Anoxic vs. Hypoxic Brain Injury
One of the most catastrophic injuries that a person can suffer is a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. A TBI can affect all aspects of a person’s life, robbing them of physical independence, altering cognitive functions, and changing key personality traits. Any brain injury can dramatically impact a person’s day-to-day functions, but they are not all exactly the same. Two common types of brain injuries are anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries.
Here, brain injury lawyers at Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, serving the Salt Lake City, UT, area, go over key aspects of anoxic vs. hypoxic brain injuries, and help injury victims determine if they may be due financial compensation for damages related to their injury.
What Is an Anoxic Brain Injury?
An anoxic brain injury is caused by a complete lack of oxygen to the brain. Most often this type of injury occurs when a sudden traumatic event or medical emergency prevents oxygen-rich blood from getting to the brain, or when there is not enough blood in the body to supply oxygen to the brain. As the brain is denied oxygen, the brain cells become damaged. After about four minutes without oxygen, the brain cells begin to die.
What Is a Hypoxic Brain Injury?
A hypoxic brain injury is very similar to an anoxic brain injury. The primary difference is that an anoxic brain injury is caused by a total lack of oxygen, while a hypoxic brain injury is caused by a gradual deprivation of oxygen. Without sufficient oxygen, the brain cells will slowly become damaged.
Anoxic and Hypoxic Brain Injury Symptoms
Anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries share the same potential symptoms. Most often, the first and most obvious symptom of an anoxic or hypoxic brain injury is unconsciousness. Individuals may be completely comatose or they may appear to be awake, but be unresponsive. If victims regain consciousness, they could experience a wide range of symptoms, the severity of which depends on how much damage was done to the brain cells. Potential anoxic and hypoxic brain injury symptoms include:
- Being in a vegetative state
- Convulsions or seizures
- General confusion
- Memory problems
- Headaches
- Muscle weakness, lack of coordination
- Slurred speech
- Blurred vision
- Changes in personality, mood swings
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Lack of bladder and bowel control
- Loss of, or changes in, sexual functions
Causes of Anoxic and Hypoxic Brain Injuries
Anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries are often the result of sudden medical emergencies, such as a heart attack or stroke, or long-term health complications, which may include COPD, severe asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea. However, some of our Salt Lake City clients suffer anoxic or hypoxic brain injuries as the result of an accidental event, which may include:
- Electrical shock
- Massive bleeding or chest trauma (often from a car accident)
- Poison from carbon monoxide or other toxins
- Near drowning
- Birth injury
Am I Due Compensation for Injury Damages?
If an anoxic or hypoxic brain injury is caused by the reckless or negligent actions of another person or party, as is sometimes the case with a car accident, construction accident, boating accident, or birth injury, then the injury victim has the right to pursue financial compensation for resulting damages. Potential areas of compensation for our Salt Lake City clients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury include:
- Medical expenses
- Cost of ongoing care/rehabilitation
- Cost of assistive medical devices
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Lost wages
- Diminished wage earning capacity
Get in Touch
If you or a loved one has suffered an anoxic or hypoxic brain injury, the lawyers at Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC, can examine the details of your injury to determine if you are due financial compensation for damages. To find out how our legal team can help you hold liable pirates accountable, send us a message online, or call (801) 335-6467 and request a personal consultation.