Hypoxic hypoxia is a result of insufficient oxygen available to the lungs. A blocked airway, a drowning or a reduction in partial pressure (high altitude above 10,000 feet) are obvious examples of how lungs can be deprived of oxygen. Some medical examples are abnormal pulmonary function or respiratory obstruction, or a right-to-left shunt in the heart. Hypoxic hypoxia is seen in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), neuromuscular diseases or interstitial lung disease.
Some symptoms of hypoxic hypoxia are: