Asphyxiation means your body is being severely deprived of oxygen. This oxygen deficiency may result because something is interfering with the act of breathing or the concentration of oxygen in the air you are inhaling is insufficient. Some circumstances that can cause asphyxiation include drowning, electric shock, hanging, suffocation, choking, smoke, asphyxiant, poisonous gas, ALS, lung disease and trauma to your lungs or air passageways.
Asphyxia is the changes that occur in your body because of the lack of oxygen, for instance hypoxia, hypercapnia, pallor and cyanosis. A serious consequence of blood chemistry changes is your heart rhythm can become abnormal and trigger a cardiac arrest. Also, without sufficient oxygen to your brain, you may initially feel euphoria. But the pleasure won’t last long because in seconds you could suddenly feel dizzy and fall into unconsciousness. Ultimately you can die if your blood oxygen level is not brought back up quickly.
An asphyxiant is a gas that reduces the concentration of oxygen in the air by displacing it. These gases are not classified as toxic because their presence causes no actual damage to your body. Instead, asphyxiants just get in the way.
Asphyxiation by any means is life threatening. And intentionally depriving your brain of oxygen for the purpose of an euphoric rush, aka erotic asphyxiation, is never, ever a good idea. Should you be told the practice is safe, don’t believe this as numerous individuals accidentally die while performing voluntary asphyxia.