---
title: What You Need to Know About Brain Oxygen Deprivation
description: How long can the brain go without oxygen before permanent brain damage occurs? The answer varies depending on different factors. Learn more now.
image: https://www.spinalcord.com/hubfs/Blog%20Images/Optimized%20Blog%20Images/Nurse-adjusting-patient-oxygen-mask_130562916-min.jpg
---

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 Medically Reviewed by: [Jennifer Kornick, MS CCC-SLP](https://www.spinalcord.com/bio-jennifer-kornick)

 Publish Date: Apr 26, 2021

# What You Need to Know About Brain Oxygen Deprivation

Brain oxygen deprivation (anoxia or hypoxia) happens when the brain gets too little — or no — oxygen for a period, and it can lead to a range of outcomes from full recovery to lasting neurological damage. In this article, we explore how oxygen deprivation occurs, the timeline of brain injury, common symptoms and long-term effects, medical treatments, and strategies for recovery.

Not all brain injuries result from a [direct blow ](https://www.spinalcord.com/blog/contusion-vs.-concussion-understanding-the-difference)or visible lesion. The brain can suffer damage even when nothing physically hits the skull. [**Anoxic brain injuries**](https://www.spinalcord.com/anoxic-brain-injury) occur when oxygen supply is cut off entirely, while **[hypoxic injurie](https://www.spinalcord.com/blog/what-is-hypoxia-and-why-is-it-so-dangerous)s** occur when oxygen is reduced but not fully absent. How a person is affected depends on how long the brain was deprived, how severe the deprivation was, and how quickly medical intervention begins. Some people recover fully; others require prolonged rehabilitation and may face lasting effects.

## **Brain Oxygen Deprivation: The Basics**

![man-getting-oxygen-from-nurse-from-possible-deprivation](https://www.spinalcord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Images/Optimized%20Blog%20Images/Nurse-adjusting-patient-oxygen-mask_130562916-min.jpg?width=300&name=Nurse-adjusting-patient-oxygen-mask_130562916-min.jpg)

Doctors typically refer to two distinct forms of oxygen deprivation: anoxic brain injuries occur when the brain is totally deprived of oxygen due to sudden cardiac arrest, choking, strangulation, and other sudden injuries. [Hypoxic brain injuries](https://www.spinalcord.com/cerebral-hypoxia) occur when the brain receives less oxygen than it needs, but is not completely deprived of oxygen. Because the effects of the two injuries are similar, many brain experts use the terms interchangeably.

A few seconds of oxygen deprivation won't cause lasting harm, so a [child who holds his breath in frustration](https://www.spinalcord.com/blog/head-injuries-in-children-when-to-worry), a combatant choked unconscious during a Jiu-Jitsu match, and a diver who needs a few extra seconds to come up for air are unlikely to experience brain damage. The precise timeline of anoxic brain injuries depends on a number of personal idiosyncrasies, including overall brain and cardiovascular health, as well as the level of blood oxygenation at the time of injury. Generally speaking, injuries begin at the one-minute mark, steadily worsening thereafter.

### How Long Can the Brain Go Without Oxygen? A Timeline

- **Between 30-180 seconds** **of oxygen deprivation**, you may lose consciousness.
- **At the one-minute mark**, brain cells begin dying.
- **At three minutes**, neurons suffer more extensive damage, and lasting brain damage becomes more likely.
- **At five minutes**, death becomes imminent.
- **At 10 minutes**, even if the brain remains alive, a coma and lasting brain damage are almost inevitable.
- **At 15 minutes**, survival becomes nearly impossible.

There are, of course, exceptions to every rule. Some training routines help the body make more efficient use of oxygen, enabling the brain to go longer periods without this vital element. Free divers routinely train to go long periods without oxygen, and the current record holder, Aleix Segura held his breath for[* 24 minutes*](https://www.wired.com/story/what-it-takes-to-hold-your-breath-for-24-minutes-yeah-its-a-thing/)[* and 3 seconds*](https://www.wired.com/story/what-it-takes-to-hold-your-breath-for-24-minutes-yeah-its-a-thing/) without sustaining brain damage!

## **Why Does the Brain Need Oxygen?**

The brain represents just 2% of a person's body weight, yet it uses about 20% of the body's oxygen supply. Without it, the brain can't perform even the most basic functions. The brain relies on glucose to power the neurons that control everything from conscious functions like planning and thought to automatic, unconscious processes like managing heart rate and digestion.

Without oxygen, the brain's cells cannot metabolize glucose, and therefore cannot convert glucose into energy.

**When your brain is deprived of oxygen, then, the ultimate cause of brain death is inadequate energy to power the brain's cells. **

## **Most Common Signs of Oxygen Deprivation **

Most cases of oxygen deprivation have an immediate, obvious cause. A person is at risk of oxygen deprivation under a number of circumstances, including:

- Strangulation, which blocks blood flow to the brain, thereby preventing oxygen from getting to the brain's cells.
- Cardiac or respiratory arrest due to accidents, heart attacks, strokes, and similar catastrophic events.
- Choking.
- Drowning.
- Electrocution.
- Brian tumors that impede blood flow.
- Heart arrhythmias.
- Smoke or carbon monoxide inhalation.
- Extremely low blood pressure, which is common when the body goes into shock due to other injuries.
- Poisoning, including via overdose of prescription and illicit drugs or alcohol.
- Broken or compressed trachea.
- Birth-related injuries in newborns.

### Early signs of oxygen deprivation include:

- Changes in heart rate.
- Decreased circulation in the hands or feet.
- Parts of the body turning blue.
- Fainting, seeing spots, or being unable to think clearly.
- Decreased judgment or awareness.
- Seizures.
- Inability to follow directions or complete complex tasks.

from oxygen deprivation, call 911 immediately. Rapid intervention can be life-saving, and may reduce the risk of serious, lifelong brain damage.

## **Effects of Oxygen Deprivation**

The effects of oxygen deprivation are similar to those of other brain injuries. The prognosis depends on how severe the lack of oxygen to the brain was, the extent of neuron death, and the quality of medical and rehabilitative care. With quality physical therapy, your brain may learn to compensate for damaged regions, so even severe injuries warrant an ongoing commitment to physical therapy.

Common long-term effects of [oxygen deprivation](http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/anoxia/anoxia.htm) can include

- Damage to specific brain regions deprived of oxygen. Various brain regions tend to coordinate different functions, so some functions might be severely crippled while others remain intact. For instance, the injury survivor might be able to understand language but unable to speak.
- Changes in mood or personality.
- Difficulty with memory, including the ability to recall facts, names of objects and/or people, and faces. This can also interfere with the ability to learn new information or recall autobiographical facts.
- Changes in motor skills. A number of brain regions help coordinate movement, so if these areas are damaged, you may struggle to walk, write, or engage in other functions.
- Chronic pain. When the brain is damaged, it may incorrectly process pain signals, causing you to feel pain even when there is not an injury.
- The inability to feel pain, or to correctly respond to pain signals. For instance, pain in your arm might feel like pain in your leg.
- Difficulties with impulse control. Many brain injury survivors develop addictions, aggressive behavior, or sexually inappropriate compulsions.
- Symptoms of mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety.
- **Dementia-like symptoms, including confusion, memory difficulties, and signs of rapid brain aging.**

## **Treatment for Brain Oxygen Deprivation **

Treatment should always begin with addressing the source of oxygen deprivation, since the longer oxygen deprivation continues, the more severe the damage will likely be. Your doctor may use a tracheotomy to ensure you get sufficient oxygen if something blocks your wind pipe. Other treatment options may include surgery to remove a blockage or lesion, and steroids to reduce swelling in your brain.

In the days following your injury, your treatment team will turn its attention toward long-term recovery. Your brain is highly adaptive to its environment, so continued challenges are the best option for helping your brain recover and work around your injuries. Your treatment plan may include:

- Exercise therapy to increase blood flow to the brain.
- Physical therapy to help you regain lost motor function.
- Occupational therapy to help you find new ways to complete everyday tasks.
- Speech therapy to help you regain lost speech and language.
- Psychotherapy to help you learn to cope with your injuries.
- Family support groups to educate you and your family about life with a brain injury.

You may also need follow-up treatments, such as chemotherapy to further shrink a brain lesion, medication to prevent a blood clot, or regular MRI scans to assess brain damage.

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## Sources and Additional Resources:

- Olson, Leslie C., [How Brain Death Works](https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/brain-death1.htm)
- NHS.uk, [Brain Death](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/brain-death/)
- [Brain Injury By a Lack of Oxygen/Oxygen Deficiency](https://www.braininjury-explanation.com/causes-disorders/brain-injury-by-lack-of-oxygen), Brain Injury Explanation
- [What Happens to the Brain Without Oxygen?](https://youtu.be/f_R_9Z0Afcw), AB Studio<https://youtu.be/f_R_9Z0Afcw>

**Topics:** Traumatic Brain Injury, Brain Damage

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Following a traumatic <A href=\"/spinal-cord-injury\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><SPAN style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spinal cord injury</SPAN></A>, this bundle of nerves can become bruised, also known as <A href=\"//www.spinalcord.com/blog/contusion-vs.-concussion-understanding-the-difference\">a contusion.</A> Because of the nature of the nervous system, any interference can constitute a serious spinal contusion, but these facts will help you dissect all of the information from the medical professionals.</P>\n\n<H2><STRONG>What Is a Spinal Contusion?</STRONG></H2>\n<IMG src=\"https://www.spinalcord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog-Images/Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg?width=300&amp;name=Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg\" alt=\"Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image\" width=\"300\" style=\"width: 300px; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;\" srcset=\"https://www.spinalcord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog-Images/Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg?width=150&amp;name=Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg 150w, https://www.spinalcord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog-Images/Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg?width=300&amp;name=Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg 300w, https://www.spinalcord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog-Images/Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg?width=450&amp;name=Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg 450w, https://www.spinalcord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog-Images/Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg?width=600&amp;name=Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg 600w, https://www.spinalcord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog-Images/Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg?width=750&amp;name=Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg 750w, https://www.spinalcord.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog-Images/Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg?width=900&amp;name=Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image-min.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"/>\n<P>Much like any other bruise, a contusion can cause bleeding from local blood vessels and inflammation which, rather<I><SPAN style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> unlike</SPAN></I> bruises on other parts of the body, can have serious negative impacts on the spinal cord itself. Because the<A href=\"/blog/contusion-vs.-concussion-understanding-the-difference\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> “blood must clot to stop the bleeding”</A>a bruise results from contusions also increase cardiovascular risks.</P>\n<P>For example, the swelling a contusion can cause will often disrupt nerve impulses that travel from the brain to the body through the spinal cord, and the severity of this will depend upon the level of injury. Unlike a concussion, a contusion would not cause unconsciousness or a ‘blackout’, but instead cause the patient to feel a numbness or tingling in the extremities.</P>\n<P>A contusion can cause spinal compression, which happens when there is pressure on the spinal cord. This can go on to cause an array of <A href=\"http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/nervous_system_disorders/spinal_cord_compression_134,13/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">physical symptoms</A> such as loss of sensation in the feet, inability to use the hands and loss of sexual ability. It must be noted that not all contusions cause spinal compression, and not all spinal compression is caused by a contusion, although they do often connect this way.</P>\n<H2><STRONG>Warning Signs of a Serious Spinal Contusion to Watch For</STRONG></H2>\n<P>Firstly, doctors will try and establish what area or limb the injury has affected. Spinal contusions most often “affect the upper extremities bilaterally and also sometimes involve the lower extremities,” <A href=\"http://www.healio.com/orthopedics/journals/ortho/2012-1-35-1/%7B7b1ed5f6-d6ca-435e-b69a-dba8a6d7c3c0%7D/spinal-cord-contusions\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">according to Dr. Wong</A>, an orthopedic physician.</P>\n<P>Symptoms include “numbness, tingling, [or] electric shock-like sensations and burning in the extremities,” <A href=\"http://www.aans.org/patient%20information/conditions%20and%20treatments/spinal%20cord%20injury.aspx\">(American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 2016)</A>. Generally falling into the category of “spinal trauma” there are many symptoms which are similar to other forms of spinal trauma and spinal cord injury. Below are some symptoms of spinal trauma:</P>\n<UL>\n<LI>Spinal shock — or the &quot;loss of feeling or movement below site of injury&quot; <A href=\"http://www.columbianeurosurgery.org/conditions/spinal-trauma/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><I>(Columbia University Medical Centre, 2016) </I></A>that can last between hours and weeks</LI>\n<LI>Loss of bladder or bowel function</LI>\n<LI>Difficulty breathing</LI>\n<LI>Muscle spasticity</LI>\n<LI>Difficulty understanding speech</LI>\n<LI>Problems with attention</LI>\n<LI>Memory challenges</LI>\n<LI>Heart rate and blood pressure problems</LI>\n</UL>\n<P>Unfortunately, it is sometimes challenging to identify which symptoms are due to a spinal contusion, and which ones are the result of a spinal cord injury directly. It can sometimes require a few days or weeks for the body to recover from spinal trauma and reveal if any permanent damage is left from the accident that caused the SCI.</P>\n<P>Understanding what a contusion is, and how it can come into play following a spinal cord injury is important in order to clearly appreciate your injury, understand your diagnoses, and work toward treatment and a prognosis. Doctors can sometimes use jargon that’s difficult to understand, so the more you can educate yourself about your condition, the more control you can have in your recovery and treatment.</P>\n<P>If you still have questions about the details of the spinal cord and how it may be affected from your injury, please contact us or download our <A href=\"/the-simplified-guide-to-understanding-a-spinal-cord-injury\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">guide to understanding a spinal cord injury</A>.",
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What Is a Spinal Contusion?
Signs-of-a-spinal-contusion-title-image
Much like any other bruise, a contusion can cause bleeding from local blood vessels and inflammation which, rather unlike bruises on other parts of the body, can have serious negative impacts on the spinal cord itself. Because the “blood must clot to stop the bleeding”a bruise results from contusions also increase cardiovascular risks.

For example, the swelling a contusion can cause will often disrupt nerve impulses that travel from the brain to the body through the spinal cord, and the severity of this will depend upon the level of injury. Unlike a concussion, a contusion would not cause unconsciousness or a ‘blackout’, but instead cause the patient to feel a numbness or tingling in the extremities.

A contusion can cause spinal compression, which happens when there is pressure on the spinal cord. This can go on to cause an array of physical symptoms such as loss of sensation in the feet, inability to use the hands and loss of sexual ability. It must be noted that not all contusions cause spinal compression, and not all spinal compression is caused by a contusion, although they do often connect this way.

Warning Signs of a Serious Spinal Contusion to Watch For
Firstly, doctors will try and establish what area or limb the injury has affected. Spinal contusions most often “affect the upper extremities bilaterally and also sometimes involve the lower extremities,” according to Dr. Wong, an orthopedic physician.

Symptoms include “numbness, tingling, [or] electric shock-like sensations and burning in the extremities,” (American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 2016). Generally falling into the category of “spinal trauma” there are many symptoms which are similar to other forms of spinal trauma and spinal cord injury. Below are some symptoms of spinal trauma:

Spinal shock — or the loss of feeling or movement below site of injury (Columbia University Medical Centre, 2016) that can last between hours and weeks
Loss of bladder or bowel function
Difficulty breathing
Muscle spasticity
Difficulty understanding speech
Problems with attention
Memory challenges
Heart rate and blood pressure problems
Unfortunately, it is sometimes challenging to identify which symptoms are due to a spinal contusion, and which ones are the result of a spinal cord injury directly. It can sometimes require a few days or weeks for the body to recover from spinal trauma and reveal if any permanent damage is left from the accident that caused the SCI.

Understanding what a contusion is, and how it can come into play following a spinal cord injury is important in order to clearly appreciate your injury, understand your diagnoses, and work toward treatment and a prognosis. Doctors can sometimes use jargon that’s difficult to understand, so the more you can educate yourself about your condition, the more control you can have in your recovery and treatment.

If you still have questions about the details of the spinal cord and how it may be affected from your injury, please contact us or download our guide to understanding a spinal cord injury.",
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