asphyxia
Fatal breathing failure
Asphyxia is severe oxygen deprivation, typically from obstruction of breathing.
The condition occurs when something prevents air from reaching the lungs—strangulation, drowning, choking, or toxic gases.
Medical and legal contexts use asphyxia precisely: The coroner ruled the cause of death as asphyxia.
The related verb is asphyxiate.
Insufficient tissue oxygenation
- anoxiaAbsence of oxygen supply
- cyanosisBlue skin from low oxygen
- apneaTemporary cessation of respiration
- respiratory failureInadequate lung gas exchange
oxygen deprivation · intubation · ventilation · tracheostomy · pulmonary · acidosis · tachypnea · asystole
Death by neck compression
- throttlingRestricting flow or speed
- ligatureCord for binding
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- plastic bagThin film carrier
overlay · positional · traumatic · manual · chest compression · entrapment · breathlessness · gasping
Blocked airway condition
- airway blockageBlocked breathing passage
- foreign bodyObject in tissue unnaturally
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- windpipeMain breathing tube
trachea · laryngospasm · epiglottitis · gagging · coughing · first aid · back blows · abdominal thrusts
Around time of delivery
- umbilical cordFetal-placental connection
- fetal distressCompromised unborn infant
- Apgar scoreNewborn vitality measure
- cerebral palsyNeurological disorder impairing motor function
Toxic combustion byproduct gas
- smoke inhalationBreathing in combustion gases
- toxic gasHarmful airborne substance
- fumesAirborne chemical irritants
- confined spaceRestricted enclosed area
nitrogen · methane · hydrogen sulfide · industrial accident · inert gas · chemical exposure · fire · hazmat
hypoxia
Insufficient tissue oxygenation
- anoxiaAbsence of oxygen supply
- cyanosisBlue skin from low oxygen
- apneaTemporary cessation of respiration
respiratory failure · oxygen deprivation · intubation · ventilation · tracheostomy · pulmonary · acidosis · tachypnea · asystole · cardiac arrest
strangulation
Death by neck compression
- throttlingRestricting flow or speed
- ligatureCord for binding
- compressionForcing into smaller space
plastic bag · overlay · positional · traumatic · manual · chest compression · entrapment · breathlessness · gasping · unconsciousness
choking
Blocked airway condition
- airway blockageBlocked breathing passage
- foreign bodyObject in tissue unnaturally
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
windpipe · trachea · laryngospasm · epiglottitis · gagging · coughing · first aid · back blows · abdominal thrusts · dislodging
perinatal
Around time of delivery
- umbilical cordFetal-placental connection
- fetal distressCompromised unborn infant
- Apgar scoreNewborn vitality measure
carbon monoxide
Toxic combustion byproduct gas
- smoke inhalationBreathing in combustion gases
- toxic gasHarmful airborne substance
- fumesAirborne chemical irritants
confined space · nitrogen · methane · hydrogen sulfide · industrial accident · inert gas · chemical exposure · fire · hazmat · respiratory protection
- death causescause of death, natural causes, manner of death, accidental death, natural death
- asphyxiationsuffocation, suffocate, smother, strangulation, strangle
- birth injuriescerebral palsy, HIE, broken collarbone, facial paralysis, oxygen deprivation
- infant mortalitystillbirth, SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome, premature death
- oxygenationoxygenation, oxygen saturation, oxygenated, deoxygenated, hypoxia
- positional asphyxiaSuffocation from restricted positioning