California Hypoxic Brain Injury Attorneys
Hypoxic Brain Injury
There is much about the human brain and how it works that doctors and scientists still do not understand. One thing that professionals do know for certain, however, is that the brain requires a steady supply of oxygen to function properly. When the brain does not get any oxygen or receives less oxygen than it needs, permanent damage can occur within minutes. Damage caused by a complete lack of oxygen (anoxia) is anoxic brain injury while damage caused by a reduction of oxygen (hypoxia) is hypoxic brain injury. One is not necessarily worse than the other, and much depends on how long the oxygen deprivation lasts.
Causes of Hypoxic Brain Injury
Numerous events and factors can reduce the supply of oxygen to the brain. A few of the common causes of hypoxia are the following:
- Lung obstructions
- Anemia
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Choking
- Strangulation
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Cyanide poisoning
- Erotic and auto-erotic asphyxiation
- Hemorrhages or edema in the brain
Symptoms of Hypoxic Brain Injury
There are numerous signs that indicate a hypoxic brain injury. Here are some of them:
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma
- Seizures
- Brain death
- Loss of brain stem reflexes
- Loss or impairment of short-term memory
- Increased heart rate
- Bluish-colored skin
- Problems with coordination
- Weakness in the extremities
Treatment and Recovery From Hypoxia
When a person is suffering from hypoxia, the first goal for doctors is to restore the oxygen supply to the brain and stabilize the patient. This might involve ventilating the patient, removing an obstruction if one is present, providing supplemental oxygen or administering medications.
The good news about hypoxia is that most mild and many moderate cases are unlikely to cause lasting brain damage and will not require follow-up treatment. For instance, fainting spells and underwater dives, both of which can temporarily reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the brain, will probably not cause hypoxic brain damage. Cases that are more serious can have lasting impacts on physical and mental functions while those who sustain catastrophic hypoxic brain injuries may never regain consciousness.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of a hypoxic brain injury, please contact a California brain injury lawyer at The Brain Injury Legal Help Center today for more information, or to discuss your situation. Call (800) 610-1892. You have legal rights, and may be entitled to monetary compensation.