Asphyxiation

Asphyxiation

Asphyxiation is a condition characterized by inadequate oxygen supply to the body. It can result from various causes, such as allergic reactions or foreign objects blocking the airway, leading to difficulty breathing, inability to speak, and loss of consciousness.

Types of asphyxiation

1. Mechanical asphyxia occurs when an object, a physical force, or a body position prevents you from breathing.
2. Traumatic asphyxia is when there is a forceful external pressure on your chest, forcing blood from your heart to backflow through your veins to your neck and brain.
3. Compressive asphyxia is a result of a powerful external force pressing on your chest or abdomen, which may occur when someone is sitting on your chest or a tightly packed crowd compresses against you, such as in a concert.
4. Perinatal asphyxia happens when the baby does not get enough oxygen just before, during, or right after birth. Possible causes are low oxygen level in the mother’s blood, decreased breathing due to anesthesia, low blood pressure in the mother, umbilical cord compression, poor function of the placenta, placental abruption, or uterine rupture. If perinatal asphyxia happens before childbirth, the infant may develop an abnormal heart rate or high acid levels in the blood. If it occurs during delivery, the infant may have a low heart rate, pale skin, shallow breathing, not crying, or gasping. Birth asphyxia adversely affects the cellular function of the brain, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of asphyxiation

• Coughing
• Inability to speak
• Hoarse voice
• Pale face or lip
• Difficulty swallowing
• Lightheadedness and headaches
• Rapid breathing
• Hyperventilation
• Loss of consciousness
• Loss of memory
• Urinary incontinence or defecation

What causes asphyxiation?

• Anaphylaxis from food allergies.
• Asthma.
• Positional asphyxiation often occurs in newborns who are not able to reposition.
• Chemical asphyxiation includes inhaling chemicals, such as cyanide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and chemicals in household cleaning products.
• Opioid overdose
• Drowning
• Foreign bodies block the airway from aspiration.
• Strangulation

Diagnosis of asphyxiation

• Asphyxiation constitutes a medical emergency necessitating prompt intervention. Diagnosis includes observation. 
• If the person can communicate, ask if he/she aspirated food.
• If the person cannot respond, notice if he/she is grasping at the throat (a universal gesture for choking), coughing feebly, wheezing, unable to speak, or becoming unconscious.
• In nonverbal children, observe if they have labored breathing, weak coughs, or soft cries.

Treatment for asphyxiation

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is used when the person is unconscious.
• Heimlich maneuver: Abdominal thrusts to dislodge an object obstructing the airway.
• Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for individuals who have experienced incidents like drowning or opioid overdoses.
• Medications such as asthma inhalers, epinephrine for anaphylactic reactions, and naloxone for opioid overdoses.
• Oxygen therapy includes a breathing tube, oxygen mask, or ventilator.

Prevention

• Chew food slowly and thoroughly before swallowing. Teach children to take small bites and avoid talking while eating.
• Carry an EpiPen if you have severe food allergies.
• Have an inhaler within your reach if you have asthma.
• Ventilate your home to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide.
• Avoid swimming alone. Always wear a life jacket if you are unable to swim. 

Questions that you can ask your doctor

• If someone is not breathing, what should I do? 
• Does asphyxiation cause any long-term health effects? 
• How can I prevent asphyxiation?

FAQ

• Should people with asphyxiation drink water?
  No, they should not. Drinking can potentially worsen the situation. Liquids could enter the airway, causing choking or exacerbating airway obstruction.