Hypoxia
Hypoxia refers to reduced oxygen levels in the body’s tissues that results in symptoms including bluish skin, disorientation, restlessness, difficulty breathing, and a rapid heartbeat. A person can be at risk for hypoxia due to various lung conditions and chronic heart diseases. Hypoxia is a potentially fatal condition.
When a person breathes, oxygen enters their lungs and exits through the airways into tiny sacs known as alveoli. The blood then absorbs it in small veins that pass by the alveoli. It eventually makes its way to other tissues through the blood.
The oxygen gives space for carbon dioxide, which is a waste product. The body releases carbon dioxide when breathing out, which is carried back to the lungs. Hypoxia might develop if there is a lack of oxygen during the process.
Both blood flow and airflow are crucial. This is why having lung or heart illness makes people more susceptible to hypoxia. Unoxygenated blood will be sent to the heart if blood oxygen levels drop due to altered lung function or carbon monoxide poisoning. As a result, the heart muscles will be harmed, leading to a heart attack.
