The increasing number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Bengkayang, West Kalimantan is associated with conditions happy hypoxia. Mentioned, this condition can cause sudden death.
Acting (Plt) Head of the Health and Family Planning Office of Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, I Made Putra Negara explained that people with happy hypoxia can still carry out their usual activities, even walking and laughing.
“This condition makes a person experience problems in breathing in the form of shortness of breath or dyspnea. This case already exists in Bengkayang,” he explained.
“The case is that people can walk, can laugh, suddenly short of breath and die. That is known as happy hypoxia. There has been a case in Bengkayang. We are also saddened that one of the heads of the puskesmas in Bengkayang died, who was also suddenly breathless. ,” he continued.
Hypoxia is a condition of reduced oxygen levels in body tissues. This condition is indicated by a decrease in oxygen levels in the blood or hypoxemia (hypoxemia) as measured by blood gas examination. With a device such as an oximeter, normal oxygen levels are indicated by oxygen saturation in the range of 94-99 percent.
In problematic lung conditions, oxygen saturation can drop and cause symptoms such as shortness of breath. If treatment is delayed, it can lead to death.
In cases of ‘happy hypoxia’ or ‘silent hypoxemia’, the patient may not experience shortness of breath when oxygen levels drop below normal. The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed to be related to nerve damage.
Even though it doesn’t feel tight, the oxygen condition that goes down in the happy hypoxia no less dangerous. The condition of oxygen ‘dropping’ without symptoms is what can cause sudden death.
Quoted from the Times of India, not always COVID-19 causes a decrease in oxygen saturation. In patients with mild symptoms, symptoms usually include fever, cough, and anosmia. However, if the patient experiences shortness of breath, you should immediately go to the hospital for proper treatment.
Here are the symptoms to watch out for regarding potential hypoxia and ‘happy hypoxia’:
- Hard to breathe
- Chest pain
- Confusion
- Changes in lip color or bluish lips
- Nose wide
Director of the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (AIMS), Dr. Randeep Guleria, said that additional oxygen supply such as from a new tube needs to be given if the patient’s oxygen saturation has reached less than or equal to 93 percent.
Therefore, it is important to regularly monitor the condition and oxygen saturation of COVID-19 patients to anticipate happy hypoxia. In patients undergoing self-isolation, oxygen saturation can be measured using an oximeter.
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