Lizzie McGuire Star Robert Carradine He died at the age of 71 after a decades-long battle with bipolar disorder.
Carradine’s family confirmed his death in a statement on Monday, February 23 deadline“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, uncle and brother, Robert Carradine.”
The statement continued: “In a world that feels so dark, Bobby has always been a beacon of light to everyone around him. We are saddened by the loss of this beautiful soul and grateful for Bobby’s heroic fight during his nearly two-year battle with bipolar disorder. We hope his journey shines a light on people and encourages people to address the stigma associated with mental illness.”
Days later, the Los Angeles deputy medical examiner ruled Carradine’s official manner of death a suicide, according to documents obtained. US Weekly.
The medical examiner also pointed out that the cause was “sequelae of anoxic brain injury,” which is due to the brain not getting enough oxygen.
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Scroll down to learn more about hypoxic brain injury and its causes:
What is anoxic brain injury?
Both hypoxic and hypoxic brain injuries are an “acquired brain injury that occurs when brain cells don’t get enough oxygen,” according to the Brain Injury Association of America, which says the injuries are “very similar but have slightly different causes.”
What is the difference between hypoxia and hypoxic brain injury?
Hypoxic brain injury occurs when the brain “receives no oxygen at all,” according to the Shepard Center, which notes that without oxygen, “brain cells begin to die after about four minutes,” which can lead to severe injury or death.
Meanwhile, hypoxic brain injury occurs when “oxygen flow to the brain is restricted, causing brain cells to gradually die and become damaged,” according to the Shepherd Center.
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What causes hypoxic brain injury?
Common causes of hypoxia or anoxic brain injury include near-drowning, electric shock, heart attack, suffocation, carbon monoxide poisoning, suffocation, smoke inhalation, strangulation, or overdose.
According to the Shepherd Center, there are different types of hypoxic brain injuries depending on the cause. Hypoxic-ischemic injury, or “stasis hypoxia,” occurs when “oxygen-carrying blood is unable to reach the brain, often due to conditions such as cardiac arrest or arrhythmias,” the center said.
Anemic hypoxia occurs when the blood cannot “carry enough oxygen” or “there is not enough blood in the body to meet the needs of the brain,” usually due to severe anemia or blood loss.
Toxic hypoxia is caused by “exposure to chemicals or toxins that prevent the brain from receiving oxygen from blood cells,” such as carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Shepherd Center states that anoxic hypoxia is the result of “a lack of oxygen in the air,” caused by asphyxiation or being at high altitudes without the proper amount of oxygen.
What are the symptoms of hypoxic brain injury?
Short-term symptoms of hypoxia and anoxic injury vary, with the Brain Injury Association of America summarizing the most common symptoms as: poor concentration, poor coordination, dizziness, headache, confusion, loss of consciousness, dizziness and bluish skin.
Long-term symptoms may include tremors, memory problems, speech difficulties, fatigue, hypotension, irritability, cortical blindness, and motor dysfunction.
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Is there a treatment for hypoxic brain injury?
Prisma Health Children’s Hospital says anoxic brain injury is an “emergency condition” that needs to be treated as quickly as possible. The goal is to restore oxygen to the brain before too much damage is done.
The hospital noted that “basic life support” that may be in place includes mechanical ventilation, fluids, blood products, medications to support blood pressure and heart rate, and medications to “suppress seizures.”
The Brain Injury Association of America notes that no two people with brain injuries will have the same symptoms or path to recovery, so treatments vary.
“Many people who suffer hypoxic or anoxic brain injuries are likely to recover,” the organization said, adding that doctors may recommend “rehabilitation programs or certain medications” depending on the extent of the injury.
