Hypoxia, Oxygen starvation

Title: Hypoxia, oxygen starvation

Hypoxia is a condition that occurs when there is insufficient supply of oxygen to the body's tissues or a violation of its absorption by tissues. Hypoxia is observed very often and serves as the basis for various pathological processes.

According to modern concepts, short-term hypoxia can occur without the presence of any pathological processes in the body that disrupt the transport of oxygen or its absorption by tissues. This may happen in cases where the need for oxygen increases sharply due to extreme physical activity (hard physical labor, overexertion in sports, etc.).

Hypoxia can be acute, even lightning fast (a few seconds), and chronic, lasting for months and years. The causes of hypoxia are very diverse.

It can occur as a result of a lack of oxygen in the inhaled air, for example, when climbing to a height (see mountain sickness), when working in mines, wells, in a submarine, in diving suits, etc. Hypoxia can occur when the airways are blocked by a foreign body, mucus, with bronchospasm, as well as with lung diseases (edema or inflammation), in which the respiratory surface of the lungs sharply decreases, and with other respiratory disorders.

If the airways are blocked or due to other reasons that cause severe breathing problems, a serious condition may occur - asphyxia. Acute hypoxia occurs with severe blood loss, myocardial infarction and other serious conditions, as well as with carbon monoxide poisoning, which disrupts the ability of the blood to carry oxygen to the tissues.

Chronic hypoxia can develop with heart defects, cardiosclerosis, which is associated with weakness of cardiac activity and insufficient blood supply to tissues. A special place is occupied by hypoxia caused by poisoning with certain chemicals, such as cyanide. These substances suppress the respiratory enzymes of cells and tissues, which lose their ability to absorb oxygen.

In this case, fulminant hypoxia may occur. Hypoxia can also be caused by a deficiency of certain vitamins. The nervous system is most sensitive to lack of oxygen. Thus, with a complete cessation of oxygen supply, signs of serious disorders in the cerebral cortex are detected after 2-3 minutes.

During hypoxia, metabolism in the cells and tissues of the whole body changes dramatically. Disorders of cardiac activity can be expressed in increased heart rate, then a weakening of heart activity, the so-called thread-like pulse appears.

In other cases, frequent heart contractions are suddenly replaced by a slow pulse, a sharp paleness of the face, cold sweat appears, legs and arms become cold, and fainting occurs.

After suffering acute hypoxia, the further state of the body is largely determined by the changes that have arisen in the cerebral cortex. Chronic forms of hypoxia, which occur during prolonged circulatory and respiratory failure, and in some diseases, are manifested by increased fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations with little physical exertion, and decreased ability to work.

To prevent hypoxia, which occurs from a lack of oxygen in the inhaled air, special training is carried out to increase the possibility of getting used to hypoxia. In all cases of hypoxia caused by a lack of oxygen in the air, it is necessary, in the form of first aid, to remove or carry the victim into fresh air, if possible, to allow oxygen to be inhaled.

If hypoxia has not gone too far, these measures lead to the elimination of all violations. If foreign bodies enter the respiratory tract, it is necessary to take all measures to eliminate them.

In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, first of all, you need to take the victim to fresh air and perform artificial respiration. In all cases of signs of acute oxygen deficiency