Final answer:
The condition when the body lacks oxygen, leading to unconsciousness or death, is termed asphyxia or suffocation. It occurs due to choking, circulatory shock, drowning, or environments with insufficient oxygen like high altitudes or enclosed spaces with low oxygen concentrations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Asphyxia is a severe condition that occurs when the body does not receive enough oxygen. It can be a result of choking, drowning, or conditions like circulatory shock, where the circulatory system fails to supply sufficient blood flow to the tissues. The brain and other vital organs suffer from oxygen deprivation, leading to potential cellular death and organ failure.
Symptoms of someone who is struggling to breathe due to asphyxia can include difficulty speaking or crying out, labored or gasping breaths, wheezing, and potentially clutching at the throat. Physical manifestations may include a blue tint to the skin, known as cyanosis, due to the lack of oxygenated blood circulating through the body.
Choking is a common cause of asphyxia, defined as the mechanical blockage of air into the lungs, which can be partial or complete. Partial choking allows some air to reach the lungs, though not enough to function properly, while complete choking stops airflow entirely, leading to asphyxia.
Moreover, conditions like anoxia and hypoxia, where there is a complete lack or a decrease in oxygen supply in the body, respectively, also lead to complications such as confusion, fatigue, and headaches. Severe cases of oxygen deprivation, if not quickly addressed, can result in loss of consciousness, damage to the brain and other organs, or even death.