Our brains must receive a constant flow of oxygen or they will shut down. Individuals who suffer from brain hypoxia, a type of oxygen deficiency, may experience short- and long-term cognitive declines as a result of such deprivation.
There are many different ways that an individual may get diagnosed with brain hypoxia.
Individuals may develop such a condition due to them being in poor health. Patients that have strokes or go into cardiac arrest may also receive a brain hypoxia diagnosis.
Others may learn that they have this condition after suffering a brain injury, choking, overdosing, drowning, surviving a fire, being suffocated or strangled or otherwise subjected to trauma.
Firefighters and other workers who regularly inhale carbon monoxide may be at a higher risk than others for developing brain hypoxia. Anyone who participates in contact, high-altitude or underwater sports may also be diagnosed with brain hypoxia diagnosis as well.
Individuals with mild cases of brain hypoxia may be inattentive, experience temporary memory loss, exercise poor judgment and have difficulty voluntarily moving portions of their body. Seizures and comas are some of the more severe symptoms that brain hypoxia patients experience.
Doctors often perform a battery of tests to confirm such diagnoses. A physician may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computerized tomography (CT) scan to see what’s going on. Doctors also often perform electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, angiograms and electroencephalograms if a patient’s symptoms warrant it.
Time is of the essence when a patient is suffering from suspected brain hypoxia. Doctors may administer fluids, blood or medications depending on their patients’ symptoms.
A physician may also perform a cool-down procedure in hopes of slowing a patient’s brain activity and, thus, its use of oxygen.
Many individuals who suffer from hypoxia must rely on life-sustaining ventilators to remain alive.
Anyone with a diagnosis of severe brain hypoxia will have significant medical bills for the duration of their life. A Terrebonne Parish brain injuries attorney can review your case and let you know whether you can sue the negligent party that left your loved one in their current state.