What is hypoxia?

Hypoxia is a condition in which there is decreased oxygenation in the body tissues. It can be generalized, affecting the entire body, or local, affecting a specific part of the body. Hypoxia can cause damage to multiple organs and lead to fatal complications.
Hypoxemia is decreased oxygen in the blood. Hypoxemia can lead to hypoxia.
What are the causes of hypoxia?
Common causes of hypoxia include:
- Anemia
- Asthma
- Heart failure
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Lung infection
- Fluid accumulation in the lungs
- Damage, scarring, or collapse of the lungs
- Respiratory distress
- Drugs like narcotics
- Obstructive sleep apnea (manifests with loud snoring)
- Anesthesia
- Severe blood loss
- Obstruction of the airway due to tumors or foreign body
- Anaphylactic/allergic reactions
- Toxic chemicals like
Causes of hypoxia in a newborn:
What are the four types of hypoxia?
Hypoxic hypoxia (or arterial hypoxia):
- Reduced or lack of oxygen, leading to insufficient air available to the lungs. It can occur due to high altitude, closed breathing space, etc.
- Asthma and other disorders of the lung, heart, or brain can also cause hypoxic ischemia.
Anemic hypoxia:
- Decreased hemoglobin levels in the blood, hence there is decreased oxygen capacity of the blood. Hemoglobin is a protein present in the red blood cells (RBC). It binds to oxygen and supplies oxygen to the entire body. They also give blood its characteristic red color.
- Anemic hypoxia can be caused due to heavy blood loss, decreasing the number of RBCs or decreased hemoglobin level due to severe iron deficiency or hemoglobin deformity.
Ischemic/Stagnant hypoxia:
- Inadequate blood flow to the body tissues because the velocity of blood flow decreases.
- This could be due to heart failure, severe blood loss, or clots in the blood vessel.
Dysoxic/Histotoxic/Tissue hypoxia:
- The oxygen delivered to the tissues is normal, but the cells are unable to use the oxygen. For example, cyanide poisoning.
- Cyanide binds to the oxygen-binding proteins and other parts of the cells in the tissue, preventing the interaction and consumption of oxygen in the tissues.
What is the first sign of hypoxia?
The earliest signs of hypoxia are:
- Confusion
- Restlessness
- Shortness of breath
The other signs and symptoms of hypoxia include:
- Bluish discoloration of skin, lips, and oral cavity
- Decreased level of consciousness
- Cough
- Fast heart rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Slow heart rate
- Palpitations
- Sweating

SLIDESHOW
What is Asthma? Asthma Myths Debunked See SlideshowWhat is the treatment of hypoxia?
- Oxygen therapy is required as soon as possible.
- Treatment of the underlying condition with intravenous steroids or antibiotics.
- Acclimatization: This occurs in those who are exposed to high altitude for a while, wherein the body adapts to the state of decreased oxygen in the air.
What are the complications of hypoxia?
Hypoxia causes decreased oxygenation of multiple organs such as the brain, liver, kidneys, etc., damaging them, and ultimately leading to organ failure. It can potentially lead to death. Hypoxia during pregnancy may also result in fetal death. Hypoxia in newborns is associated with a high mortality rate.
If hypoxia is identified and treated early, patients can recover without any complications.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482316/
https://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/hypoxia-hypoxemia
Top What Is the First Sign of Hypoxia Related Articles
Anemia: Common Causes, Symptoms, Types, and Treatment
Anemia is a disease marked by low numbers of red blood cells. Low iron deficiency or underlying disease, like cancer, may be to blame. Treatment can resolve anemia.Asthma Attack Slides
Asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, headache, fatigue, dark circles under the eyes, trouble sleeping, and loss of appetite. Learn asthma signs and symptoms in adults and kids so you can follow your asthma action plan and know when to seek medical care for an asthma emergency.Anemia
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased. There are several types of anemia such as iron deficiency anemia (the most common type), sickle cell anemia, vitamin B12 anemia, pernicious anemia, and aplastic anemia. Symptoms of anemia may include fatigue, malaise, hair loss, palpitations, menstruation, and medications. Treatment for anemia includes treating the underlying cause for the condition. Iron supplements, vitamin B12 injections, and certain medications may also be necessary.Asthma in Children
Asthma in children manifests with symptoms such as coughing and wheezing. Rates of asthma in children are increasing. Asthma in children is usually diagnosed based on the description of symptoms. Lung function tests may also be used. A variety of medications are used for the treatment of childhood asthma.
Asthma Medications
There are two types of asthma medications: long-term control with anti-inflammatory drugs and quick relief from bronchodilators. Asthma medicines may be inhaled using a metered-dose inhaler or nebulizer or they may be taken orally. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, or heart disease shouldn't take OTC asthma drugs like Primatene Mist and Bronkaid.Asthma Myths Slideshow
What are asthma myths and facts? There is currently no cure for asthma, and no specific, single cause for asthma has been identified. Take this quiz on asthma myths to test your asthma IQ.Asthma
Asthma is a condition in which hyperreactive airways constrict and result in symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Causes of asthma include genetics, environmental factors, personal history of allergies, and other factors. Asthma is diagnosed by a physician based on a patient's family history and results from lung function tests and other exams. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting bronchodilators (LABAs) are used in the treatment of asthma. Generally, the prognosis for a patient with asthma is good. Exposure to allergens found on farms may protect against asthma symptoms.What Is Asthma? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
What is asthma? What is the main cause of asthma? Learn information about asthma, a chronic disease of the bronchiole tubes. Discover information about asthma attacks, complications of asthma, and how to control an asthma attack.Asthma Quiz
Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways of the lungs, which can be managed with proper treatment. Triggered by two main causes, asthma symptoms can be brought on by environmental factors and surprising allergens.Asthma Over-the-Counter Treatment
Patients who have infrequent, mild bouts of asthma attacks may use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat their asthma symptoms. OTC asthma medicines are limited to epinephrine and ephedrine. These OTC drugs are best used with the guidance of a physician, as there may be side effects and the drugs may not be very effective.COPD vs. Asthma (Differences and Similarities)
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma both have common symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and a tight feeling in the chest. COPD is caused by tobacco smoking, while asthma is caused by your inherited genetic makeup and their interactions with the environment. Risk factors for asthma are obesity, exposure to cigarette smoke (even secondhand smoke), and personal history of hay fever. There is no cure for either disease, but symptoms can be managed with medication. A person with asthma has a better prognosis and life expectancy than someone with COPD.Hypoxia (Hypoxemia)
Hypoxia is a condition in which the normal concentration of oxygen in the blood is not enough for normal life functions. Symptoms of hypoxia and/or hypoxemia may be acute such as fast heart rate, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath; or severe symptoms include confusion, the inability to communicate, coma, and sometimes death. Treatment of hypoxia and/or hypoxemia is to provide supplemental oxygen to the body as soon as possible.Pernicious Anemia
Pernicious anemia is a blood disorder in which the body does not make enough red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12 in the blood. Pernicious anemia can develop from a lack of a protein that helps the body absorb vitamin B12, not getting enough B12 in the diet, and certain intestinal conditions that interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12 such as Crohn's disease, celiac sprue, or ulcerative colitis. There is no cure for pernicious anemia, thus treatment is life-long.Pernicious Anemia Picture
Pernicious anemia is a disease where large, immature, nucleated cells (megaloblasts, which are forerunners of red blood cells) circulate in the blood, and do not function as blood cells; it is a disease caused by impaired uptake of vitamin B-12 due to the lack of intrinsic factor (IF) in the gastric mucosa. It was termed "pernicious" because before it was learned that vitamin B-12 could treat the anemia, most people that developed the disease died from it.Sickle Cell Disease (Anemia)
Sickle cell anemia (sickle cell disease), a blood disease that shortens life expectancy, is caused by inherited abnormal hemoglobin. Symptoms of sickle cell anemia may include bacterial infections, painful swelling of the hands and feet, fever, leg ulcers, fatigue, anemia, eye damage, and lung and heart injury. Treatment for sickle cell anemia aims to manage and prevent the worst manifestations of the disease and focuses on therapies that block red blood cells from stacking together, which can lead to tissue and organ damage and pain.What Causes Anemic Hypoxia?
Hypoxia is when there is insufficient oxygen in the body for it to operate normally. Anemic hypoxia is the blood’s inability to carry oxygen throughout the body. Learn what the symptoms are and how to treat anemic hypoxia.