{"id":10393,"date":"2019-09-06T09:18:53","date_gmt":"2019-09-06T09:18:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=10393"},"modified":"2021-06-28T18:38:33","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T18:38:33","slug":"15-frequent-symptoms-of-agonal-breathing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-frequent-symptoms-of-agonal-breathing\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Frequent Symptoms of Agonal Breathing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Agonal breathing \u2014 sometimes also referred to as agonal respiration \u2014 is the official medical term that doctors use to refer to the gasping that a patient may exhibit during a cardiac arrest, stroke, or other medical emergencies. There are actually quite a few conditions that could cause it. Asthma, for instance, has a tendency to lead to agonal breathing if the attacks remain untreated and not enough oxygen gets to the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carbon monoxide poisoning can also cause agonal breathing as more of the oxygen in your blood is replaced by carbon monoxide. Regardless of what the cause of agonal breathing is, there are quite a few symptoms that usually come with it and they can be a good indicator of what the root cause is. Without further adieu, here are eight symptoms of agonal breathing that you might encounter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Asymmetrical weakness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many instances of agonal breathing are the direct result of a stroke<\/a>. This is why patients who are in a state of agonal breathing will usually exhibit other symptoms such as asymmetrical weakness. The easiest way to verify whether or not this is, in fact, occurring is by asking the patient to lift up both arms side by side. If one arm falls down and the patient is unable to keep it up then that means half of their body is incapacitated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice weakness in half of the patient\u2019s body coupled with agonal breathing then the cause is most likely stroke-related. The best thing to do in this scenario is to call an ambulance then monitor the patient\u2019s condition while you wait for the paramedics to arrive. Try to keep the patient calm as hemorrhagic strokes could progress faster if the patient\u2019s blood pressure rises due to stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Slurred speech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Agonal breathing can be caused by many conditions but at its most basic level, it\u2019s the result of a lack of oxygen in your brain \u2014 known as cerebral hypoxia. Your brain relies on oxygen <\/a>to perform even the simplest tasks. If your brain isn\u2019t getting enough oxygen for one reason or another then you\u2019ll find that even things like speaking starts to become a difficult task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why patients who are suffering from agonal breathing generally also have slurred speech. Both symptoms occur together so often because they are caused by the same thing, low levels of oxygen within your brain. If you notice someone suffering from agonal breathing and slurred speech at the same time then this is an indicator that something is seriously wrong and thus you should call for an ambulance immediately. Keep a close eye on the condition of the patient until the ambulance arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Inability to understand speech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who aren\u2019t getting enough oxygen to their brain will struggle to speak clearly. However, what many might not know is that they also have a tough time comprehending speech<\/a>. Like we mentioned earlier, oxygen is essential to the normal operation of your brain. It\u2019s like a fuel that your brain uses to function properly. If the brain isn\u2019t getting enough oxygen, regardless of the cause, cognitive functions will begin to break down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the first cerebral processes that will degrade is the ability to comprehend speech. If you see a patient suffering from agonal breathing who is struggling to understand what you\u2019re saying then this is an indicator of cerebral hypoxia. If they remain untreated then other functions of their brain could start to break down, making it extremely important that issues like this are treated early and nipped at the bud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Loss of consciousness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we\u2019ve established in the previous symptom, more cognitive functions will start to fail as time passes when you\u2019re brain isn\u2019t receiving a sufficient amount of oxygen. If hypoxia goes on for too long then the patient could fall unconscious. This indicates that the amount of oxygen in their brain <\/a>is too low for them to even stay awake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a patient suffering from hypoxia transitions from agonal breathing to unconsciousness, it\u2019s an indicator that their condition is worsening and the underlying cause needs to be treated right away to prevent further damage. Even if you\u2019ve already called paramedics, calling again to update them on the status of the patient would be wise so that they prioritize your specific case due to the rapid progression. The earlier treatment is administered, the higher the survival rate will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Seizures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Seizures <\/a>are the official term used to describe any change in the electrical activity of your brain. Most people are familiar with the severe seizures that lead to shaking, but there are also some milder that variants. Prolonged hypoxia can lead to these seizures. It often occurs after agonal breathing has already begun but before a total state of unconsciousness ensues. While seizures are often known for the shaking that they may cause, there are some seizures classified as atonic in which your body actually goes entirely limp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any type of seizure \u2014 especially when occurring alongside or following agonal breathing \u2014 can be an indicator of a cerebral problem. If you see someone having a seizure then put a pillow under their head so they don\u2019t cause a traumatic injury upon impacting the ground then proceed to call for paramedics. Hold them still as you wait for the ambulance to ensure that they don\u2019t cause further damage to themselves while shaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Coma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coma is the official term used to describe unconsciousness that lasts for an extended period of time. It actually comes from the Greek word \u201ckoma\u201d which means deep sleep. Comas are the result of damage to your brain. Some damage is just temporary while, in other cases, the damage is permanent. Patients who are in a coma won\u2019t have any response to stimuli <\/a>such as light, sound, and pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you know, hypoxia that lasts for an extended period of time will start to cause damage to your brain. If too much damage is sustained then the patient suffering from the hypoxia may go into a coma. Agonal breathing will occur first, followed by more severe symptoms like seizures, then the patient could go into a coma if they remain untreated and the flow of oxygen to their brain isn\u2019t restored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Brain death<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Agonal breathing may seem scary, but it\u2019s generally one of the less severe issues that can occur when the brain doesn\u2019t receive enough oxygen. It\u2019s like an early warning sign that your brain uses to tell you that it isn\u2019t getting enough oxygen <\/a>and you need to resolve the problem before further damage occurs. The exact legal criteria for establishing brain death is dynamic and can actually vary from one location to the next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, it\u2019s generally defined as a lack of brain activity. In some cases, it can be used to declare someone legally dead. Brain death is the second most dangerous risk of cerebral hypoxia \u2014 next to death. The best way to ensure that brain activity is retained in the patient is by calling an ambulance as soon as the earliest hypoxic symptoms \u2014 such as agonal breathing \u2014 occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Death<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most severe complication that can occur as a result of cerebral hypoxia is death. You have to bear in mind the fact that some brain cells can begin to die only five minutes after the normal flow of oxygen is obstructed. Prolonged hypoxia can lead to agonal breathing, comas, seizures<\/a>, and brain death, but if the damage is too severe and the brain can no longer regulate the bodily processes required to keep the patient alive then death can ensue rather rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why it\u2019s often advised that you perform CPR on unconscious hypoxic patients in hopes of supplying oxygen to their brain while you wait for paramedics to arrive. It can sometimes seem like a futile effort when they aren\u2019t responding, but it can truly help reduce the amount of brain damage that the patient will incur \u2014 potentially saving their life and preventing brain death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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