Compare and contrast hypoxia and ischemia. What condition is more dangerous to the brain? Explain your answer.

Compare and contrast hypoxia and ischemia. What condition is more dangerous to the brain? Explain your answer. Hypoxia is when the oxygen saturation in tissue falls below 88%. If left untreated, hypoxia can lead to cyanosis, mental confusion, eventually coma, seizures and death. Ischemia is the interruption of blood flow to cells and tissues. Ischemia is caused by an occlusion of blood supply. Eventually will low oxygen levels the tissue will become hypoxic, or anoxia, absence of oxygen, leading to an infraction. Ischemia will result in hypoxia, and hypoxia can occur without ischemia[Kla10]. Of the two scenarios, it is better to have hypoxia than ischemia. With hypoxia blood flow is still occurring, though not well, but tissues are still receiving oxygen. Whereas ischemia, oxygen is not being delivered due to an occlusion. Hypoxia may have a greater opportunity for intervention, whereas ischemia is sudden and cell death occurs quickly.