What symptoms can hypoxia cause?
Disease description:
I will be traveling to Xinjiang in the near future, but I heard that the altitude there is relatively high, and I am worried about experiencing hypoxia. I would like to know, if hypoxia occurs, what are the typical symptoms?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Hypoxia refers to a pathological condition caused by insufficient oxygen supply to body tissues or impaired oxygen utilization. Its main symptoms include:
1. Increased and deeper breathing: To obtain more oxygen, the body automatically increases respiratory rate and depth.
2. Dizziness and headache: Hypoxia can cause dizziness, headache, and even confusion.
3. Palpitations and chest tightness: The heart beats faster to maintain oxygen supply to various parts of the body, causing palpitations; at the same time, due to oxygen deficiency, a feeling of chest tightness and discomfort may occur.
4. Weakness and fatigue in limbs: Oxygen deficiency in muscle tissues can impair their normal function, manifesting as weakness and easy fatigue.
5. Pale or cyanotic skin and mucous membranes: Prolonged hypoxia may lead to color changes in the skin and mucous membranes, such as pallor or cyanosis due to increased levels of reduced hemoglobin.
6. Memory loss and difficulty concentrating: Long-term hypoxia affecting the brain can impair cognitive function, manifesting as decreased memory and difficulty focusing.
Patients experiencing hypoxia should seek immediate medical attention.
