Asphyxia can occur when the airway is severely obstructed for a number of reasons and when there is a significant lack of oxygen. The aura of asphyxia occurs with specific manifestations, with extreme difficulty in breathing, with purple skin of the lips and face. The patient’s heartbeat will be faster, and it will be weaker, more frequent, and less strong. The patient is in a drowsy or comatose state, and the breathing gradually becomes slower and weaker, which may cause respiratory arrest. The heartbeat will also slowly slow down and eventually stop. The pupils may become dilated and the reflex to light may disappear, all of which are precursors to asphyxia.