Oxygen starvation of the brain symptoms treatment. Oxygen starvation of the brain: symptoms, causes, consequences

There are several forms of hypoxia: fulminant, acute, chronic. In the first case, the disease develops rapidly, in a few minutes. Acute hypoxia is observed after a heart attack, poisoning, or blood loss. Blood simply cannot deliver oxygen to organs and tissues. The chronic form of the disease develops with heart defects and heart failure. A lack of oxygen can occur when climbing to a height, during intense physical activity, or when there are disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory system. The kidneys, heart, brain, and liver are especially sensitive to lack of oxygen.

Symptoms of the disease

The first stage of hypoxia is marked by the following symptoms: increased excitability, inability to control one’s movements, unsteady gait, bluishness of the skin or, conversely, redness, cold sweat. During the second stage, visual impairment occurs, nausea and vomiting appear. The person may lose consciousness. Severe cases of the disease are accompanied by cerebral edema, loss of conditioned and unconditioned reflexes, the skin becomes insensitive, and the person falls into a coma.

Treatment of oxygen starvation

Hypoxia can be detected through laboratory tests. There is a device - a pulse oximeter. It is placed on your finger and after a couple of minutes you can see the percentage of oxygen in your blood. This figure should not be lower than 95%. Capnography allows you to study exhaled air.

Before starting treatment for hypoxia, the cause of its occurrence should be identified. Perhaps the disease developed due to alcohol abuse or due to a long stay in a stuffy room. Depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, inpatient or home treatment will be prescribed. Doctors prescribe medications whose action is aimed at normalizing the functioning of the entire body. Vitamins are needed to restore brain tissue. If hypoxia is caused by a disruption in the functioning of internal organs, then treatment will be aimed at restoring the proper functioning of organs and systems.

The lack of oxygen when climbing to a height can be compensated by using masks, oxygen bags and cartridges. Bronchodilators and antihypoxanes are prescribed for respiratory hypoxia. If oxygen starvation was mild and treatment was started on time, the body will soon recover. In severe forms, irreversible processes may begin in the brain tissue that cannot be treated.

Doctors call oxygen starvation hypoxia. This is a condition in which the cells of the human body do not receive enough oxygen. Hypoxia can be short-term, but most often this phenomenon lasts long enough that it can lead to pathological changes.

Causes of oxygen starvation

The reasons for oxygen starvation of the body are different. This condition may occur:

• when the volume of oxygen in the air that a person inhales decreases (this phenomenon is observed when climbing mountains or when staying in poorly ventilated rooms);
• when there is a mechanical obstruction to the flow of air into a person’s lungs (observed when the airways are closed with water or vomit, or when the nasal passages are narrowed as a result of an allergic reaction);
• at ;
• with large blood loss;
• when taking certain medications;
• with a lack of vitamin B2 as a result of cirrhosis of the liver or hepatitis.

In addition, a condition in which oxygen starvation of the brain and heart occurs is caused by coronary artery disease, thrombosis, vascular spasms and smoking.

Symptoms of oxygen starvation

The first symptoms of oxygen starvation of the brain are excitement of the nervous system, cold sweat, dizziness and palpitations. For some people, the state of euphoria may be replaced by extreme fatigue and even lethargy. Signs of oxygen starvation of the brain include:

• convulsions;
• changes in unconditioned reflexes (for example, skin or visual);
• erratic muscle activity.

If hypoxia occurs very quickly, the person may lose consciousness, and in some cases even fall into a coma.

Diagnosis and treatment of oxygen starvation

To identify oxygen starvation of the brain, it is necessary to undergo several studies. These include an electrocardiogram, blood test, magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalogram, and CT scan of the brain.

A person who suffers from oxygen deprivation needs emergency treatment. When the first signs of this pathological condition appear, you should immediately call an ambulance, and before it arrives, provide the patient with an influx of fresh air. To do this, it is necessary to unfasten tight clothing, remove air from the lungs, perform artificial respiration, or take the person out of a closed room. In the future, medical workers ensure that the body is saturated with oxygen.

In severe cases of oxygen deprivation of the brain, treatment should include blood transfusions and decongestants.

Prevention of oxygen starvation

Oxygen starvation is a dangerous condition that can become the root cause of serious health problems, since cells without oxygen simply die after a while. The negative consequences of hypoxia are frequent fainting, fatigue, seizures, stroke, metabolic disorders. Therefore, you should try to prevent the development of oxygen starvation.

To do this, you need to spend as much time in the fresh air as possible, be regularly examined by a doctor and make sure that the blood supply to the brain is good. In order to prevent hypoxia, inhalation of so-called oxygen cocktails is recommended. They can be enriched with eucalyptus, lavender and mint fragrances. If you suffer from coronary heart disease or vascular diseases, then in order to prevent oxygen starvation, it is worth undergoing the procedure periodically.

Lack of oxygen entering the brain causes pathological disorders and coma. The most serious consequence is death. Severe cerebral hypoxia leads to death in just a few minutes.

Brain hypoxia - what is it?

In simple terms, hypoxia is oxygen starvation. The human brain has a large number of blood vessels that supply various sections with nutrients. Brain tissue is sensitive to loss of oxygen.

There are three types of hypoxia: fulminant, acute, subacute and chronic.

• Lightning oxygen starvation - develops quickly, lasting only a few minutes or seconds.
• Acute deficiency - develops due to severe poisoning, blood loss, and heart attacks. With this diagnosis, the blood loses its ability to transport oxygen.
• Chronic hypoxia – the cause of hypoxia is heart failure, heart defects, cardiosclerotic changes.

The negative effect of hypoxia on the brain is tissue death and loss of functionality. The consequences of oxygen starvation depend on the duration of the disorders, as well as the complications caused by them.

Causes of oxygen starvation of the brain

Symptoms of brain hypoxia depend on the causes of oxygen starvation. The etiology of disorders includes several main factors that provoke pathological changes:

Hypoxic changes in the brain in newborns occur due to trauma during pregnancy, developmental abnormalities and insufficient supply of nutrients to the developing fetus.

How does a lack of oxygen manifest itself in the brain?

Symptoms of oxygen starvation of the brain make it possible to accurately determine the presence of disorders. The attending physician will pay attention to the following deviations:

Under normal conditions, the human brain consumes 25% of the total amount of oxygen and glucose absorbed by the body. Any deviations lead to hypoxia and serious, often irreversible consequences.

Why is brain hypoxia dangerous?

Oxygen starvation is a dangerous condition that leads to pathological changes that affect brain activity, as well as disruption of its basic functions. The prognosis of the disease depends on the degree of damage and the time during which hypoxia was observed.

With a short-term coma, the chances of rehabilitation are quite high. It takes a long time for brain cells to recover from hypoxia, but ultimately a patient who does not fall into a coma has a good chance of recovery.

A prolonged vegetative state with preservation of the basic functions of the body leads to serious disorders. Patients in a coma usually live no more than a year before dying.

In addition, oxygen starvation manifests itself in the following clinical symptoms:

1. Bedsores.
2. Infectious diseases.
3. Malnutrition.
4. Thrombosis.

Consequences in adults are associated with the difficulty of restoring even minimal motor and speech functions. Prolonged oxygen starvation leads to coma and death.

Post-hypoxic brain changes

The consequences of brain hypoxia after clinical death include loss of neurological functions. After the patient returns to life, the doctor’s task is to determine the presence of irreversible changes.

After clinical death, coma or prolonged oxygen deprivation, the predicted results of therapy may differ.

Treatment of cerebral hypoxia is fraught with difficulties. Full recovery is extremely rare, but with proper therapy, stable remission can be achieved.

Does the brain recover after hypoxia?

Brain cells do not recover after hypoxia. But with properly prescribed therapy, it is possible to provide the proper conditions for normalizing the daily functions of the body.

Brain tissues have the ability to take over the functions of neighboring cells. However, any restoration is carried out partially.

An adult needs to combat brain hypoxia from the first manifestations of the disease. All disturbances in cell functioning are critical and lead to serious and often irreversible consequences.

Brain hypoxia in newborns

The share of congenital pathologies and hypoxia accounts for about 30-35%. This pathology occurs due to oxygen starvation of the fetus during development in the womb. Lack of oxygen in the brain in a newborn leads to abnormalities in the development of internal organs: lungs, liver, cardiovascular and central nervous systems.

What causes a baby's brain to lack oxygen?

As already noted, it is blood that supplies oxygen to the brain. Responsible for transporting the nutrient element - hemoglobin. To create a sufficient amount of this substance, a large amount of iron elements is required.

With anemia, iron deficiency is observed, and accordingly, the rate and intensity of oxygen supply to the body tissues decreases. Mild insignificant hypoxia in newborns usually occurs if the mother suffers from anemia.

The second main reason is related to placental insufficiency. Through the placenta, the mother nourishes the embryo and supplies it with oxygen. A metabolic disorder blocks normal metabolism.

Insufficient oxygen saturation of the brain vessels of the developing fetus, due to placental insufficiency, occurs for the following reasons:

1. Bad habits.
2. Cardiovascular diseases.
3. Stress.
4. In premature babies.
5. Multiple pregnancy.
6. Intrauterine infections.
7. Prolonged compression of the fetal head.
8. Birth injuries.

The diagnosis of fetal hypoxia is made in approximately 10-15% of pregnancies. The doctor delivering the baby will pay attention to the condition of the newborn. The prerequisites for cardiac monitoring and additional examination are:

1. Turbid waters with a greenish tint.
2. Entwining the fetus with the umbilical cord.
3. Premature placental abruption.

Signs of post-hypoxic changes in the brain in a newborn manifest themselves in characteristic symptoms: neurological attacks, disruption of life rhythms, irritability and tearfulness. In combination with the results of ultrasound of the newborn’s brain and medical history, an accurate diagnosis of the presence of oxygen starvation can be made.

What consequences can hypoxia cause in an infant?

The consequences of neonatal hypoxia depend on the degree of damage and the presence of irreversible changes in the central nervous system. With mild damage, complications manifest themselves in the development of perinatal encephalopathy.

Cerebral edema in a newborn due to hypoxia leads to disability and, unfortunately, death. With a favorable outcome, it is possible to partially restore basic functions. Developmental problems are possible: restlessness, hyperactivity, low concentration, speech disorders.

What and how can you treat hypoxia?

The main task of medical personnel is to restore normal oxygen supply to the brain, as well as stabilize the patient’s condition. To ensure proper treatment, it is necessary to recognize disorders, provide first aid and prescribe adequate therapy.

How to determine hypoxia

Medical personnel have various research methods at their disposal that make it possible to diagnose disorders even at an early stage.

The following types of laboratory and instrumental methods are traditionally used:

To get rid of oxygen starvation, it is necessary to accurately determine the catalyst for the disorders. If the cause of hypoxia is not eliminated, a relapse of the disease will certainly occur.

First aid for lack of oxygen in the brain

Oxygen starvation manifests itself in fainting and loss of consciousness. When the first symptoms of disorders appear, it is necessary to provide the patient with unhindered access to fresh air.

In medical conditions (for example, with intrauterine vascular hypoxia), an oxygen mask is immediately used after birth. If this is not possible, you should ventilate the room, free the patient from clothing that interferes with the full performance of the respiratory function. Immediately after this, the patient should be hospitalized in the nearest hospital.

Medicines for oxygen starvation of the brain

Drug therapy is aimed at eliminating the causes of hypoxia. In any case, iron supplements and a vitamin complex are prescribed, which improve tissue metabolism and hematopoiesis.

In severe cases of cerebral hypoxia, the following drugs are prescribed:

1. Bronchodilators.
2. Respiratory analeptics.
3. Antihypoxanes.

Along with drug treatment, blood transfusions and artificial ventilation are used. In some cases, surgery is indicated.

Breathing exercises for hypoxia

One of the most effective means of increasing the brain’s resistance to hypoxia is the use of breathing exercises. Several types of different techniques have been developed aimed at combating pathological abnormalities.

Popular:

1. Strelnikova's method.
2. Bodyflex gymnastics.
3. Eastern gymnastics.
4. The principle of oxygen starvation or the system of healthy breath holding.

The selection of a method of health-improving gymnastics should be carried out together with the attending physician, depending on the patient’s diagnosis. Breathing exercises serve as a good preventive measure to prevent complications from hypoxia.

Folk remedies for hypoxia

Folk remedies are aimed at saturating the cerebral cortex affected by hypoxia with nutrients by improving metabolism and hematopoiesis.

The following recipes are considered effective:

• Birch sap - drink 1 liter per day. If necessary, you can use tinctures from birch leaves or buds.
• Hawthorn - infused in cognac. The tincture is made at the rate of 70 grams, hawthorn buds per ½ alcoholic beverage. The composition is left for 2 weeks. Take 1 tbsp. l. before every meal.
• Lingonberry - tinctures from leaves and berries have a positive effect. Lingonberry leaves are poured with boiling water and infused like tea.
  Lingonberry decoction is taken after every meal. Fresh or soaked lingonberries are consumed on an empty stomach or before bed.

Alternative treatment does not replace traditional methods of therapy and the need to consult a doctor.

Oxygen starvation of the brain or hypoxia occurs due to a disruption in the supply of oxygen to its tissues. The brain is the organ with the greatest need for oxygen. A quarter of all inhaled air goes to serving the brain’s need for it, and 4 minutes without it becomes critical for life. Oxygen enters the brain through a complex blood supply system and is then utilized by its cells. Any disturbances in this system lead to oxygen starvation.

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ICD-10 code

G93 Other brain lesions

I67.3 Progressive vascular leukoencephalopathy

Epidemiology

Due to the variety of forms of pathological conditions inherent in oxygen starvation, it is difficult to determine its prevalence. Based on the reasons that give rise to it, the number of people who have experienced this condition is very large. But the statistics of oxygen starvation in newborns are more definite and disappointing: fetal hypoxia is observed in 10 cases out of 100.

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Causes of oxygen starvation of the brain

There are various reasons for the occurrence of oxygen starvation of the brain. These include:

• decrease in oxygen in the environment (when climbing mountains, indoors, in spacesuits or submarines);
• disruption of the respiratory organs (asthma, pneumonia, chest injuries, tumors);
• disruption of blood circulation in the brain (arterial atherosclerosis, thrombosis, embolism);
• impaired oxygen transport (lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin);
• blockade of enzyme systems involved in tissue respiration.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of oxygen starvation is a change in the structure of the vascular walls, disruption of their permeability, which leads to cerebral edema. Depending on the reasons that caused hypoxia, pathogenesis develops according to a different algorithm. So, with exogenous factors, this process begins with arterial hypoxemia - a decrease in the oxygen content in the blood, which entails hypocapnia - a lack of carbon dioxide, which disrupts the biochemical balance in it. The next chain of negative processes is alkalosis - a failure of the acid-base balance in the body. At the same time, blood flow in the brain and coronary arteries is disrupted, and blood pressure drops.

Endogenous causes caused by pathological conditions of the body cause arterial hypoxemia along with hypercapnia (increased carbon dioxide content) and acidosis (increased oxidation products of organic acids). Different types of hypoxia have their own scenarios of pathological changes.

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Symptoms of oxygen starvation of the brain

The first signs of oxygen deficiency appear in the excitation of the nervous system: breathing and heartbeat quicken, euphoria sets in, cold sweat appears on the face and limbs, and motor restlessness. Then the condition changes dramatically: lethargy, drowsiness, headache, darkening of the eyes, and depression of consciousness appear. A person experiences dizziness, develops constipation, possible muscle cramps and fainting, and the onset of coma. The most severe degree of coma is deep disturbances of the central nervous system: lack of brain activity, muscle hypotension, respiratory arrest with a beating heart.

Oxygen starvation of the brain in adults

Oxygen starvation of the brain in adults can develop as a result of stroke, when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, hypovolemic shock - a significant decrease in the volume of circulating blood that occurs with large blood loss, uncompensated loss of plasma in burns, peritonitis, pancreatitis, accumulation of a large volume of blood in injuries, dehydration in diarrhea. This condition is characterized by decreased blood pressure, tachycardia, nausea and dizziness, and loss of consciousness.

Oxygen starvation of the brain in children and newborns

Analyzing the various factors causing oxygen starvation and the fact that it can accompany many diseases, it becomes clear that children are also affected in the affected area. Anemia, burns from fire and chemicals, gas poisoning, heart failure, various injuries, swelling of the larynx due to an allergic reaction, etc. can lead to a state of oxygen starvation of the brain in children. But most often this diagnosis is given to children at birth.

Diagnosis of oxygen starvation of the brain

Diagnosis of oxygen starvation of the brain is carried out on the basis of patient complaints, if possible, data from the words of relatives, laboratory and instrumental studies are carried out.

The patient's condition is assessed based on the results of a general blood test. Indicators such as red blood cells, ESR, hematocrit, leukocytes, platelets, and reticulocytes are analyzed. An analysis of the blood composition will also determine the acid-base balance of the body, the gas composition of venous and arterial blood, and therefore indicate a diseased organ.

The most accessible methods of instrumental diagnostics include pulse oximetry - a special device worn on a finger measures the level of oxygen saturation in the blood (the optimal content is 95-98%). Other means are an electroencephalogram, computer and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, an electrocardiogram, and rheovasography, which determines the volume of blood flow and its intensity in the arterial vessels.

Differential diagnosis

Treatment of oxygen starvation of the brain

Treatment of oxygen starvation of the brain consists of etiotropic therapy (treatment of the cause). Thus, exogenous hypoxia requires the use of oxygen masks and pillows. To treat respiratory hypoxia, drugs that dilate the bronchi, analgesics, and antihypoxanes that improve oxygen utilization are used. In case of hemic (reduced oxygen in the blood), a blood transfusion is performed, histoxic or tissue, antidote drugs are prescribed, circulatory (heart attacks, strokes) - cardiotropic. If such therapy is not possible, actions are aimed at eliminating the symptoms: regulating vascular tone, normalizing blood circulation, prescribing medications for dizziness, headaches, blood thinners, restoratives, nootropic drugs and those that reduce bad cholesterol.

Medicines

Metered aerosols are used as bronchodilators: Truvent, Atrovent, Berodual, Salbutamol.

Truvent is an aerosol can; when using, you need to remove the protective cap, shake it several times, lower the spray head down, take it with your lips and press the bottom, inhaling deeply and holding the breath for a few moments. One press corresponds to a portion. The effect occurs within 15-30 minutes. Every 4-6 hours the procedure is repeated, making 1-2 presses, this is how long the effect of the drug lasts. Not prescribed during pregnancy, angle-closure glaucoma, allergies. The use of the drug can reduce visual acuity and increase intraocular pressure.

Analgesics include a large list of drugs, from the well-known analgin to completely unfamiliar names, each of which has its own pharmacological action. The doctor will determine what is necessary in a particular situation. Here is a list of some of them: acamol, anopyrine, bupranal, pentalgin, cefekon, etc.

Bupranal is a solution in ampoules for intramuscular and intravenous injections, in syringe tubes for intramuscular injection. The maximum daily dose is 2.4 mg. The frequency of administration is every 6-8 hours. Possible side effects such as nausea, weakness, lethargy, dry mouth. Contraindicated in children under 16 years of age, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, increased intracranial pressure, and alcoholism.

The list of antidote drugs includes atropine, diazepam (mushroom poisoning), aminophylline, glucose (carbon monoxide), magnesium sulfate, almagel (organic acids), unithiol, cuprenil (heavy metal salts), naloxone, flumazenil (drug poisoning), etc. .

Naloxone is available in ampoules; there is a special form for newborns. The recommended dose is 0.4-0.8 mg, sometimes it is necessary to increase it to 15 mg. With increased sensitivity to the drug, an allergy occurs; in drug addicts, taking the drug causes a specific attack.

For strokes, Cerebrolysin, Actovegin, encephabol, papaverine, and no-spa are used.

Actovegin - exists in various forms: dragees, solutions for injections and infusions, gels, ointments, creams. Doses and method of administration are prescribed by the doctor depending on the severity of the disease. Burn wounds and bedsores are treated with external remedies. The use of the drug may cause hives, fever, and sweating. It has contraindications for pregnant women, during breastfeeding, and allergies.

Vitamins

A number of vitamins during tissue oxygen starvation are antidotes to toxic substances. Thus, vitamin K1 blocks the effect of warfarin - an antithrombosis agent, vitamin B6 - poisoning with anti-tuberculosis drugs, vitamin C is used for damage by carbon monoxide, anilines used in dyes, medicines, and chemicals. To maintain the body, it is also necessary to saturate it with vitamins.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

For general or local hypoxia of various natures, a method of physiotherapeutic treatment such as oxygen therapy is used. The most common indications for its use are respiratory failure, circulatory disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. There are various methods of oxygen saturation: cocktails, inhalations, baths, cutaneous, subcutaneous, intraband methods, etc. Oxygen barotherapy - breathing compressed oxygen in a pressure chamber relieves hypoxia. Depending on the diagnosis that led to hypoxia, UHF, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, massage, acupuncture, etc. are used.

Traditional treatment

One of the recipes for folk treatment is breathing exercises using the following method. Inhale air slowly and deeply, hold it for a few seconds and exhale slowly. Do this several times in a row, increasing the duration of the procedure. Bring the count to 4 while inhaling, to 7 while holding your breath, and to 8 while exhaling.

Garlic tincture will help strengthen blood vessels and reduce their spasms: fill a third of the jar with chopped garlic, fill it to the brim with water. After 2 weeks of infusion, start taking 5 drops per spoon of water before meals.

A prepared mixture of buckwheat, honey and walnuts, taken in equal proportions, can raise hemoglobin: grind the cereal and nuts to flour, add honey, mix. Take a tablespoon on an empty stomach half an hour before meals. Fresh beet juice is also effective; it must be allowed to stand for some time before drinking so that the volatile substances are released.

Ginger will help cope with asthma attacks. Combine its juice with honey and pomegranate juice and drink a spoonful 3 times a day.

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Herbal treatment

It is effective to take decoctions, infusions, and herbal teas that have an antispasmodic effect during oxygen deprivation: chamomile, valerian, St. John's wort, motherwort, hawthorn. For problems with the respiratory system, take decoctions of medicinal mixtures from coltsfoot, pine buds, plantain, licorice root, and elderberry flowers. Hemoglobin levels can be raised with the help of herbs such as nettle, yarrow, dandelion, and wormwood.

Homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies are increasingly being used in combination with basic treatment. Here are some of the remedies that can be prescribed for oxygen starvation and are aimed at the causes of its occurrence.

• Accardium - granules containing metallic gold, arnica montana, anamirtha coculus-like. Aimed at treating angina pectoris and cardiovascular disorders caused by heavy physical exertion. Twice a day, 10 granules half an hour before meals or an hour after, keep under the tongue until completely absorbed. The average course of treatment lasts 3 weeks. The drug has no contraindications or side effects. For use during pregnancy and children, consultation with a doctor is required.
• Atma® - drops, a complex drug for the treatment of bronchial asthma. The dose for children under one year is 1 drop per teaspoon of water or milk. For children under 12 years of age, 2 to 7 drops per tablespoon. After 12 years - 10 drops in pure form or in water. Continue treatment for up to 3 months. No side effects were observed.
• Vertigoheel - oral drops, used for dizziness, cerebral atherosclerosis, strokes. The drops are dissolved in water and, when swallowed, remain in the mouth for some time. Recommended from a child's age onwards. Up to 3 years - 3 drops, at the age of 3-6 years - 5, for the rest - 10 drops 3-4 times a day for a month. Hypersensitivity reactions are possible. Contraindicated for children under one year of age, during pregnancy and breastfeeding - with the permission of a doctor.
• Hawthorn compositum is a homeopathic cardiac remedy, liquid. Adults are prescribed 15-20 drops three times a day, children - 5-7 drops. The drug has contraindications in case of allergy to the components.
• Aesculus-compositum - drops, used for post-embolic circulatory disorders, post-infarction and post-stroke conditions. Single dose - 10 drops in water, holding in mouth. Frequency - 3 times a day. Duration of treatment is up to 6 weeks. Side effects are unknown. Contraindicated in pregnant women and those hypersensitive to the components of the drug.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment of the heart or blood vessels may be necessary in the case of a circulatory form of oxygen starvation, the development of which occurs rapidly and is associated with disturbances in their functions.

Prevention

Prevention of oxygen starvation primarily consists of organizing a healthy daily life, which includes normal nutrition, moderate physical activity, adequate sleep, absence of stressful situations, quitting smoking and alcohol, and spending enough time in the fresh air. It is necessary to monitor blood pressure and undergo timely preventive courses for existing diseases.

When there is insufficient oxygen supply to the brain, hypoxia develops. Tissue starvation occurs due to a lack of oxygen in the blood, a violation of its utilization by peripheral tissues, or after the cessation of blood flow to the brain. The disease leads to irreversible changes in brain cells, disruption of the central nervous system and other serious consequences.

Causes of oxygen starvation

At the initial stages, dysfunction of the brain microcirculation, changes in the condition of the walls of blood vessels, neurocytes, and degeneration of areas of brain tissue are observed. Subsequently, the cells soften or gradually recover with timely treatment.

The main causes of acute cerebral hypoxia:

• asphyxia;
• transverse heart block;
• traumatic brain injuries;
• atherosclerosis;
• previous heart surgery;
• carbon monoxide poisoning;
• thromboembolism of cerebral vessels;
• stroke;
• diseases of the respiratory system;
• anemia.

Chronic hypoxia develops when working in unfavorable conditions or living in mountainous areas where the air is thin. The gradual deposition of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels leads to a decrease in the lumen of the arteries and a slowdown in blood flow. If a complete blockage of the vessel occurs, the brain tissue dies and a heart attack develops, which can cause severe complications and death.

Symptoms of hypoxia

Signs of oxygen starvation vary depending on the form of the pathology. During acute hypoxia, patients experience motor and psychoemotional agitation, heartbeat and breathing become more frequent, the skin turns pale, sweating increases, and midges “flash” before the eyes. Gradually the condition changes, the patient calms down, becomes lethargic, sleepy, his eyes darken, and tinnitus appears.

At the next stage, the person loses consciousness, clonic convulsions and chaotic muscle contractions may occur. Movement disorders are accompanied by spastic paralysis, an increase and then a decrease in muscle reflexes. The attack develops very quickly, coma may occur within 1–2 minutes, so the patient needs urgent medical attention.

Chronic brain hypoxia occurs slowly. Characterized by constant fatigue, dizziness, apathy, and depression. Hearing and vision often deteriorate and performance decreases.

Neurological signs of hypoxia in adults:

• With diffuse organic damage to the brain, posthypoxic encephalopathy develops, accompanied by visual and speech disorders, impaired coordination of movements, tremor of the limbs, twitching of the eyeballs, etc.
• With partial impairment of consciousness, the symptoms of hypoxia manifest themselves as lethargy, numbness, and stupor. A person is in a depressed state, from which he can be brought out with persistent treatment. Patients retain protective reflexes.
• Asthenic state: increased fatigue, exhaustion, deterioration of intellectual abilities, motor restlessness, low performance.

Brain hypoxia can be fulminant, acute or chronic. In the acute stage, signs of oxygen deficiency develop rapidly, and the chronic disease proceeds, gradually progressing, with less pronounced signs of malaise.

Acute hypoxia is accompanied by cerebral edema and dystrophic changes in neurons. Even after normalization of oxygen delivery to brain cells, degenerative processes persist and progress, leading to the formation of softened lesions. Chronic hypoxia of brain tissue does not cause pronounced changes in nerve cells, therefore, when the causes of the pathology are eliminated, patients recover completely.

Types of hypoxia

Depending on the reasons that caused oxygen starvation:

• The exogenous form of the disease develops when there is a lack of oxygen in the air.
• Respiratory hypoxia of brain tissue occurs when the upper respiratory tract is disrupted (asthma, pneumonia, tumors), drug overdose, or mechanical trauma to the chest.
• Hemic hypoxia of the brain is diagnosed when the transport of oxygen by blood cells is impaired. Pathology develops with a lack of hemoglobin and red blood cells.
• Circulatory develops when the blood circulation in the brain is impaired due to heart failure and atherosclerosis.
• Tissue hypoxia is caused by a disruption in the process of oxygen utilization by cells. This can be caused by blockade of enzyme systems, poisoning with poisons, and medications.

Hypoxia

Coma

When oxygen supply is stopped, brain tissue can survive for 4 seconds, after 8–10 seconds the person loses consciousness, after another half a minute the activity of the cerebral cortex disappears and the patient falls into a coma. If blood circulation is not restored within 4–5 minutes, the tissues die.

Symptoms of acute oxygen starvation of the brain, that is, coma:

• Subcortical coma causes inhibition of the cerebral cortex and subcortical formations. The patient is disoriented in space and time, reacts poorly to speech and external stimuli, does not control urination and defecation, has increased muscle tone, depressed reflexes, and increased heart rate. Breathing is spontaneous, the reaction of the pupils to light is preserved.
• Hyperactive coma causes dysfunction of the anterior parts of the brain; symptoms are manifested by convulsions, lack of speech, reflexes, hyperthermia, surges in blood pressure, respiratory depression, and weak pupillary response to light.
• In a “flaccid coma,” the medulla oblongata is affected. Reactions to external stimuli completely disappear, reflexes are absent, muscle tone is reduced, breathing is shallow, blood pressure drops, the pupils are dilated and do not respond to light, and convulsions occur periodically.
• Terminal coma is a complete cessation of brain function. A person cannot breathe on his own, blood pressure and body temperature drop sharply, there are no reflexes, and muscle atony is observed. The patient is on artificial support of vital processes.

Prolonged oxygen starvation of the brain, stage 4 coma has a high risk of death, death occurs in more than 90% of cases.

Hypoxic form of hypoxia

With low oxygen pressure in the air, hypoxic hypoxia develops. The cause of the pathology is:

• breathing in confined spaces: tanks, submarines, bunkers;
• during rapid ascent on aircraft;
• during a long climb or stay in the mountains.

Lack of oxygen in the air leads to a decrease in its concentration in the alveoli of the lungs, blood and peripheral tissues. As a result, the level of hemoglobin decreases, chemoreceptors are irritated, the excitability of the respiratory center increases, hyperventilation and alkalosis develop.

The water-salt balance is disrupted, vascular tone decreases, and blood circulation in the heart, brain and other vital organs deteriorates.

Symptoms of hypoxic hypoxia:

• Increased energy, faster movements and speech.
• Tachycardia and shortness of breath on exertion.
• Impaired coordination of movements.
• Rapid breathing, shortness of breath at rest.
• Decreased performance.
• Deterioration of short-term memory.
• Lethargy, drowsiness;
• Paresis, paresthesia.

At the last stage, brain hypoxia is characterized by loss of consciousness, the appearance of convulsions, muscle rigidity, involuntary urination and defecation, and coma occurs. When rising to an altitude of 9–11 km above sea level, cardiac activity is sharply disrupted, breathing is depressed and then completely disappears, coma and clinical death occur.

Therapy methods

If a patient is diagnosed with acute brain hypoxia, it is important for the attending physician to ensure the maintenance of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, normalize metabolic processes, and prevent acidosis, which worsens the condition of brain tissue.

How to treat hypoxia in case of cerebrovascular accident? Patients are prescribed vasodilators, anticoagulants, and blood thinners. Medicines are selected taking into account the causes of the development of pathology.

The following methods are also used to treat hypoxia:

• craniocerebral hypothermia;
• hyperbaric oxygenation;
• extracorporeal circulation.

Neuroprotectors, nootropic drugs and antihypoxants protect nerve cells and promote their recovery. Decongestants are used for cerebral edema. Treatment of the consequences of hypoxia is carried out with narcotic drugs and neuroleptics.

If cerebral hypoxia has led to coma, the patient is connected to a ventilator and drugs that increase blood pressure, normalize heart rate and circulating blood volume are administered intravenously. Symptomatic treatment is also used to eliminate the causes of oxygen deficiency.

Acute or chronic cerebral hypoxia occurs when oxygen supply to brain structures is disrupted. The disease can lead to irreversible changes in organ cells, nerve trunks, severe disability and death of the patient. With timely assistance, it is possible to minimize the pathological process and restore brain function.

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