Hypoxia (medical)
From Freepedia
| Hypoxia | ||
|---|---|---|
| ICD-10 code: | ||
| ICD-9 code: | 799.0 | |
Hypoxia is a pathological condition in which the body as a whole (generalized hypoxia) or region of the body (tissue hypoxia) is deprived of adequate oxygen supply.
Hypoxia is often associated with high altitudes, where it is called altitude sickness.
Symptoms of generalized hypoxia depend on its severity and speed of onset. They include headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, unsteadiness, and sometimes even seizures and coma. Severe hypoxia induces a blue discoloration of the skin (deoxygenated blood cells lose their bright red color in favor of a dark blue/red color).
Categories of hypoxia
- Cerebral hypoxia in which the brain is deprived of oxygen despite normal blood flow.
- Hypoxic hypoxia when there's an inadequate supply of oxygen (as caused by high altitudes).
- Anemic hypoxia in which arterial oxygen pressure is normal, but total oxygen content of the blood is reduced.
- Hypemic Hypoxia when there's an inability of the blood to carry oxygen.
- Ischemic or stagnant hypoxia in which blood flow to the tissues is too low.
- Histotoxic hypoxia in which quantity of oxygen reaching the cells is normal, but the cells are unable to effectively use the oxygen.
