What is hypoxia and how dangerous is it?

The organism of any animal, including man, is designed in such a way that it can not directly use the energy of nutrients. To do this, he needs oxygen from the air (he participates in complex processes of converting the final products of food splitting into macroenergetic compounds - ATP and others). This complex of transformations is called biological oxidation and passes in the mitochondria of each cell of the body. In conditions of lack of oxygen, a pathological condition occurs, called hypoxia. What is hypoxia? It, in fact, is the oxygen starvation of the body.

What is hypoxia and why does it occur?

This is a condition of lack of oxygen. Its causes are different, it can be diseases of the heart and blood vessels, blood and respiratory systems, a decrease in the oxygen level in the inspired air, a violation of the ability of the tissue itself to biological oxidation, functional overload of working organs (for example, muscles).

When it is important to determine the level of tissue hypoxia

This is especially important during operations under general anesthesia or in intensive care with artificial ventilation. It is also important to determine the presence or absence of the indicated pathology in the fetus. After all, hypoxia is not only a decrease in the intake of oxygen, it also leads to the accumulation in the blood of the unborn baby under-oxidized metabolic products. As a result of acidification of their blood, the respiratory center of the fetus is stimulated, and the latter begins to breathe through the mouth, swallowing the amniotic fluid, blood and mucus.

What is fetal hypoxia?

Such a question is of interest to a growing number of expectant mothers, because these words are often pronounced by doctors who are watching pregnancy. As already mentioned above, an unborn child may experience oxygen deficiency. What is the consequence of this happening? Causes may include maternal diseases such as bronchial asthma, heart defects, anemia, leukemia, bleeding on presentation or placental abruption, shock, intoxication. In addition, the pathology of the fetus itself can cause oppression of biooxidation in tissues. These include genetic disorders, infections, hemolytic disease, malformations. Finally, disorders of uterine and umbilical blood flow also underlie the insufficient supply of fetal tissues with blood, and hence oxygen.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis is carried out by external signs, such as changes in the color of the skin, depending on the cause of hypoxia. In addition, the symptoms are the presence of dyspnea, an increase in the frequency and strength of heart contractions, a disorder in the functions of the organs.

Based on what is hypoxia and what are the mechanisms of its development, doctors treat it with special medications and methods. Principles of therapy are as follows: increase the flow of oxygen to the tissues, improve the effectiveness of its use, reduce the need for oxygen in the body.

Intrauterine fetal hypoxia is revealed by some signs, such as changes in CTG (cardiotocogram), which shows the heart rate and the frequency of heart contractions. Changes in fetal movements are also taken into account. In the case of severe hypoxia of the baby, appropriate drugs and speedy delivery are used.