's disease, memory impairment, fatty degeneration of myocardial tissue, liver, and muscles are fraught.

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Diagnostics oxygen deprivation

To carry out diagnostics, you will need a general and biochemical blood test (which determines the condition of all organs), in which the hemoglobin, its density, and ATP indicators are important.

Using a pulse oximeter (a special medical non-invasive device), the saturation of arterial blood with oxygen is determined in case of respiratory disorders. For the diagnosis of oxygen starvation, such instrumental methods as electrocardiogram, MRI, CT, ultrasound of organs can be connected.

Differential diagnosis

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

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Treatment oxygen deprivation

The primary treatment measures include eliminating hypoxia. To replenish the cells' need for oxygen, hyperbaric oxygenation is used - a procedure of pumping it into the lungs under pressure. This way, oxygen gets directly into the blood without connecting with red blood cells, and the vessels of the brain and heart expand.

In case of oxygen starvation of blood vessels, cardiac and blood pressure-increasing drugs are indicated. To saturate the blood, it is transfused, purified, enzymes, glucose, and steroid hormones are prescribed. Anemia is eliminated with iron-containing drugs. Neuroleptics are also indicated to reduce the reaction to external stimuli and reduce psychomotor stress.

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

Medicines

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

• Verapamil is an injection solution that blocks calcium channels in the smooth muscles of the coronary arteries. It is administered intravenously slowly (at least 2 minutes). Children under one year are given 0.75-2 mg of verapamil hydrochloride, children under 5 years old - 2-3 mg, children 6-14 years old - 2-5 mg. Patients weighing more than 50 kg are recommended a single dose of 5-10 mg of the substance, not exceeding 100 mg per day.

Use of the drug can cause tinnitus, dizziness, drowsiness, depression, tremors, fatigue, constipation and abdominal pain.

Use with caution in people with low blood pressure, severe bradycardia, heart failure. The drug is contraindicated for pregnant women in the first two trimesters of pregnancy.

Vinpocetine is one of the drugs that improve cerebral circulation.

• Vinpocetine is a concentrate for the preparation of a solution for droppers. Administer at a rate of 80 drops per minute. Not prescribed for children. The initial daily dose for adults is 20 mg per 500 ml of infusion solution. After 2-3 days, it can be increased to 50 mg. The duration of the course of treatment is 10-14 days.

Side effects may include arrhythmia, tachycardia, blood pressure fluctuations, tremor, headache, sleep disturbance, and agitation. Contraindicated for children, pregnant and lactating women, people with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, and should be used with caution by diabetics.

• Mexidol is a solution for intramuscular and intravenous administration that affects the nervous system. It is indicated for cerebral blood circulation disorders, craniocerebral injuries, the first day of acute myocardial infarction, and cerebral vascular dystonia.

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

Do not prescribe to children, pregnant women, during lactation, in case of hypersensitivity to the drug. It should not be mixed with other drugs. Side effects rarely observed nausea, anxiety, drowsiness, fluctuations in blood pressure.

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

• Euphyllin — has the property of irritating the stomach, therefore it is preferable to administer it orally by injection. Antispasmodic, vasodilator. Normalizes breathing, saturates the blood with oxygen, reduces the concentration of carbon dioxide. The drug is not used in children under 3 years of age. At the age of up to 9 years, the average daily dose is 24 mg per kilogram of body weight, in the range of 9-12 years - 20 mg / kg, 12-16 years - 18 mg / kg, over 16 years - 13 mg / kg.

It is contraindicated for people with renal and hepatic insufficiency, hemorrhagic stroke, peptic ulcer, bleeding, pulmonary edema, and epilepsy.

Possible side effects include the digestive, urinary, and cardiovascular systems, increased body temperature, and skin rashes.

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Vitamins

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

Physiotherapy treatment

Physiological methods play a significant role in eliminating oxygen starvation. First of all, these are oxygen cocktails. They are herbal infusions enriched with oxygen to the state of airy foam.

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

Pressotherapy is also used - hardware lymphatic drainage, speleotherapy, mud therapy, massage and other physiotherapeutic procedures as indicated.

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Folk remedies

Folk recipes are used if hypoxia is chronic. Thus, to normalize the metabolic processes of the heart muscle, herbs such as motherwort, lemon balm, hawthorn, valerian are used. Oat broth, a mixture of honey with grated garlic are also used.

Hydrogen peroxide has become widely popular in the treatment of various diseases, including oxygen starvation, as it is involved in metabolic processes, the absorption of many vitamins and minerals, and the removal of toxins from the body. Its more common use is external, but in this case we are talking about internal use. For this, a 3% solution is used. First, you will need a drop of peroxide per 2 tablespoons of water. Drink the solution 30 minutes before meals three times a day, gradually increasing to 10 drops, then take a two-day break and conduct a course with 10 drops for 10 days. After a 3-day break, you can repeat it again.

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Homeopathy

The use of homeopathy in the treatment of oxygen starvation depends on individual clinical symptoms. Antihypoxic agents that affect energy metabolism in cells are mainly used. These may be Phosphorus, Amylum nitrosum, Opium, Acidum cyanatum, Laurocerasus. In homeopathy, a specific drug and doses depend on the person's constitution, character traits, so only a homeopath can determine them.

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Surgical treatment

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

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Prevention

The best prevention of oxygen starvation is an active lifestyle, prolonged exposure to fresh air, ventilation of rooms, walking, swimming, limiting heavy physical activity, timely medical support for existing pathologies, and avoiding traumatic conditions.

Forecast

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

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