Question 1

below what level blood oxygen does brain damage happen?

Accepted Answer

Hypoxia: That depends on many factors: age of the person when it happened (children tolerate low oxygen better than adults), duration of the low oxygen (longer is worse), how healthy the person is (medical conditions may make the person more sensitive), and the  body temperature of the person when it happened (the colder they were, the less oxygen their body and brain needed).  There's no simple answer.

Question 2

does oxygen desaturation on a long-haul flight (13.5 hours)  cause any sort of brain damage to a baby?  i've read they go as low as 80% and lower.

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: Couldn't have said it better myself: "if your baby was born at term and is healthy with no evidence of respiratory problems, then it would be safe to fly. If your baby has any problem with his or her breathing eg. An upper respiratory infection, it would be wise to arrange for your gp to see and examine them before you go." - dr. Jo lee of babyworld.

Question 3

does low oxygen saturation cause brain damage ?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: Possibly, if low enough for long enough.

Question 4

if my husbands oxygen level got down in the 50s after getting a chest tube, can he have some brain damage?

Accepted Answer

Good question: I am assuming when he had the chest tube put in he was monitored and had some sedation?
Sometimes the pulse oximeter readings can be off (movement, poor contact)...Especially when procedures are being done.

I would bring your concerns to the treating m.D's, but i suspect that the dip was only transient and did not cause any permanent damage.

Question 5

when you pass out from lack of oxygen is the oxygen at that point low enough to cause brain damage?

Accepted Answer

Hypoxia: Yes it is low enough to cause brain damage.

Question 6

pt was in coma. oxygen to brain stem. partial brain damage. is there a reason to take off ventilator ?

Accepted Answer

About ventilators...: First, every person should have a plan for how to live and how not to die. The plan is sometimes called an Advance Directive, a POLST, or code status. The plan tells others, such as family members or doctors, whether or not a ventilator should be used, when to use it, when to remove it. If a person did not leave a plan, family members can try to decide if the person "would wish to live this way."

Question 7

70% brain damage, not in a single area, due to lack of oxygen (caused by asphyxia), what are the chances to awaken and regain full consciousness?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: The extent of brain damage is not as important as the specific areas of the brain that are affected. So, if the pons or medulla were affected, you would be considered brain dead already. But, if you loose that much area, you will have significant mental status changes and impairments of motor function. This is not a good circumstance.

Question 8

can you heal or reverse brain damage cause at birth from lack of blood and oxygen to the brain with healing foods or any break through medications?

Accepted Answer

I'm sorry: Please forgive my frankness. Charlatans prey on the desperation of handicapped people to make money. Anyone offering you "healing foods" or some magic supplement is trying to scam you. However, there are whole practices of medicine that focus on helping folks with this kind of disability -- not with the hope of cure or reversing the tissue injury, but making life easier and more enjoyable.

Question 9

i'm considering climbing everest without oxygen, and training by sleeping and running in an altitude tent which will lower my blood 02 sat. levels to ~70%. can i do both without brain damage?

Accepted Answer

No guarantees.: People have different susceptibilities to hypoxia depending on many factors including age, physical fitness, and health status.  Also, the ability of the brain to withstand hypoxia is time dependent, so time at the summit will be critical.

Question 10

can smoking cigarettes cause brain damage due to lack of oxygen or something?

Accepted Answer

Indirectly: Smoking is a major cause of arteriosclerosis, narrowing of arteries  and reducing blood flow to the brain as well as strokes. All can lead to brain damage.

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Doctor answers about:

What oxygen level causes brain damage

A member asked:

Below what level blood oxygen does brain damage happen?

A member asked:

Does oxygen desaturation on a long-haul flight (13.5 hours) cause any sort of brain damage to a baby? i've read they go as low as 80% and lower.

A member asked:

Does low oxygen saturation cause brain damage ?

A member asked:

If my husbands oxygen level got down in the 50s after getting a chest tube, can he have some brain damage?

A member asked:

When you pass out from lack of oxygen is the oxygen at that point low enough to cause brain damage?

A member asked:

Pt was in coma. oxygen to brain stem. partial brain damage. is there a reason to take off ventilator ?

A member asked:

70% brain damage, not in a single area, due to lack of oxygen (caused by asphyxia), what are the chances to awaken and regain full consciousness?

A member asked:

Can you heal or reverse brain damage cause at birth from lack of blood and oxygen to the brain with healing foods or any break through medications?

A member asked:

I'm considering climbing everest without oxygen, and training by sleeping and running in an altitude tent which will lower my blood 02 sat. levels to ~70%. can i do both without brain damage?

A member asked:

Can smoking cigarettes cause brain damage due to lack of oxygen or something?

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