Difficulty or interruption of breathing is called asphyxiation.
Asphyxia is a concept that refers to the inconvenience or interruption of breathing (the process of inhaling air to absorb certain substances and then exhaling it).
When a person suffocates, their lungs stop receiving the oxygen they need to function. This is usually due to a blockage occurring in the trachea or throat area, which prevents air from flowing. If suffocation continues for several minutes, the person dies.
The etymology
To know the meaning of the term asphyxia it is important to analyze its etymological origin. Specifically, it must be said that it is a word that derives from Greek, since it is the result of the sum of two elements of said language:
- The prefix a- , which can be translated as “without” .
- The noun sfigmos , which is equivalent to “pulse” .
Causes and consequences of asphyxiation
Among the causes of asphyxiation are drowning (air cannot enter the body since the subject is underwater), choking (the airways are obstructed by an object) and strangulation (someone exerts pressure on the body ). over the trachea to prevent the passage of air).
Asphyxia generates various problems before leading to death . The phenomenon can cause irreparable damage to the brain , to name a serious consequence.
If it is noted that an individual cannot breathe, it is possible to perform assisted or artificial respiration to minimize or delay the damage, until he or she is able to recover natural breathing and overcome asphyxiation.
Strangulation can cause suffocation.
First aid
The first aid that must be carried out in order to end the asphyxiation that a person is suffering is the following:
- The person suffering from it must be placed face up on the floor and with their head tilted back. This will prevent the tongue from adopting a position that ends up causing the larynx to become obstructed.
- It must be certified that there is no object that is blocking your airways.
- Next, you have to pinch the victim's nose with your fingers and then take a deep breath, placing your mouth over that of the victim. So, afterwards, you have to proceed to blow hard until your chest is full.
- Then you have to remove the mouth of the person who is suffocating to proceed to do the same thing again. In an adult patient, this action will have to be repeated about twelve times during the next minute. If it is a small child, the repetitions should amount to about twenty times.
Another use of the term asphyxiation
It should be noted that suffocation is also called a feeling of depression or overwhelm and the hindrance that hinders or prevents the development of something.
For example: “This office suffocates me: it is very small and lacks air conditioning,” “The opening of imports will cause the suffocation of many local producers.”