Understanding Anoxic brain damage: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Anoxic brain damage

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Anoxic brain injury is a type of brain injury that isn't usually caused by a blow to the head. Instead, anoxic brain injury occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen. If the oxygen deprivation continues, anoxic brain injuries may even become fatal. Left without oxygen for too long, neural cells begin to die through a process called apoptosis. And though cell death is a normal part of the human experience, patients can be left with diminished brain function when many brain cells simultaneously die.

13 people with Anoxic brain damage

Learn from others who are experiencing Anoxic brain damage.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms of anoxic brain damage may include: - Headache - Problems with thinking and focus - Mood swings - Loss of consciousness - Seizures - Clumsiness - Coma - A decline in brain function days or weeks after the event (rare)

Diagnosis

Diagnosis may include medical history and physical examination. Further examination may consist of: - CT scan - MRI scan - Electroencephalogram (EEG)-a test that measures the electricity in the brain - Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans-a type of CT scan that looks at parts of the brain - Evoked potential tests-tests used to check the senses

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the cause. Choices are: - Oxygen to raise the amount of oxygen in the blood - Medicine to help get enough blood with oxygen to the brain - Cooling the brain to limit problems Recovery can take months or years. It depends on how long a person went without oxygen. Many people can get back most of the abilities they lost. These therapies may be needed: - Physical therapy to retrain motor skills, such as walking - Occupational therapy to relearn daily skills, such as dressing and going to the bathroom - Speech therapy to work on language problems - Counseling for behavior and emotional issues

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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