chronic hypoxia, a usually slow, insidious reduction in tissue oxygenation resulting from gradually destructive or fibrotic lung diseases, congenital or acquired heart disorders, or chronic blood loss. The patient experiences persistent mental and physical fatigue, shows sluggish mental responses, and complains of a loss of ability to perform physical tasks. Unless treated, the condition may lead to disability. There may be some physiological adjustment to the lack of oxygen as occurs in individuals who move from sea level to mountainous areas, where oxygen pressures are reduced. Compare acute hypoxia.
