Brain hypoxia is a medical emergency because the brain needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to function properly.
There are several causes of brain hypoxia. They include drowning, suffocating, cardiac arrest, and stroke. Mild symptoms include memory loss and problems with motor function, such as movement. Severe cases can result in seizures and brain death.
Read on to learn more about brain hypoxia, also known as cerebral hypoxia.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a lack of oxygen to the brain, or brain hypoxia, may be mild or severe and depend on the level and duration of oxygen deprivation.
Mild symptoms of brain hypoxia include:
- temporary loss of memory
- problems moving parts of the body
- inattentiveness
- poor judgment
Brain cells can begin to die after just 5 minutes of oxygen loss. Symptoms become more dangerous the longer oxygen flow to the brain is cut off.
Severe symptoms of brain hypoxia include:
- coma
- seizure
- brain death
In cases of brain death, there is no brain activity. The pupils of the eyes do not respond to light and people cannot breathe without assistance from a life-support machine. However, the heart continues to pump blood around the body.
Causes of brain hypoxia
There are many reasons why someone may experience brain hypoxia.
Some medical conditions and situations that reduce oxygen supply to the brain include:
- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other diseases that paralyze the breathing muscles
- brain injury
- carbon monoxide poisoning
- cardiac arrest
- choking
- complications arising from anesthesia
- drowning
- drug overdose
- high altitudes
- irregular heartbeat
- lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD
- lung infections, including pneumonia
- respiratory arrest
- severe asthma attack
- smoke inhalation, for example, in a house fire
- strangulation
- stroke
- suffocation
- trauma to the windpipe or lungs
- trauma that causes blood loss
- very low blood pressure, also called hypotension
Sports enthusiasts may be at higher risk if they engage in activities that have a higher risk than others of resulting in a head injury or trauma to the windpipe.
Those who must hold their breath for long periods or travel to high altitudes are also at increased risk.
Examples of risky activities include:
- boxing
- diving
- football
- mountain climbing
- swimming
Having certain medical conditions
Many medical conditions have the potential to affect the oxygen flow to the brain. Examples of such conditions include:
- ALS
- asthma
- heart problems
- hypotension
- lung diseases
- muscle diseases
Working in some professions
People experiencing exposure to intense smoke or carbon monoxide through their job, such as firefighters, may be at increased risk of brain hypoxia.
How long a person has experienced oxygen deprivation will determine their outlook and recovery from brain hypoxia.
It is difficult to predict how quickly a person will recover, but some factors can help foresee the outcome.
Having low brain oxygen levels for several hours can suggest a poorer recovery. Also, research suggests that a person’s functional status on admission to hospital strongly indicates their recovery prospects.
According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, in cases of hypoxic or anoxic brain injury, other factors that predict outcome include:
- Length of coma. The longer a person remains in a coma, the poorer the outcome. They may have a reduced risk of damage if the coma lasts less than 12 hours. However, every case is different.
- Eye movement. If both eyes have fixed or dilated pupils, it suggests damage to the brain stem, which indicates a worse outlook.
- Age. People under 25 years of age may recover better than older adults.
- Results of diagnostic tests. These often give a good indication of recovery. For example, EEG tests that show brain activity may suggest a better outlook.
During recovery from brain hypoxia, people may experience several challenges. These typically resolve over time. They include:
- amnesia
- hallucinations
- insomnia
- memory loss
- mood changes
- muscle spasms and twitches
- personality changes
- seizures
- vision problems
Complications include a prolonged vegetative state, where a person has basic functions but is not awake or alert. These people may develop conditions such as:
- bed sores
- deep vein thrombosis
- pneumonia
Eventually, brain hypoxia can be fatal.
Prevention
It can be challenging to avoid all cases of brain hypoxia. For example, it is difficult to prevent a brain injury received during an unexpected car collision.
To have the best chance of preventing hypoxia, people should monitor health conditions and avoid high altitudes. People should wear proper protective equipment, such as helmets when playing sports with high risks of head injury.
If a person receives cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after a fire or head injury, they may be less likely to experience brain hypoxia, or for it to be less severe. CPR can save lives, especially if carried out immediately.
Takeaway
Brain hypoxia is a medical emergency. If someone displays the symptoms of brain hypoxia or if they are losing consciousness, call the emergency services without delay.
People have their best chance of recovery if they receive medical treatment right away. Prompt medical attention reduces the amount of time that oxygen flow to the brain is limited.
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