HYPOXIA AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN BODY: PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS
Keywords:
hypoxia, pathophysiology, oxygen deficiency, cellular metabolism, ATP depletion, anaerobic glycolysis, hypoxia-inducible factors, metabolic acidosis, tissue hypoxia, organ dysfunctionAbstract
Hypoxia is a fundamental pathophysiological condition characterized by insufficient oxygen supply at the tissue level, leading to significant disturbances in cellular metabolism and organ function. This study aims to analyze the main mechanisms of hypoxia development and its systemic effects on the human body based on modern concepts of pathophysiology. Special attention is given to the classification of hypoxia, including hypoxic, anemic, circulatory, and histotoxic types, each of which has distinct etiological factors but leads to a common outcome—cellular oxygen deficiency.cThe study highlights that hypoxia disrupts mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, resulting in decreased ATP production and a shift to anaerobic glycolysis. This metabolic transition leads to lactate accumulation and metabolic acidosis, which negatively affect cellular viability. In addition, hypoxia activates adaptive mechanisms mediated by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which regulate gene expression related to angiogenesis, erythropoiesis, and metabolic adaptation. While these mechanisms are protective in the short term, prolonged hypoxia contributes to pathological processes such as inflammation, tissue damage, and organ dysfunction.References
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