Signs of Hypoxia?

beth66335, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2008

Do you have a medical dictionary? If not you might want to get one, I have a Mosby's and it is great to have when my textbook falls short...which happens often!

xiongmao · Mar 12, 2008

I'm a new student so I don't have the good habit of using more critical thinking so I'll have to improve on that, but thanks for all the comments and help, I really appreciate it=)

igladst591 · Mar 28, 2008

http://www.medicaldevicedepot.com
/hypoxia-symptoms.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hypoxia_(medical)very good

zephii · Apr 2, 2010

Hi all...

This is an old thread so I don't know if I'll get a reply or not...

I was reading in the ATI Peds book, which defines hypoxemia as a condition of inadequate levels of oxygen in the blood. It says hypovolemia, hypoventilation, and interruption of arterial flow can lead to hypoxemia. This vaguely eminds me of some mnemonic I used to know for maybe anemia (I think it was 3 Ts could be a problem of Transport...???)

Anyhow, the Pedes book goes on to say that that an early signs of hypoxemia, along with tachypnea, tachycardia, restlessness, pallor of skin/mucous membranes, symptoms of resp distress (accessory muscles, flared nares, tracheal tugging, adventitious lung sounds) and elevated BP.

That is what is making me nuts. Elevated BP? Wouldn't it be LOWERED BP if it were hypovolemic related hypoxemia? I am guessing these wouldn't apply only to kids...

I have done some internet research and it somewhere I found sources that say it could be elevaetd or lowered BP with hypoxemia, but gives no explanation. How is that possible? Is it maybe because oxygen saturation problems could occur also with kidney problems that also cause fluid buildup issues and therefore crackles in the lungs and pleural effusion and then the person would be hypovolemic and in that case the BP would be UP?

I am losing my mind....

The late signs say: confusion and stupor, cyanosis of skin/membranes, bradypnea, bradycardia (I guess because of exhaustion at that point???) Hypotension, and Cardiac Dysrhythmias.

So the BP goes DOWN late but was UP in early?

Help please....

lionstudent · Aug 27, 2010

Hi all...
This is an old thread so I don't know if I'll get a reply or not...
I was reading in the ATI Peds book, which defines hypoxemia as a condition of inadequate levels of oxygen in the blood. It says hypovolemia, hypoventilation, and interruption of arterial flow can lead to hypoxemia. This vaguely eminds me of some mnemonic I used to know for maybe anemia (I think it was 3 Ts could be a problem of Transport...???)
Anyhow, the Pedes book goes on to say that that an early signs of hypoxemia, along with tachypnea, tachycardia, restlessness, pallor of skin/mucous membranes, symptoms of resp distress (accessory muscles, flared nares, tracheal tugging, adventitious lung sounds) and elevated BP.
That is what is making me nuts. Elevated BP? Wouldn't it be LOWERED BP if it were hypovolemic related hypoxemia? I am guessing these wouldn't apply only to kids...
I have done some internet research and it somewhere I found sources that say it could be elevaetd or lowered BP with hypoxemia, but gives no explanation. How is that possible? Is it maybe because oxygen saturation problems could occur also with kidney problems that also cause fluid buildup issues and therefore crackles in the lungs and pleural effusion and then the person would be hypovolemic and in that case the BP would be UP?
I am losing my mind....
The late signs say: confusion and stupor, cyanosis of skin/membranes, bradypnea, bradycardia (I guess because of exhaustion at that point???) Hypotension, and Cardiac Dysrhythmias.
So the BP goes DOWN late but was UP in early?
Help please....

Zephii,

It all has to do with the changing pressures & chemoreceptor activity of blood vessels. Breathing affects BP function d/t varying pressures, oxgenation, and chemoreceptor activity of blood vessels (PRESSURE not VOLUME). That's why in early stages of hypoxia u have an increase in BP (hypertension), breathing, (tachypnea), and HR (tachycardia)...everything is UP. Notice that in late hypoxic states u have decreased BP (hypotension), breathing (bradypnea), & cardiac (bradycardia)...everything is DOWN (d/t exhaustion...u r correct!). BP follows breathing & the heart. Try & think of it in the way of water (BP) follows sodium (breathing) upon excretion & that may help. BP will "go" with what breathing & cardiac are doing relative to early & late hypoxia (b/c of changing pressures & chemoreceptor activity)...Hope this helps...