Hypoxia, which is defined as a shortage of oxygen, can occur throughout the body (e.g., at high altitude) or within a specific organ or tissue of the body (e.g., due to blockage of a blood vessel, which in the heart ultimately results in a heart attack). In many instances, inflammation is the response of the body to hypoxia and this often causes many of the problems that arise from hypoxia. [click link for full article]