The body of any animal, including humans, is designed in such a way that it cannot directly use the energy of nutrients. To do this, he needs oxygen from the air (he is involved in the complex processes of converting the end products of food breakdown into macro-energy compounds - ATP and others). This complex of transformations is called biological oxidation and takes place in the mitochondria of every cell in the body. In conditions of lack of oxygen, a pathological condition called hypoxia occurs.
What is hypoxia? It is, in fact, an oxygen starvation of the body.
What is hypoxia and why does it occur
This is a state of lack of oxygen. Its causes are different, it can be diseases of the heart and blood vessels, blood and respiratory systems, a decrease in the level of oxygen in the inhaled air, a violation of the ability of the tissue itself to biological oxidation, a functional overload of working organs (for example, muscles).
When it is important to determine the level of tissue hypoxia
This is of particular importance during operations under general anesthesia or in intensive care with mechanical ventilation. It is also important to determine the presence or absence of the indicated pathology in the fetus. After allhypoxia is not only a decrease in oxygen supply, it also leads to the accumulation of under-oxidized metabolic products in the blood of an unborn baby. As a result of acidification of the blood, the respiratory center of the fetus is stimulated, and the latter begins to breathe through the mouth, swallowing amniotic fluid, blood and mucus.
What is fetal hypoxia?
This question is of interest to an increasing number of expectant mothers, because more and more often these words are spoken by doctors observing pregnancy. As mentioned above, an unborn child may experience oxygen deficiency. Why is this happening? The causes can be such diseases of the mother as bronchial asthma, heart defects, anemia, leukemia, blood loss during placenta previa or abruption, shock, intoxication. In addition, pathologies of the fetus itself can cause inhibition of biooxidation in tissues. These include genetic disorders, infections, hemolytic disease, malformations. Finally, disorders of the uterine and umbilical blood flow also underlie the insufficient supply of fetal tissues with blood, and hence oxygen.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis is carried out by external signs, such as a change in the color of the skin, depending on the cause of hypoxia. In addition, the symptoms are the presence of shortness of breath, an increase in the frequency and strength of heart contractions, disorders of organ functions.
Based on what hypoxia is and what are the mechanisms of its development, doctors treat it with specialdrugs and methods. The principles of therapy are as follows: increase the flow of oxygen to the tissues, improve the efficiency of its use, reduce the need for oxygen in organs.
Intrauterine fetal hypoxia is detected by some signs, such as changes in CTG (cardiotocogram), which shows the heart rate and heart rate. Changes in fetal movements are also taken into account. In case of severe hypoxia of the baby, appropriate drugs are used and the speedy delivery.
