Cerebral hypoxia is a form of brain damage that happens when the brain is deprived of oxygen for too long. In serious cases, the condition can be fatal or result in severe, permanent brain damage.
A considerable number of injury types can lead to cerebral hypoxia. It’s not always easy to recognize whether you’re eligible to recover personal injury compensation to help with treatment and care costs.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cerebral hypoxia, your first step should be to educate yourself about this serious condition and understand the potential long-term impacts. Once you know what you’re facing, you’ll see how important it is to quickly get in touch with a skilled personal injury attorney.
What Is Cerebral Hypoxia?
“Hypoxia” means low levels of oxygen in bodily tissues, and “cerebral” refers to the brain. The medical term “cerebral hypoxia,” therefore, literally means that the brain is deprived of its usual oxygen levels. Oxygen is essential for brain function. Even a short period of oxygen deprivation can lead to serious permanent injury or death.
The body takes in oxygen by breathing. That oxygen is then moved around to other body parts, like the brain, through blood flow. Cerebral hypoxia can occur in one of two ways. Either a person can’t breathe and thus doesn’t get the oxygen they need, or an injury seriously affects the body’s ability to carry sufficient amounts of oxygen-rich blood to the brain.
Accidents That Can Cause Cerebral Hypoxia
A surprisingly large number of accident types can result in cerebral hypoxia.
Some of the most common incidents that lead to this diagnosis include:
- Drowning
- Choking
- Suffocation
- Heart attack
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
However, any type of accident that restricts oxygen to the brain brings a risk of developing cerebral hypoxia.
Brain injury lawyers often handle cases involving cerebral hypoxia caused by accidents such as:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
In some instances, like after a car accident or a workplace accident, the path toward recovering compensation is relatively straightforward. In others, it’s much more difficult.
For example, cerebral hypoxia might be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning that happens due to errors made by a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) company. You should always speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to learn whether a cerebral hypoxia diagnosis leaves you eligible for compensation.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Hypoxia?
Cerebral hypoxia can have many signs and symptoms, and these have the potential to range widely in severity.
Some of the indicators of cerebral hypoxia include:
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Altered cognitive function
- Shallow breathing
- Numbness
- Skin or nails turning blue
- Muscle twitching
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
It’s important to remember that cerebral hypoxia never occurs on its own. There’s always some type of accident, injury, medical condition, or environmental factor that causes it. This means that most people experiencing the condition will likely also show symptoms of the primary injury or event that led to oxygen deprivation.
Cerebral Hypoxia Treatment and Diagnosis
When the brain is deprived of oxygen, it’s a medical emergency. There’s a high risk of death without emergency medical treatment. When the injured person arrives at the emergency room, the treatment team will work to restore blood flow to the brain and provide treatment for any other injuries or medical conditions.
Once the individual is stabilized, the medical staff will perform tests designed to identify current brain functioning and the level of possible damage caused by the lack of oxygen.
Testing commonly used for diagnosis includes:
- MRI
- CT scan
- EEG
- Blood flow evaluations
- Neurological tests
While some kinds of treatment, such as physical, occupational, or speech therapy, can help reduce some of the effects, brain injuries usually can’t be reversed and rarely heal on their own. A cerebral hypoxia diagnosis often means that the injured person and their family have a difficult road ahead that requires significant lifestyle changes.
What Are the Potential Long-Term Outcomes After a Cerebral Hypoxia Diagnosis?
The brain is the most complex organ in the body. No two brain injuries are ever identical, and two individuals who have similar injuries might experience very different symptoms.
When the brain damage associated with cerebral hypoxia is mild, it may be possible for an individual to live relatively the same as they did before the accident. Mild cases of cerebral hypoxia typically lead to the greatest chance of recovery. For example, memory issues or other changes in brain function may eventually lessen or stop.
When brain damage is severe, it can be both emotionally and financially devastating. An individual who suffers severe cerebral hypoxia will likely need long-term attendant care. They may permanently remain in a coma or awaken but lose many cognitive faculties, such as the ability to hold a conversation or recognize their loved ones.
Recovering Compensation For Cerebral Hypoxia
The costs of caring for someone with a severe brain injury can be astronomical. First, the incident that led to oxygen deprivation often involves extensive medical bills for emergency room care and hospitalization. Once health stabilizes, severe cases of cerebral hypoxia also typically require either long-term residential care or round-the-clock in-home attendant care.
A skilled personal injury lawyer who handles brain injury cases can help recover compensation for these and other costs.
Cerebral hypoxia can leave you eligible for personal injury compensation that reimburses you for:
- Medical bills
- Attendant care
- Medical devices
- Medications
- Therapy
- Lost wages and benefits
- Pain and suffering damages
Brain injury claims are among the most challenging types of personal injury cases. When cerebral hypoxia is severe, the case value often reaches six or seven figures. It’s important to quickly contact an experienced brain injury lawyer for help recovering the compensation your family needs.
Our Miami Brain Injury Lawyers Can Help You With a Cerebral Hypoxia Case
A cerebral hypoxia diagnosis is a frightening medical event. Even when the impact is relatively minor, you can be left with considerable treatment expenses and lost wages. When cerebral hypoxia leads to severe brain injury, the long-term costs of care can be incredibly steep.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cerebral hypoxia in Miami, FL, it’s time to ask for help. Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers is a Miami personal injury law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. Our skilled brain injury attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced brain injury lawyer in Miami.