, | ICD9 = | }} Asphyxia (from Greek a-, "without" and σφυγμός (sphygmos), "pulse, heartbeat")'s a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body that arises from being unable to breathe normally. An example of asphyxia's choking. Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which primarily affects the tissues and organs. Carbon monoxide inhalation, such as from a car exhaust: carbon monoxide has a higher affinity than oxygen to the hemoglobin in the bl… (More on Asphyxia)