Asphyxia

Asphyxia is a condition of severe lack of oxygen supplied to the body. It is commonly associated with unconsciousness or death. Asphyxia is the same as suffocation.

Causes of asphyxia can include:

• Crushing or constriction of the chest or abdomen
• Choking
• Drowning
• Strangulation
• Reduction of the airways due to asthma
• Inhalation of vomit
• Positional asphyxia
• Autoerotic asphyxiation
• a seizure which stops breathing activity

Problems during birth can lead to the newborn experiencing asphyxia.

Asyphyxia can result in brain damage even when it does not cause death.

See also:

• hypoxia