Asphyxiation refers to the severe deprivation of oxygen to the body, leading to impaired function, unconsciousness, or death. This critical medical condition...
Asphyxiation is the medical term for severe oxygen deprivation to the body, which can lead to impaired bodily functions, loss of consciousness, or even death.
Common causes include choking on foreign objects, drowning, suffocation (e.g., from entrapment or smothering), strangulation, exposure to toxic gases like carbon monoxide, and certain medical conditions affecting respiration.
Symptoms can vary but often include difficulty breathing, gasping for air, bluish skin or lips (cyanosis), confusion, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and potentially cardiac arrest.
Many forms of accidental asphyxiation are preventable through safety measures such as supervising children near water, proper food chewing, avoiding confined spaces, ensuring adequate ventilation, and using carbon monoxide detectors.