Hypoxia Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Hypoxia is a term used to describe a condition when the body’s tissues do not get adequate oxygen intake. Generally occurs due to insufficient oxygen concentration in the blood or is called hypoxemia.
Hypoxemia (low oxygen in the blood) can cause hypoxia (a condition of low oxygen levels in the body’s tissues). When the blood does not contain enough oxygen to be delivered to the tissues to meet the body’s needs, hypoxia results.
Symptom
Although it can be different for each person, there are several symptoms of hypoxia that are quite common, such as:
- Change in skin color to bluish
- Feeling confused
- Cough
- Increased pulse
- Increased respiratory rate
- Hard to breathe
- Excessive sweating
- Wheezing
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Palpitation in the initial phase of hypoxia. In severe cases, abnormal or irregular heart rhythms may occur.
Reason
Hypoxia can occur due to several conditions. One of them is when someone has a severe asthma attack. When experiencing an attack, the airway will narrow. Thus, the less amount of air that enters the lungs. Coughing which then appears as a shortness reaction can actually make the lungs use more oxygen and worsen the symptoms experienced.
Other conditions that can cause hypoxia are lung problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, pneumonia, and pulmonary edema; also heart disease, anemia, use of high doses of painkillers or other drugs that suppress breathing, and cyanide poisoning.
Diagnosis
Determining the diagnosis of the presence or absence of hypoxia requires direct physical examination. From the patient’s condition, it can be observed that there are complaints of shortness of breath, the skin looks bluish, a history of asthma, a history of previous shortness of breath, and so on. This physical examination is needed to observe the frequency of breathing, additional sounds when breathing, airflow in the lungs, and so on.
In certain conditions, a supporting examination will also be required. Usually in the form of checking oxygen saturation or the amount of oxygen that enters the body’s tissues. Incoming oxygen levels should ideally be in the range of 95% to 100%.
In addition, you can also do a blood gas analysis to see the acidity of the blood and the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. Pulmonary function tests can also be performed if necessary to observe the anatomical function of the lungs and determine the cause of hypoxia.
Treatment
Hypoxic conditions can be treated by improving oxygen flow and increasing the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) in the blood. Handling also needs to be based on the cause of hypoxia and efforts to improve the conditions that cause it. For example, dealing with anemia or asthma which are the main causes of hypoxia.
Those affected by hypoxia can also hyperventilate by breathing faster to increase oxygen flow to the lungs. Even so, this method is not necessarily sufficient to return pO2 to normal levels.
The thing to remember, one of the important methods when dealing with hypoxia is the administration of oxygen. This increases the concentration of inhaled oxygen and thereby increases the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood and corrects hypoxic conditions.
Some of the equipment commonly used to deliver oxygen through inhalation assistance are: nasal cannula (nasal oxygen tube), simple oxygen mask, valve oxygen mask, and breathing tube. The choice of device depends on many factors, including the patient’s signs and symptoms, the severity of hypoxia, body oxygen saturation, state of consciousness, and several other important indications.
Prevention
One way to prevent hypoxia for people with asthma is to prevent asthma recurrence. Asthma sufferers are also advised to always be prepared with medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor. In addition, people with asthma are always encouraged to eat nutritious food, stay active, understand their condition and the triggering factors that trigger an asthma attack, and practice how to deal with it.
Those who have a tendency to experience hypoxia due to altitude are also advised to avoid traveling to high altitudes. Or, prepare everything you need to deal with hypoxia wherever you travel.