Hypoxia Essay Research Paper HypoxiaHypoxia is a

Hypoxia Essay, Research Paper

Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a condition in humans that is caused by the reduction in partial pressure of oxygen, inadequate oxygen transport, or when tissues are simply unable to make use of the oxygen provided. This disease occurs in the tissues and brain. It results in a shortness of breath, and an overall impairment of function.

Anoxia is the extreme form of hypoxia, and it occurs when there is absolutely no oxygen at all in the body that the brain and tissues can make proper use of.

There are five different types of hypoxia. These types are hypoxemic hypoxia, anemic hypoxia, stagnant hypoxia, histoxic hypoxia, and pemic hypoxia.

Hypoxemic hypoxia happens when there is a reduction in the amount of oxygen passing into the blood, resulting in too much hemoglobin and not enough oxygen. Therefore the oxygen pressure in the blood that is traveling to the tissues is too low to saturate the large amounts of hemoglobin. Hypoxemic hypoxia is caused by a reduced gas exchange area, exposure to high altitude, or by lung disease. Hypoxemic hypoxia has also been proven to be hazardous to aviators, mountain climbers, and generally in people living at high altitudes because the lowered barometric pressure causes the supply of oxygen to decrease.

Anemic hypoxia occurs when there is not enough hemoglobin that is functional, and so the capacity of blood capable to carry oxygen is too low. In anemic hypoxia either the entire amount of the hemoglobin is too small to supply the body s oxygen requirements-as in anemia or after severe bleeding-or the hemoglobin that is present is useless-such as in carbon monoxide poisoning and metho-globinuria. In both of the latter cases the hemoglobin is so altered by toxic agents that it becomes unavailable for any oxygen transport, and therefore is no longer useful to the respiratory system.

Anemia is one of the most frequent cases of anemic hypoxia. It is a condition due to the healthy red blood cell amount falling way below normal.

Stagnant hypoxia is an oxygen deficiency when there is poor blood circulation or poor blood flow. The blood flow through the capillaries is insufficient to properly supply the tissues. There, the blood itself is normal, but the blood flow is so reduced that there is not enough blood reaching the tissues. Stagnant hypoxia may be general or local. In a general case, it may result from heart disease, impairing the circulation; an impairment of the return of the blood through the veins; or trauma-induced shock. In a local case of stagnant hypoxia, it may be due to any condition that reduces or prevents blood circulation anywhere in the body. Both Raynaud s disease and Buerger s disease are examples of local stagnant hypoxia. Examples of causes of stagnant hypoxia are high G forces, prolonged sitting in the same position or hanging in a harness, cold temperatures, and positive pressure breathing. If a person sits in the same position for long hours, such as in a classroom, stagnant hypoxia can be experienced.

Histoxic hypoxia is when the tissues and cells of the body-even if the amount in the blood may be normal and under normal tension-are unable to use the oxygen because the tissues were poisoned. Carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning, certain narcotics, chewing tobacco, and alcohol will all prevent oxygen use by the tissues. Usually, histoxic hypoxia is experienced after an over dosage of alcohol.

It is assumed by most people that there are only four types of hypoxia, but this is not so. There is a fifth type of hypoxia that is not so frequently diagnosed as the other four types. This type is known as pemic hypoxia. Pemic hypoxia is a reduction of the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. It is caused by a reduced amount of hemoglobin or a reduced amount of red blood cells. A reduction in oxygen transport capacity of the blood occurs through blood donation, hemorrhage, or anemia. A reduction in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood occurs through drugs, chemicals, or carbon monoxide.

In general, hypoxia can be caused by anything that lowers cellular respiration. It can be caused by agents such as narcotics, alcohol, formaldehyde, acetone, and specified anesthetic agents. Diseases of the blood, heart, circulation, or the lungs can also cause it.

Hypoxia is often confused with altitude sickness, or mountain sickness. Although altitude sickness is associated with hypoxia, especially with hypoxemic hypoxia, they are not the same thing. Altitude sickness occurs only in people who are associated with high altitudes; such as mountain climbers, aviators, and people living at high altitudes. Hypoxemic hypoxia occurs in those same people, but for the aforementioned reasons. Altitude sickness is a condition in which the body is starved of oxygen because of the thinness of air at high altitudes. That is why altitude sickness is not the same thing as hypoxia; it is caused by the air and therefore affects the oxygen of the body whereas hypoxia directly affects the blood and oxygen of the body.

The symptoms of altitude sickness fall into four main categories; respiratory, mental/muscular, cardiac, and gastrointestinal.

Symptoms associated with respiratory are shortness of breath upon any exertion at all, and deeper and more rapid breathing.

Symptoms that fall into the mental/muscular categor