Welcome to
PHG Anoxic Brain Injury Inc.
PHG Anoxic Brain Injury Inc. reaches out to anoxic brain injury survivors and their caregivers.
Our organization knows exactly what you are going through, your struggles and challenges. PHG Anoxic Brain Injury was established following a personal incident when our son, Patrick, suffered an anoxic brain injury. We formed our charity to be an outreach post, focusing on helping survivors and caregivers. We raise awareness, educate, and provide support groups for people with anoxic brain injuries.
Anoxic Brain Injury
Anoxic brain injury is a type of brain injury that is not usually caused by a blow to the head. Instead, anoxic brain injury occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen. Left without oxygen for too long, neural cells begin to die through a process called apoptosis.
Causes of Anoxic Brain Injury:
Stroke, cardiac arrest, low blood pressure, near drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, choking, drug overdose, and sports-related health conditions.
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Board Members education and work experiences
Ms. Theresa Henry-Gray
(President and Founder) attended Valencia College, University of Central Florida, and Saint Leo University. Worked in the corporate and tourism/hospitality fields for over 20 years.
Ms. Gloralisa Courtney
(Secretary) attended the University of Florida. Works for the Orange County public school system as an educator with over 15 years’ experience.
Mr. Patrick Gray Sr.
(Treasurer) attended Full Sail University and Valencia College. Worked in the engineering field with over 25 years’ experience.
What is an anoxic brain injury, and can you recover from it? That’s what this guide to anoxic brain injury recovery will help you find out.
In today’s article, we’ll discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatments for an anoxic brain injury. We’ll also look at what factors affect a person’s chances of recovery.
What is an Anoxic Brain Injury?
Anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen.
The terms anoxic and hypoxic refer to two distinct types of oxygen deprivation.
- Anoxic brain injury occurs when something completely cuts off oxygen to the brain.
- Hypoxic brain injury happens when there is only a partial loss of oxygen.
Anoxic brain injuries are the more serious of the two.
What is an Anoxic Brain Injury?
Anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen.
The terms anoxic and hypoxic refer to two distinct types of oxygen deprivation.
- Anoxic brain injury occurs when something completely cuts off oxygen to the brain.
- Hypoxic brain injury happens when there is only a partial loss of oxygen.
Anoxic brain injuries are the more serious of the two.
How long can the brain survive without oxygen?
The brain uses oxygen to convert glucose. This means that without oxygen, there is no energy to power brain cells. If this lack of power lasts too long, brain cells will die.
How long the brain can last without oxygen depends on the person. Certain people, such as divers, can train their brains to make more efficient use of oxygen. These people can last several minutes without suffering brain damage.
But in general, it only takes between one and three minutes without oxygen for brain damage to occur.
The longer the brain goes without oxygen, the worse the damage gets.
- After five minutes, permanent brain damage can set in.
- At ten minutes, if the brain is still alive, the person will most likely fall into a coma after brain injury.
- After fifteen minutes, survival is unlikely.
What Causes Anoxic Brain Injuries?
Any event that leads to a loss of oxygen can cause an anoxic brain injury. This can include:
- Choking or suffocation
- Near drowning
- Severe asthma attack
- Stroke
- Cardiac arrest
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
Also, blood disorders such as anemia can cause the blood to not carry enough oxygen to the brain.
Factors that affect anoxic brain injury recovery
There are some factors that can influence how well a person will recover from anoxic brain injury. These include:
- Age. In general, the younger the person is, the better their chances are of a good recovery.
- Length of time without oxygen. The more time the person was deprived of oxygen, the more severe their injury will be.
- Duration of coma. Similarly, the longer the person is in a coma, the lower the likelihood of a good recovery.
- Pupil reaction. If their pupils do not respond to bright light, that is a sign that their injury damaged their brain stem, which again can reduce chances of a good recovery.
- Nerve responses. Doctors will electrically stimulate the nerves at the wrist to see if the nerves are transmitting signals to the brain. If they are, that is a positive sign that could signal a good recovery.
Factors that affect anoxic brain injury recovery
Some factors can influence how well a person will recover from an anoxic brain injury. These include:
- Age. In general, the younger the person is, the better their chances are of a good recovery.
- Length of time without oxygen. The longer the person is deprived of oxygen, the more severe their injury will be.
- Duration of coma. Similarly, the longer the person is in a coma, the lower the likelihood of a good recovery.
- Pupil reaction. If their pupils do not respond to bright light, that is a sign that their injury damaged their brain stem, which can reduce the chances of a good recovery.
- Nerve responses. Doctors will electrically stimulate the nerves at the wrist to see if the nerves are transmitting signals to the brain. If they are, that is a positive sign that could signal a good recovery.
Effects of Anoxic Brain Injuries
The effects of an anoxic brain injury will vary depending on how long the brain was deprived of oxygen. Most of the symptoms are the same as other traumatic brain injuries.
However, some brain areas are more vulnerable to oxygen deprivation than others. This gives anoxic brain injuries distinct side effects, such as:
- Abnormal movements. This could include brief, jerky motions. Damage to the basal ganglia, which coordinates limb movement, usually causes this symptom.
- Blindness. The occipital lobe is also vulnerable to low oxygen levels. This leads to loss of sight and similar problems.
- Blindsight. This is where a person reacts to visual stimuli, such as an object in their way, without being conscious of it.
- Memory problems. Memory loss is very common after an anoxic brain injury because the hippocampus is especially sensitive to a lack of oxygen.
- Hormonal problems. Sometimes a severe anoxic brain injury will cause reduced hormone release. This can lead to extreme fatigue, weight gain, and muscle weakness.
Besides these symptoms, anoxic brain injuries can also lead to cognitive effects and behavioral issues.
Anoxic Brain Injury Recovery
Most traumatic brain injuries damage the connections between the brain cells (called axons), and so the brain can rewire itself and create new connections to compensate.
In anoxic brain injury, however, the brain cells themselves become damaged or destroyed. This makes the brain damage much harder to overcome.
That doesn’t make it impossible to recover from an anoxic brain injury. It will just take more work.
Anoxic Brain Injury Recovery: Conclusion
Anoxic brain injury recovery is difficult to predict since every person’s brain is unique.
If the person regains consciousness quickly and makes good improvements within the first month, they have an excellent chance at making a full recovery.
Even if recovery is slow, it is still possible to make some improvements. The key is to begin therapy as soon as possible and continue activating neuroplasticity.
We wish you the best of luck on your anoxic brain injury recovery.
Information provided by Flint Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Association(s).
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