Asphyxia

Breathing problems and a feeling of a foreign body in the throat can be signals of developing asphyxia. Asphyxia belongs to the category of life-threatening conditions that lead to circulatory and respiratory disorders. Regardless of the causes, asphyxia requires urgent measures, since a fatal outcome is possible as a result of the development of acute oxygen starvation in a few minutes.

The basis for the development of asphyxia can be:

defeat of the respiratory muscles;
the presence of an obstacle that does not allow air to enter the lungs;
dysfunction of the respiratory center.

In recent years, doctors have had to deal with such pathology as autoerotic asphyxia resulting from sexual experiments.

Classification

There are several types of this disease. Experts divide the types of asphyxia by the rate of development into acute and subacute. Depending on the characteristics of the process, the degrees of asphyxia are distinguished: severe asphyxia and mild asphyxia.

Depending on the mechanism of occurrence , the following types of pathology are distinguished:

mechanical asphyxia due to the cessation or restriction of air access to the lungs due to compression, narrowing or obturation;
traumatic, due to chest injuries;
toxic, due to ingestion of toxic substances.

The condition of a person and the effectiveness of medical care largely depend on the degree of asphyxia.

Another classification provides for the separation of types of pathology depending on the cause:

compression – compression and strangulation asphyxia;
closure – drowning, obturation and aspiration;
because of the enclosed space.

A separate type of suffocation is asphyxia of newborns and fetal asphyxia. Asphyxia of newborns is considered in the framework of pediatrics.

Symptoms and signs of asphyxia

The main symptom of the condition is progressive suffocation, in which the lack of oxygen in the tissues and blood, replaced by carbon dioxide, sharply increases.

Signs of asphyxia depend on the causes of suffocation:

in an acute condition, due to foreign objects entering the upper respiratory tract or when they are squeezed, convulsive respiratory movements occur in the absence of breathing, convulsions, cyanosis of the face, loss of consciousness, spontaneous urination and fecal discharge, cardiac arrest;
in the subacute state, the respiratory movements become deep and rare, the pulse quickens, the pressure increases, convulsions begin, loss of consciousness occurs.

Signs of asphyxia also depend on the phase of the condition:

the first phase is characterized by fright, pronounced shortness of breath, darkening of the eyes, dizziness, cyanosis of the skin, increased pressure and increased pulse;
the second phase is characterized by increased shortness of breath, decreased pulse and respiratory rate, decreased blood pressure, increased cyanosis;
the third phase is characterized by periodic stops of breathing, a strong decrease in pressure, loss of consciousness, the development of coma, involuntary ejaculation, defecation and urination;
the fourth phase is characterized by rare deep breaths, lack of opportunity to feel the pulse and determine the pressure, convulsions.

If asphyxia develops gradually, then the victim may sit with his tongue hanging out and his mouth wide open. At the same time, the skin is pale and the cyanosis of the nails and lips is pronounced.

Causes of occurrence

The causes of asphyxia are very different, in particular, asphyxia in a child can develop due to allergies to certain products, care products or medications.

Suffocation may occur as a consequence:

compression from the outside of the respiratory tract (for example, asphyxia during childbirth);
pathological processes of the lungs and respiratory tract (edema, burns, spasms);
ingestion of liquid or foreign bodies (water, vomit, blood) into the respiratory tract;
language entanglements;
overdose of drugs, resulting in relaxation of the respiratory muscles;
some diseases (botulism, myasthenia gravis, etc.);
asthmatic attacks, allergic edema, pleurisy;
traumatic brain injuries, stroke;
prolonged convulsive states (tetanus);
exposure to toxic substances (cyanides, nitrites, etc.).

Industrial conditions associated with the need to breathe a forcibly supplied gas mixture can also provoke suffocation, which can lead to a violation in the supply of oxygen.

Asphyxia of newborns can be provoked by aspiration of amniotic fluid, intracranial birth injuries, fetoplacental insufficiency.

Complications

Suffocation can cause severe complications and unpleasant consequences. The most common consequences of suffocation are:

neurological and mental pathologies (memory impairment (amnesia) or intelligence, up to dementia);
disorders in the activity of the cardiovascular system;
traumatic shock with manifestations of irritability and indifference;
paresis of the vocal cords;
infection with the risk of developing pneumonia;
swelling of the brain or lungs;
fatal outcome.

Pregnant women should be wary of spontaneous miscarriage.

Help with asphyxia should be provided as soon as possible.

When should I see a doctor

Asphyxia, the consequences of which are very severe, requires urgent medical attention. Otolaryngologists or therapists are engaged in eliminating the causes and consequences of this condition. You may need the help of a qualified doctor for the following diseases: swelling of the larynx or lung, panic attack, pneumonia, anaphylactic shock, bronchial asthma.

You should make an appointment with a doctor or urgently call a specialist at home:

with laryngeal muscle spasms;
with paralysis of the respiratory muscles;
in case of ingestion of foreign bodies, food, water into the respiratory tract;
in case of electric shock;
in case of carbon monoxide poisoning or toxic fumes.

JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg clinic) in Moscow offers the services of qualified otolaryngologists and therapists in the treatment of the effects of asphyxia. The clinic is located at 10, 2nd Tverskaya-Yamskaya Lane, 5 minutes from Moskovskaya metro station. Highly qualified specialists-otolaryngologists, many of whom have the highest medical titles, and the use of modern methods of treatment allow patients to be confident in the success of therapy.

Diagnosis of asphyxia

Suffocation is diagnosed based on the results of a general examination and symptoms, taking into account the causes of the pathology. In the process of diagnosis, the doctors of our clinic:

they collect complaints and anamnesis;
perform a general examination of the patient with pressure measurement and listening to the lungs;
the level of oxygen saturation of the blood is determined using pulse oximetry technology.

After determining the phase of suffocation, the doctor may refer you to a pulmonologist or endoscopist for consultation. In some cases, an ultrasound examination is performed if the patient's condition is not acute.

JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg clinic), located in the central district near the metro stations "Mayakovskaya", "Chekhovskaya", "Novoslobodskaya", has the latest laboratory and diagnostic equipment for a comprehensive examination.

Treatment

The complex of therapeutic measures is determined depending on the cause and phase of suffocation. Surgical operations are performed, artificial respiration devices are used, effective medications are used.

The main efforts of doctors are directed:

to eliminate the cause of the condition;
to ensure the patency of the respiratory tract for air;
to restore the normal level of oxygen in the blood;
to restore normal cardiovascular activity;
in case of poisoning, antidotes are administered.

Patients are prescribed medications to maintain the functions of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. In the presence of chronic diseases, therapy is prescribed according to indications. If necessary, in difficult cases, the patient can be referred to a hospital. JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg clinic) has a well-equipped hospital with comfortable wards.

Prevention

The main method of preventing suffocation is to prevent situations that can provoke a pathological condition.

How to sign up

To make an appointment with a doctor in our clinic, you can use any of the following methods:

online form on the website;
by phone ;

via your Personal Account or Mobile application.

If necessary, you can call an ambulance by phone +7 (495) 229-00-03.

JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg clinic) is located in the center of Moscow at 10 Tverskaya-Yamskaya Lane 2. The clinic is located near the metro stations "Mayakovskaya", "Tverskaya", "Chekhov", "Belorusskaya".