Cerebral Hypoxia

Cerebral hypoxia, or hypoxic brain injury, is a serious condition in which the brain is partially private from oxygen. In the most severe cases, it leases to deep brain injury. Many people make a confusion between anoxic brain injury and hypoxic brain injury, but the two are different conditions. In anoxic brain injury, no oxygen reaches the brain. In such cases, patients are submitted to oxygen and ventilation therapies, to avoid coma and brain death.

Why is this disease developed?

Cerebral hypoxia can be caused by any type of event that leads to brain injury and a lack of oxygen in the brain. Causes can be classified as internal or external to the body. The mild forms of the disease can be caused by asthma or anemia, as well as other diseases that affect blood oxygenation and breathing. However, in most cases, this brain disease is determined by traumatic events.

Cerebral hypoxia may be caused by:

  • Pressure on the windpipe;
  • Strangulation;
  • Chocking;
  • Breathing in smoke;
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning;
  • Drowning;
  • Drug overdose;
  • Very low blood pressure;
  • Cardiac arrhythmia;
  • Diseases that prevent movement.


Signs and symptoms

There are few signs and symptoms that may indicate the development of this condition. They include:

  • Change in attention;
  • Poor judgment;
  • No breathing;
  • Uncoordinated movement;
  • No response of the pupils of the eye to light;
  • Complete unawareness and unresponsiveness.


Emergency treatment has to be administrated to patients suffering from brain injury. The sooner the oxygen supply is restored to the brain, the higher chances a patient has to improve his health and avoid severe damage to the brain. Treatment depends on the state of each patient. It will commonly include mechanical ventilation and oxygen, controlling the heart rate, raising blood pressure, in case it is low, as well as medication to prevent and calm seizures.

Rushing the patient to the emergency room as soon as the disease shows its first signs is a must. This may not only help him overcome the disease sooner, but it may actually save his life.