Anoxic Brain Injury

A person's brain has to have oxygen to function properly. If for some reason the brain is deprived of oxygen, there can be damage done known as anoxic brain injury.

­This can happen during CPR and if the brain can not get oxygen for four minutes, the brain cells begin to die, after five minutes without oxygen causes permanent anoxic brain injury. The longer a person is deprived of oxygen, the more injury that will be caused to the brain.

Types Of Anoxic Brian Injury

The first type is called anemic anoxia, where the blood does not have the ability to carry the amount of oxygen which the brain needs to function correctly. Most of the time lung disease can cause this type of brain injury, but it can also be caused by a case of chronic anemia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and acute hemorrhage. Another type of injury is toxic anoxia, which is where the oxygen to the brain is decreased because of toxins in the system. This can be caused by carbon monoxide as well as other toxins. The next type of anoxic brain injury is Stagnant anoxia, which is caused by an internal condition that decreases the oxygen supply for the brain. This type of injury can be caused by strokes, cardiac arrhythmia, and cardiac arrest. The last type of anoxic brain injury is known as anoxic anoxia, which happens when there is not enough oxygen in the air around you to supply the body with what it needs. Anoxic anoxia usually occurs in people that are in high altitudes, such as people whom go mountain climbing.

Symptoms Of Anoxic Brain Injury

The first signs of anoxic brain injury is unconsciousness and coma, they may also experience unresponsiveness even when awake. Cognitive problems is another symptom of this injury. Short term memory loss, poor judgement, difficulty using words and problems processing visual information are signs of anoxic brain injury. Some physical signs of this kind of injury include a lack of coordination, unable to do common tasks such as drinking from a cup, jerky, involuntary movements, weakness in the arms and legs, and headaches. The other signs of anoxic brain injury include a change in personality, delusions, unable to concentrate, and confusion.

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Anoxic Brain Injury

To diagnose this problem a doctor will usually order an MRI, CT Scan, an EEG, or blood test to check the oxygen level in the blood. If the patient recovers from anoxic brain injury, they will have a long process to recover. They will need physical therapy, speech therapy, counseling, adaptive equipment training, occupational therapy, and recreational therapy. Most patients with this injury will have to re-learn everything from walking, talking, and eating. Working with them will require a lot of patience, and willingness to do what needs to be done.­


last visit: Mini Strokes - Transient Ischemic Attack | Stroke - Cerebral Vascular Accidents | Anoxic Brain Injury | Spinal Cord Injuries | The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
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