Cerebral hypoxia is a medical emergency, and victims often know the cause, particularly if they've fallen or suffered another traumatic injury. When cerebral hypoxia is due to a stroke or other internal issue, symptoms can appear more slowly.

Some warning signs that your brain has been deprived of oxygen include:

·       Feeling light-headed;

·       Intense pressure in the brain or reddening of the face; which suggests the body is increasing blood flow to compensate for hypoxia. Some people experience very painful headaches;

·       Loss of consciousness;

·       Seizures;

·       Changes in mood, personality, or judgment. People suffering from hypoxia may make poor decisions, suddenly forget words, or not know where they are;

·       Weakness, particularly on one side of the body. It's common for people having a stroke to be unable to raise both arms above the head, to have a crooked smile, or to experience paralysis on one side of the face;

·       Sudden bleeding anywhere around the face, particularly if blood vessels in the eyes are ruptured.