Oxygen starvation (lack of oxygen): causes and types, signs, how to treat, consequences. Oxygen starvation of the heart symptoms There is not enough oxygen in the blood what to do

If it becomes difficult to breathe, the problem may be due to malfunctions in the nervous regulation, muscle and bone injuries, as well as other anomalies. This is the most common symptom in panic attacks and vegetative dystonia.

Why is it hard to breathe - the reaction of the body

In many cases, shortness of breath situations can be an indicator of serious illness. Therefore, one cannot ignore such a deviation and wait until the next attack passes in the hope that a new one will not repeat soon.

Almost always, if there is not enough air when inhaling, the reason lies in hypoxia - a drop in the oxygen content in cells and tissues. It can also be a matter of hypoxemia, when oxygen drops in the blood itself.

Each of these deviations becomes the main factor why activation in the brain respiratory center begins, the heartbeat and breathing become more frequent. In this case, gas exchange in the blood with atmospheric air becomes more intense and oxygen starvation decreases.

Almost everyone experiences a feeling of lack of oxygen during running or other physical activity, but if this happens even with a calm step or at rest, then the situation is serious. Any indicators such as a change in the rhythm of breathing, shortness of breath, the duration of inhalation and exhalation should not be ignored.

Varieties of shortness of breath and other data on the disease

Dyspnea or non-medical language- shortness of breath, is a disease that is accompanied by a feeling of lack of air. In the case of heart problems, the appearance of shortness of breath begins during physical exertion in the early stages, and if the situation gradually worsens without treatment, even in a relative state of rest.

This is especially evident in a horizontal position, which forces the patient to constantly sit.

Manifested by attacks of severe shortness of breath most often at night, the deviation may be a manifestation of cardiac asthma. In this case, inhalation is difficult and this is an indicator of inspiratory dyspnea. An expiratory type of shortness of breath is when, on the contrary, it is difficult to exhale air.

This happens due to narrowing of the lumen in the small bronchi or in case of loss of elasticity in the tissues of the lungs. Directly cerebral dyspnea is manifested due to irritation of the respiratory center, which can occur due to tumors and hemorrhages.

Difficulty or rapid breathing

Depending on the frequency of respiratory contractions, there can be 2 types of shortness of breath:

The main criterion that shortness of breath is pathological is that it occurs in a normal situation and light loads, when it was previously absent.

The physiology of the respiratory process and why there may be problems

When it is difficult to breathe and there is not enough air, the reasons may be in violation of complex processes at the physiological level. Oxygen in our body enters our body, into the lungs and spreads to all cells thanks to the surfactant.

This is a complex of various active substances (polysaccharides, proteins, phospholipids, etc.) lining the inside of the alveoli of the lungs. Responsible for ensuring that the pulmonary vesicles do not stick together and oxygen freely enters the lungs.

The value of the surfactant is very significant - with its help, the spread of air through the alveolar membrane is accelerated by 50-100 times. That is, we can say that we can breathe thanks to the surfactant.

The less surfactant, the more difficult it will be for the body to ensure a normal respiratory process.

The surfactant helps the lungs absorb and assimilate oxygen, prevents the walls of the lungs from sticking together, improves immunity, protects the epithelium and prevents edema from appearing. Therefore, if there is a constant feeling of oxygen starvation, it is quite possible that the body cannot provide healthy breathing due to failures in the production of surfactant.

Possible causes of the disease

Often a person can feel - "I am suffocating, as if a stone is on my lungs." In good health, this situation should not be in a normal state of rest or in the case of light exertion. The reasons for the lack of oxygen can be very diverse:

Despite such a long list of possible reasons why it can be difficult to inhale, surfactant is almost always at the root of the problem. From the point of view of physiology, this is the fatty membrane of the inner walls of the alveoli.

The alveolus is a vesicular depression in the lungs and is involved in the respiratory act. Thus, if everything is in order with the surfactant, any diseases on the lungs and breathing will be minimally reflected.

Therefore, if we see people in transport, pale and in a fainting state, most likely the whole thing is also in the surfactant. When a person notices behind himself - “I yawn too often”, then the substance is produced incorrectly.

How to Avoid Surfactant Problems

It has already been noted that the basis of the surfactant is fats, of which it consists of almost 90%. The rest is supplemented by polysaccharides and proteins. The key function of fats in our body is precisely the synthesis of this substance.

Therefore, a common reason why there are problems with surfactant is following the fashion for a low-fat diet. People who have eliminated fats from their diet (which can be beneficial, and not only harmful), soon begin to suffer from hypoxia.

Useful are unsaturated fats, which are found in fish, nuts, olive and vegetable oils. Among vegetable products, avocados are excellent in this regard.

The lack of healthy fats in the diet leads to hypoxia, which subsequently develops into ischemic heart disease, which is one of the most common causes of premature death. It is especially important for women to properly form their diet during pregnancy, so that both she and the child produce all the necessary substances in the right amount.

How can you take care of your lungs and alveoli

Since we breathe with the help of the lungs through the mouth, and oxygen enters the body only through the alveolar link, in case of breathing problems, you need to take care of the health of the respiratory system. It may also be necessary to pay special attention to the heart, since with a lack of oxygen, various problems can begin with it, requiring prompt treatment.

In addition to proper nutrition and the inclusion of healthy fatty foods in the diet, other effective preventive measures can be taken. A good way to improve your health is to visit salt rooms and caves. Now they can be easily found in almost any city.

The feeling when it is hard to breathe is a frequent accompaniment of vegetovascular dystonia. Why are people with VVD sometimes unable to take a full breath? One common cause is hyperventilation syndrome.

This problem is not related to the lungs, heart or bronchi.

When there is not enough oxygen, the cause may well be in disorders of the autonomic nervous system. Breathing is a process associated with the somatic nervous system. In this case, if it is difficult to inhale oxygen, we can talk about neurosis and psychological root causes.

By themselves, difficulty in breathing caused by unpleasant experiences, stress and other nervous factors is not such a dangerous factor, but the risk lies in making an incorrect diagnosis with similar symptoms with the appointment of incorrect treatment.

Prevention of shortness of breath and shortness of breath

If it sometimes becomes difficult to breathe and lead an active lifestyle, perhaps the reason is not in the disease, but in poor physical shape. Therefore, the first step is to start regularly performing active aerobic exercises, walk more quickly or run, visit the gym.

It is very important to monitor nutrition, eat the right food, do not overeat, but also do not skip meals. You need to get enough sleep at night. Quitting bad habits is the most important step to feeling good.

Since fear or anger creates a feeling of heaviness in the chest and increases the production of adrenaline, you should try to avoid serious experiences. With severe panic attacks, you should definitely consult a doctor. The appearance of severe shortness of breath during stress can also be an indicator of the presence of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Thus, in order to avoid health problems and breathing difficulties, you need to monitor nutrition (eat enough proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins for your age and weight), lead a proper lifestyle. With persistent unpleasant symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor, as more serious diseases may be present, accompanied by difficult breathing.

The occurrence of such a state has been the subject of close attention of physicians throughout the existence of such a science as medicine.

As is the case with any disease or syndrome that is superficially studied through symptomatic research, the deeper roots of such a disease are not always known.

Each organism is unique and unrepeatable, so it is important for a person to figure out for himself the possible causes of his particular problem.

The lack of oxygen in the body is called hypoxia. At its core, it is an insufficient supply of tissues and organs with oxygen. This can happen for dozens of different reasons.

Oxygen may not be enough in the inhaled air itself, that is, it simply does not enter the body from the outside, and not every modern weakened person can produce from internal reserves.

In addition, there are not enough chemicals inside, including vitamins and microelements, to bind and retain oxygen, or its transportation to tissues, organs, including the brain, is “lame”.

It turns out that at any stage of the life cycles that the body goes through, as a set of organs and systems that must work harmoniously, a so-called weak spot can arise.

It is because of him that the entire sequence of work (functioning) collapses.

The lack of oxygen in the blood is called hypoxemia. A similar condition, if we talk about a sharp change, develops into inhalation of carbon monoxide or climbing high in mountains with a rarefied atmosphere (air).

Such a lack of oxygen is not felt by a person in any way, since the reaction of the respiratory center (its irritation) does not occur.

In this situation, the individual may simply suddenly lose consciousness.

Hypoxia is a broader concept, as it covers the entire body (any part of it) and develops for a long time, leading the body to oxygen starvation.

There are such types of this pathological condition:

• Respiratory, exogenous or hypoxic (resonates with the above hypoxemia, as there is a shortage of the oxygen element in the inhaled air, as well as in violation of the regulation of breathing, as a complex psycho-physiological phenomenon).
• Circulatory (observed in case of circulatory disorders, that is, O2 enters the body in a normal amount, but cannot be properly processed by it).
• Anemic or hemic (with insufficient blood production or failure to perform respiratory function).
• Toxic (blood “does not work” due to poisoning, toxication).
• Overload (if with an increase in physical activity, the “O2 supply” does not increase proportionally).
• Tissue or histotoxic (caused by the inability of tissues to absorb oxygen to function properly).
• Mixed (caused by several factors at the same time).

The lack of oxygen in tissues, organs, the human body can be caused by completely different factors, ranging from its non-receipt during inhalation to improper processing of this extremely important element inside the body.

O2 deficiency symptoms

The very first organ (it is also the most important, as it regulates the work of the rest), which suffers from a lack of oxygen, is the brain. Therefore, the symptoms that are associated with this problem refer specifically to his condition. Here they are:

• Constant, not passing drowsiness, which even the longest and most regular sleep cannot remove.
• Pain in the head of a dull nature (not expressed in one place, not stabbing or throbbing, namely, dull pain).
• Weakness in the body.
• Dizziness, slow thinking.
• Rapid beat (rapid heartbeat).
• Yawning (often).
• Irritability for no particular reason.
• Regular perspiration, and cold.
• Paleness of the skin all over the body.
• Increased possibility of loss of consciousness.

By the way, other unhealthy conditions can be characterized by the same symptoms. For example, such as stress, nicotine poisoning (for those who smoke cigarettes a lot and regularly), constant alcohol intoxication (for those who drink a lot of alcoholic beverages).

Depending on the initial cause, hypoxia can be:

• Lightning fast. It develops very quickly, but it may not last long - from a few seconds.
• Acute. Usually occurs with a special, severe inability to perform the transport-oxygen function due to poisoning, severe blood loss, heart attack, etc.
• Subacute. With a less pronounced violation of the supply of oxygen to the body.
• Chronic. It is a constant companion of a person with heart failure, with heart defects.

Symptoms of a lack of oxygen in the body are not necessarily immediately expressed as difficulty breathing. At first glance, they may not be connected in any way with metabolism and the very act of inhalation and exhalation.

The consequences of a lack of oxygen are described in the video:

Definition and treatment of hypoxia

The lack of oxygen in the body, symptoms and which must be strictly controlled throughout a person's life, is a serious and life-threatening health deviation that can be observed from prenatal development.

The most difficult (severe) conditions are brain hypoxia, in which coma and death can even occur, as well as fetal hypoxia, which is also extremely fraught with negative consequences. Of the other organs, for which a sufficient supply of “vital gas” is very important, one can single out the liver and kidneys.

How can you determine the presence of a lack of O2? First, with the help of analyses. They show the content of red blood cells (they carry oxygen with the help of the hemoglobin contained in them, which can bind (retain) oxygen); oxygen saturation (determined by color).

Secondly, the tools for determining the presence of such problems are an electrocardiogram, brain tomography, and an electroencephalogram. As a result of such studies, doctors can establish the presence of hypoxia, severe cases of which require treatment in a hospital.

At the same time, indicators of heart rhythms, blood pressure are constantly monitored, and treatment in such conditions is carried out with medication, complex. It is aimed at supplying the missing trace elements, vitamins, minerals, improving the functioning of systems.

If the reason for the lack of oxygen is external, that is, it depends on external circumstances, oxygen masks and cylinders are used. Other means are used to correct the “long-playing” shortage.

These are bronchodilators, antihypoxants, respiratory analeptics.

If the problem is in hematopoiesis or processing, carrying oxygen, then agents that stimulate hematopoietic function are used, as well as oxygen treatment.

In case of improper functioning of the heart, doctors prescribe glycosides, corrective operations on the heart or blood vessels, cardiotropes. If the disease state is caused by poisonous substances, then it makes sense to use antidotes.

As for non-drug remedies for solving the problem, there is also a rather large selection of remedies that have a therapeutic effect with repeated use. Birch sap is one such remedy. It should be noted that it is a natural product taken from the wood of the corresponding tree that is meant.

Birch sap collected according to the rules, used regularly, can give a striking effect. It is drunk one liter a day for several times.

Folk medicine - lingonberry

In addition to this natural component, you can try to use lingonberry (brewing from dry lingonberry leaves).

It is necessary to take dry material in the amount of twenty grams and pour a glass of boiling water.

After half an hour of infusion under the lid, this folk medicine becomes ready for use (you need to drink three times a day after meals, one third of a glass).

Hawthorn tincture showed its effect perfectly.

To prepare it, take the leaves of this plant and pour alcohol, moonshine in an amount of about one hundred milliliters. Its use is also associated with eating, but you only need to drink it before meals for thirty to forty minutes, forty drops each, although this is not the exact dosage.

Treatment of the state of lack of air (oxygen) always depends on additional factors and circumstances of the occurrence of an unhealthy dangerous illness. Both medicines and folk remedies are used.

What causes this painful condition

The lack of oxygen in the body, the consequences of which may not appear immediately after the onset of this difficult-to-diagnose condition, but after some time, is a serious problem for humanity today. As a result of hypoxia, pathological processes develop in the brain over time.

Among such sad results, his swelling is manifested, which in turn leads to the onset of irreversible changes in his nerve cells - neurons.

Simply put, in the worst case, the death of these important components of the work of any brain and the cessation of the activity of the organism as a whole can occur. In general, the depth (strength, degree) of such changes depends on the prescription of painful changes and the depth of action of external and internal factors.

If we are talking about acute hypoxia, the course of the disease depends on the speed of medical care.

In the event of irreversible consequences, such a patient is already often impossible to save. With not serious, just begun changes, it is very easy to reverse. To do this, you need to immediately remove the dangerous factor, whether it be an external influence or pathological processes that flow inside the body itself.

As a result, the consequences of oxygen starvation can be:

• Conditions of moderate severity that require short-term treatment and the removal of the body from “oxygen hunger”.
• Temporary, not noticeable to an outside observer, reversible changes, manifested by a slight deterioration in the patient's well-being.
• A serious condition leading to the onset of irreversible consequences, such as the death of brain neurons, and, as a result, death.

Depending on the stage at which a deviation from the norm of the body's vital activity was noticed, it makes sense to use this or that help: for example, the exclusion of an unhealthy factor, folk remedies or medicines.

The brain is the organ that consumes the most oxygen from the blood circulating throughout the body. Therefore, it is very sensitive to hypoxia or oxygen starvation. Nerve cells are sensitive to hypoxia. The lack of oxygen in the brain is manifested by the following symptoms:

1. Dizziness.
2. Weakness.
3. Fainting.
4. Failures in the work of the heart.
5. Paleness of the skin.
6. Darkening in the eyes or white midges.
7. Violation of vision.
8. Coma.
9. Nausea.
10. Headache.

Find out: types of oxygen starvation.

Degrees: diagnosis and treatment, how to avoid serious consequences.

Symptoms of lack of oxygen

Dizziness is one of the early symptoms of lack of oxygen in the brain. In this case, the activity of the vestibular apparatus is disrupted in a person, it is possible. Dizziness is often accompanied by nausea and sometimes vomiting. Often there is weakness, the patient has a pale appearance, it gets dark in his eyes or white flies appear.

During hypoxia, the whole body suffers, and the heart tries to compensate for the hypoxic state by increasing the frequency of contractions. Therefore, there is tachycardia, interruptions in the work of the heart, increased apex beat.

With a more serious and prolonged lack of oxygen in the brain, a symptom such as loss of consciousness occurs. It can be short-term and superficial, as with, or deep and prolonged, as with a coma. A long stay in a coma exacerbates the hypoxic state, as it gets upset, the work of the respiratory center in the stem section is inhibited.

Important! How long does the brain live without oxygen? Without a blood supply, he will endure no more than 5-6 minutes. Then comes biological death, ascertained by the doctor.

If the nerve cells are dead, then the following disorders may occur:

1. Post-stroke depression.
2. Loss of memory and skills.
3. Increased irritability.

Causes of lack of oxygen

Hypoxia has many causes: chronic diseases, prolonged physical activity, acute conditions. The main factors in the development of hypoxia of the central nervous system:

1. Circulatory disorder: shock, collapse.
2. Violation of cerebral circulation.
3. Diseases of the broncho-pulmonary system.
4. anemia.
5. Cardiovascular diseases: VVD, stenosis, heart valve insufficiency.
6. Endocrine diseases: diabetes mellitus, hypo- or hyperthyroidism.

Shock states and collapse

Shock occurs when the body does not provide normal blood supply to the organs. This happens with abundant blood loss, anaphylactic reactions (allergies), burns with plasmorrhagia (plasma leakage), dehydration, severe heart failure, toxic shock.

Hemorrhagic shock is a violation of blood circulation after a massive loss of blood. There is a centralization of blood circulation in such a way that the blood flow is sufficient for the most vital organs: the heart, the brain.

The body is able to compensate for some deficiency in blood volume by activating the sympathetic-adrenal and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems. These hormonal systems constrict peripheral vessels, retain water in the body, and also stimulate the heart. These processes occur in all types of shock. With blood loss, hematopoiesis is activated.

Collapse is a condition in which peripheral vessels are dilated due to a drop in their tone. Shock conditions and collapse equally detrimental effect on nerve cells, causing oxygen starvation and loss of consciousness.

Cerebrovascular disorders

These include:

1. Hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes.
2. Transient ischemic attack.
3. Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels.
4. Spasm of blood vessels or their expansion.

Hemorrhagic stroke is usually caused by excessive blood pressure on fragile vessels. The artery ruptures and bleeds. As a result, blood delivery to a certain area of ​​​​the central nervous system stops, and he dies.

When the cause is usually arterial thrombosis. If the clot does not dissolve, then it closes the artery, and blood flow is blocked.

A transient ischemic attack occurs when there is a violation of blood circulation in the carotid arteries that run along the neck to the head. In this case, a temporary shutdown of the blood supply occurs, the person feels dizzy, flies flicker before his eyes.

Atherosclerotic vasoconstriction impairs blood circulation. At the same time, the patient's hair turns gray early, yellow spots appear on the eyelids - cholesterol deposits.

Spasm of the vessels of the head is usually a consequence of psychological stress. The release of adrenaline and cortisol leads to a sharp narrowing of the arteries. Vasodilation occurs with migraines and cluster pains. The cause of them may be acidosis or acidification of the internal environment or allergic conditions.

Diseases of the respiratory and cardiac system

Chronic diseases of the lungs and bronchi lead to a decrease in the oxygen content in the blood. In this case, the color of the skin in patients may be pale bluish, and the nose, ears, fingers and toes are more intensely colored. A sign of chronic hypoxia - fingers in the form of drumsticks, nails look like watch glasses.

Diseases of the respiratory system that cause a hypoxic state include:

1. Obstructive bronchitis.
2. asthma.
3. Pneumosclerosis.
4. emphysema.

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Vegetative-vascular dystonia, heart failure causes hypoxia in the nervous system. In this case, weakness occurs, fainting, profuse sweating are also possible.

How to treat hypoxia?

To increase resistance to hypoxia, antihypoxants are used, such as:

1. Preductal (Mildronate).
2. Trimetazidine.
3. Cytoflavin.
4. Actovegin.
5. Vitamins B1, B9, B12.

How to saturate the brain with oxygen? This can be done in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber where oxygen is supplied at elevated pressure. The nervous system is sensitive to oxygen starvation and cannot tolerate it for a long time without consequences. With the above symptoms, you need to contact a neurologist.

Breathing is a natural physiological act that occurs constantly and which most of us do not pay attention to, because the body itself regulates the depth and frequency of respiratory movements depending on the situation. The feeling that there is not enough air, perhaps, is familiar to everyone. It can appear after a quick jog, climbing stairs to a high floor, with strong excitement, but a healthy body quickly copes with such shortness of breath, bringing breathing back to normal.

If short-term shortness of breath after exercise does not cause serious concern, quickly disappearing during rest, then prolonged or sudden onset a sharp difficulty in breathing can signal a serious pathology, often requiring immediate treatment. An acute lack of air when the airways are closed by a foreign body, pulmonary edema, an asthmatic attack can cost a life, so any respiratory disorder requires clarification of its cause and timely treatment.

In the process of breathing and providing tissues with oxygen, not only the respiratory system is involved, although its role, of course, is paramount. It is impossible to imagine breathing without the proper functioning of the muscular frame of the chest and diaphragm, the heart and blood vessels, and the brain. Breathing is influenced by the composition of the blood, hormonal status, activity of the nerve centers of the brain and many external causes - sports training, rich food, emotions.

The body successfully adjusts to fluctuations in the concentration of gases in the blood and tissues, increasing, if necessary, the frequency of respiratory movements. With a lack of oxygen or increased needs in it, breathing quickens. Acidosis, which accompanies a number of infectious diseases, fever, tumors, provokes an increase in breathing to remove excess carbon dioxide from the blood and normalize its composition. These mechanisms turn on themselves, without our will and efforts, but in some cases they become pathological.

Any respiratory disorder, even if its cause seems obvious and harmless, requires examination and a differentiated approach to treatment, therefore, if you feel that there is not enough air, it is better to immediately go to a general practitioner, cardiologist, neurologist, psychotherapist.

Causes and types of respiratory failure

When it is difficult for a person to breathe and there is not enough air, they speak of shortness of breath. This sign is considered an adaptive act in response to an existing pathology or reflects the natural physiological process of adaptation to changing external conditions. In some cases, it becomes difficult to breathe, but an unpleasant feeling of lack of air does not occur, since hypoxia is eliminated by an increased frequency of respiratory movements - in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, work in breathing apparatus, a sharp rise to a height.

Shortness of breath is inspiratory and expiratory. In the first case, there is not enough air when inhaling, in the second - when exhaling, but a mixed type is also possible, when it is difficult to both inhale and exhale.

Shortness of breath does not always accompany the disease, it is physiological, and this is a completely natural condition. The causes of physiological shortness of breath are:

• Physical exercise;
• Excitement, strong emotional experiences;
• Being in a stuffy, poorly ventilated room, in the highlands.

Physiological increase in breathing occurs reflexively and passes after a short time. Poorly fit people who have a sedentary "office" job experience shortness of breath in response to physical effort more often than those who regularly visit the gym, pool or just take daily walks. As general physical development improves, shortness of breath occurs less frequently.

Pathological shortness of breath can develop acutely or disturb constantly, even at rest, significantly aggravated by the slightest physical effort. A person suffocates when the airways are quickly closed by a foreign body, swelling of the tissues of the larynx, lungs and other serious conditions. When breathing in this case, the body does not receive the necessary even minimal amount of oxygen, and other severe disorders are added to shortness of breath.

The main pathological reasons for which it is difficult to breathe are:

• Diseases of the respiratory system - pulmonary dyspnea;
• Pathology of the heart and blood vessels - cardiac dyspnea;
• Violations of the nervous regulation of the act of breathing - shortness of breath of the central type;
• Violation of the gas composition of the blood - hematogenous shortness of breath.

cardiac causes

Heart disease is one of the most common reasons why it becomes difficult to breathe. The patient complains that he does not have enough air and notes the appearance of edema in the legs, fatigue, etc. Usually, patients whose breathing is disturbed against the background of changes in the heart have already been examined and are even taking appropriate drugs, but shortness of breath can not only persist, but in some cases is aggravated.

With a pathology of the heart, there is not enough air when inhaling, that is, inspiratory dyspnea. It accompanies, can persist even at rest in its severe stages, is aggravated at night when the patient lies.

The most common reasons:

1. arrhythmias;
2. and myocardial dystrophy;
3. Defects - congenital lead to shortness of breath in childhood and even the neonatal period;
4. Inflammatory processes in the myocardium, pericarditis;
5. Heart failure.

The occurrence of breathing difficulties in cardiac pathology is most often associated with the progression of heart failure, in which either there is no adequate cardiac output and tissues suffer from hypoxia, or congestion occurs in the lungs due to failure of the left ventricular myocardium ().

In addition to shortness of breath, often combined with dry excruciating, in persons with cardiac pathology, there are other characteristic complaints that somewhat facilitate diagnosis - pain in the heart, "evening" edema, cyanosis of the skin, interruptions in the heart. It becomes more difficult to breathe in the supine position, so most patients even sleep half-sitting, thus reducing the flow of venous blood from the legs to the heart and the manifestations of shortness of breath.

symptoms of heart failure

With an attack of cardiac asthma, which can quickly turn into alveolar pulmonary edema, the patient literally suffocates - the respiratory rate exceeds 20 per minute, the face turns blue, the cervical veins swell, the sputum becomes foamy. Pulmonary edema requires emergency care.

Treatment of cardiac dyspnea depends on the underlying cause that caused it. An adult patient with heart failure is prescribed diuretics (furosemide, veroshpiron, diacarb), ACE inhibitors (lisinopril, enalapril, etc.), beta-blockers and antiarrhythmics, cardiac glycosides, oxygen therapy.

Children are shown diuretics (diacarb), and drugs of other groups are strictly dosed due to possible side effects and contraindications in childhood. Congenital malformations, in which the child begins to suffocate from the very first months of life, may require urgent surgical correction and even heart transplantation.

Pulmonary causes

Lung pathology is the second reason leading to difficulty in breathing, while both inhalation and exhalation are possible. Pulmonary pathology with respiratory failure is:

• Chronic obstructive diseases - asthma, bronchitis, pneumosclerosis, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary emphysema;
• Pneumo- and hydrothorax;
• tumors;
• Foreign bodies of the respiratory tract;
• in the branches of the pulmonary arteries.

Chronic inflammatory and sclerotic changes in the lung parenchyma greatly contribute to respiratory failure. They are aggravated by smoking, poor environmental conditions, recurrent infections of the respiratory system. Shortness of breath at first worries during physical exertion, gradually becoming permanent, as the disease passes into a more severe and irreversible stage of the course.

With pathology of the lungs, the gas composition of the blood is disturbed, there is a lack of oxygen, which, first of all, is not enough for the head and brain. Severe hypoxia provokes metabolic disorders in the nervous tissue and the development of encephalopathy.

Patients with bronchial asthma are well aware of how breathing is disturbed during an attack: it becomes very difficult to exhale, there is discomfort and even pain in the chest, arrhythmia is possible, sputum when coughing is separated with difficulty and is extremely scarce, the cervical veins swell. Patients with this shortness of breath sit with their hands on their knees - this position reduces venous return and stress on the heart, alleviating the condition. Most often it is difficult to breathe and there is not enough air for such patients at night or in the early morning hours.

In a severe asthma attack, the patient suffocates, the skin becomes bluish, panic and some disorientation are possible, and status asthmaticus may be accompanied by convulsions and loss of consciousness.

With respiratory disorders due to chronic pulmonary pathology, the appearance of the patient changes: the chest becomes barrel-shaped, the spaces between the ribs increase, the jugular veins are large and dilated, as well as the peripheral veins of the extremities. Expansion of the right half of the heart against the background of sclerotic processes in the lungs leads to its insufficiency, and shortness of breath becomes mixed and more severe, that is, not only the lungs cannot cope with breathing, but the heart cannot provide adequate blood flow, overfilling the venous part of the systemic circulation with blood.

Not enough air also in case pneumonia, pneumothorax, hemothorax. With inflammation of the lung parenchyma, it becomes not only difficult to breathe, the temperature also rises, there are obvious signs of intoxication on the face, and coughing is accompanied by sputum production.

An extremely serious cause of sudden respiratory failure is the entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract. It can be a piece of food or a small part of a toy that the baby accidentally inhales while playing. The victim with a foreign body begins to suffocate, turns blue, quickly loses consciousness, cardiac arrest is possible if help does not arrive in time.

Thromboembolism of the pulmonary vessels can also lead to sudden and rapidly increasing shortness of breath, cough. It occurs more often than a person suffering from pathology of the vessels of the legs, heart, destructive processes in the pancreas. With thromboembolism, the condition can be extremely severe with an increase in asphyxia, blue skin, rapid cessation of breathing and heartbeat.

In children, shortness of breath is most often associated with the ingress of a foreign body during the game, pneumonia, swelling of the tissues of the larynx. Croup- edema with stenosis of the larynx, which can accompany a wide variety of inflammatory processes, ranging from banal laryngitis to diphtheria. If the mother notices that the baby is breathing frequently, turns pale or blue, shows obvious anxiety or breathing is completely interrupted, then you should immediately seek help. Severe respiratory disorders in children are fraught with asphyxia and death.

In some cases, the cause of severe shortness of breath is allergy and Quincke's edema, which are also accompanied by stenosis of the lumen of the larynx. The cause may be a food allergen, a wasp sting, inhalation of plant pollen, a drug. In these cases, both the child and the adult require emergency medical care to stop the allergic reaction, and in case of asphyxia, a tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation may be required.

Treatment of pulmonary dyspnea should be differentiated. If the cause of everything is a foreign body, then it must be removed as soon as possible, with allergic edema, the child and adult are shown the introduction of antihistamines, glucocorticoid hormones, adrenaline. In case of asphyxia, a tracheo- or conicotomy is performed.

In bronchial asthma, treatment is multistage, including beta-agonists (salbutamol) in sprays, anticholinergics (ipratropium bromide), methylxanthines (eufillin), glucocorticosteroids (triamcinolone, prednisolone).

Acute and chronic inflammatory processes require antibacterial and detoxification therapy, and compression of the lungs with pneumo- or hydrothorax, impaired airway patency by a tumor is an indication for surgery (puncture of the pleural cavity, thoracotomy, removal of part of the lung, etc.).

Cerebral causes

In some cases, breathing difficulties are associated with brain damage, because the most important nerve centers that regulate the activity of the lungs, blood vessels, and heart are located there. Shortness of breath of this type is characteristic of structural damage to the brain tissue - trauma, neoplasm, stroke, edema, encephalitis, etc.

Respiratory function disorders in brain pathology are very diverse: it is possible both to slow down breathing and to increase it, the appearance of different types of pathological breathing. Many patients with severe brain pathology are on artificial lung ventilation, as they simply cannot breathe on their own.

The toxic effect of the waste products of microbes, fever leads to an increase in hypoxia and acidification of the internal environment of the body, which causes shortness of breath - the patient breathes often and noisily. Thus, the body seeks to quickly get rid of excess carbon dioxide and provide tissues with oxygen.

A relatively harmless cause of cerebral dyspnea can be considered functional disorders in the activity of the brain and peripheral nervous system - neurosis, hysteria. In these cases, shortness of breath is of a “nervous” nature, and in some cases this is noticeable to the naked eye, even to a non-specialist.

With intercostal neuralgia, the patient feels severe pain in half of the chest, aggravated by movement and inhalation, especially impressionable patients can panic, breathe often and superficially. With osteochondrosis, it is difficult to inhale, and constant pain in the spine can provoke chronic shortness of breath, which can be difficult to distinguish from shortness of breath in pulmonary or cardiac pathologies.

Treatment of breathing difficulties in diseases of the musculoskeletal system includes exercise therapy, physiotherapy, massage, drug support in the form of anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics.

Many expectant mothers complain that as the pregnancy progresses, it becomes more difficult for them to breathe. This symptom may well fit into the norm, because the growing uterus and fetus raise the diaphragm and reduce the expansion of the lungs, hormonal changes and the formation of the placenta contribute to an increase in the number of respiratory movements to provide the tissues of both organisms with oxygen.

However, during pregnancy, breathing should be carefully assessed so as not to miss a serious pathology behind its seemingly natural increase, which can be anemia, thromboembolic syndrome, progression of heart failure with a defect in a woman, etc.

One of the most dangerous reasons why a woman can begin to choke during pregnancy is pulmonary embolism. This condition is a threat to life, accompanied by a sharp increase in breathing, which becomes noisy and ineffective. Possible asphyxia and death without emergency care.

Thus, having considered only the most common causes of shortness of breath, it becomes clear that this symptom can indicate dysfunction of almost all organs or systems of the body, and in some cases it is difficult to isolate the main pathogenic factor. Patients who find it difficult to breathe need a thorough examination, and if the patient is suffocating, urgent qualified help is needed.

Candidate of Medical Sciences, teacher of a medical university

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Breathing is an involuntary action that our body does, whether we are aware of it or not. Our bodies need oxygen to survive, not only to breathe, but for oxygen to circulate through our blood to all of our vital organs, our cells and the tissues in our bodies.

When there is not enough oxygen in our blood, it is called hypoxemia.

« Hypoxemia can be acute, occurring suddenly due to an emergency, or chronic, occurring over time due to a long-term health condition such as COPD' adds Deborah.

5 signs of lack of oxygen in the blood

1. Weakness and dizziness

Common signs of low blood oxygen levels are weakness or dizziness. People who do not have enough oxygen in their blood often find that this happens daily, during any level of light or activity.

Family doctor Dr. D. Lyubov states: “ A muscle can burn fuel without oxygen for a limited period of time, but it cannot be maintained indefinitely. Therefore, chronically low oxygen levels will cause muscle weakness. It would be unusual for low oxygen levels to cause muscle weakness as the only symptom; it is to be expected that there will also be shortness of breath.»

Since your blood carries oxygen throughout your body, being quickly tired or dizzy is a sign that your blood does not contain enough oxygen.

2. Fatigue

Chronic fatigue is the main sign that your body is not getting enough oxygen. There are different types of fatigue. But the fatigue associated with hypoxemia is chronic and never-ending.

According to a Healthline article, from a medical perspective, Dr. Graham Rogers: " Without proper gas exchange, your body cannot get the oxygen it needs. Over time, you will develop a lack of oxygen in your blood, which is called hypoxia. When your body is low on oxygen, you feel tired. Fatigue comes faster when your lungs can't breathe in and out properly».

People often report feeling exhausted during the day and no amount of sleep helps. Getting tired faster than others, or faster than you're used to, is also a sign that you don't have enough oxygen in your blood.

3. Fast heartbeat

Feelings of anxiety are often categorized as a fast beating heart. This is a sign that your heart is working and is having a hard time delivering oxygen to all places. If you've never experienced anxiety symptoms before and your body has started showing a fast heartbeat without other anxiety symptoms, it could be due to low blood oxygen levels.

4. Shortness of breath

Of course, lack of oxygen means you will have trouble breathing. When you have trouble breathing and drawing oxygen, you will have trouble getting enough oxygen in your blood. People who experience a lack of oxygen in their blood also report shortness of breath whether they are performing strenuous activity or not.

5. Headache and confusion

Many people experience headaches, and they can vary in severity. By themselves, headaches are not an alarming sign of a lack of oxygen in the blood. But when combined with confusion, dizziness, and lack of coordination, headaches can be a sign that your body isn't circulating the amount of oxygen it needs.

« Your brain needs a certain amount of blood flow and oxygen to function effectively and keep us feeling healthy. And if this mechanism is damaged, your brain knows other ways to create the necessary pressure.' says Dr. Patrick M German

When there is not enough oxygen in your blood, it is difficult to concentrate and coordinate your body, which will lead to headaches and confusion.

« Without enough oxygen in the lungs, the organs cannot function properly. As a result, toxins accumulate in the bloodstream and vascular headaches occur. This is because low oxygen levels initiate vasodilation and lead to migraines.”, says Dr. Mark Wylie.

Lack of oxygen in the blood can be a concern because it is often caused or caused by other illnesses or illnesses. Luckily, seeing a doctor can help figure out the best way to treat the problem.

How is hypoxia treated?

Tests

Going to the doctor and having tests to determine how much oxygen is in your blood is the first step in treating the problem. The doctor will run a series of tests to see how much oxygen is in your blood and then check for common causes of low oxygen levels. Your doctor will then treat those problems, whatever they may be. For example, your heart may need help to pump properly and may need medication to improve the quality of your oxygen circulation.

Oxygen mask

Hypoxemia that is not very severe can be treated with a portable oxygen mask. It is a thin tube with two separate holes that sit just inside your nostrils. It will pump oxygen into your body and allow more oxygen to circulate through your blood. This is a short term treatment that is used to increase oxygen levels.

Regular use of oxygen

When blood oxygen levels are severely low, a doctor will often prescribe regular and long-term use of oxygen. Depending on the severity of the oxygen levels in your blood, your doctor may prescribe you to use oxygen daily, at night, or intermittently during the day.

Final Thoughts

If you're concerned about the symptoms of low blood oxygen levels, your best bet is to make an appointment with your doctor and run the necessary tests to make sure everything is working properly. Low oxygen can cause other health risks, so finding it and treating it as soon as possible is the best course of action.