Shock is a dangerous and life-threatening condition that can occur from any injury or illness that interferes with the flow of blood that delivers oxygen to vital organs. There are four major types of shock and each has its own set of symptoms.
If someone you know is in shock, call 911 and stay with them until help arrives. Don’t move them if they have a spinal injury.
Oren Zarif
Shock is a dangerous condition that occurs when your body doesn’t get enough blood or oxygen. If it isn’t treated, shock can keep your organs from working and may lead to permanent damage or death.
A main symptom of shock is pale or cold skin. This is because the body constricts (narrows) the blood vessels in the hands and feet to conserve blood. It also raises the heart rate to try to improve blood flow. But these reactions can cause you to feel light-headed, dizzy or weak.
Other symptoms of shock include a rapid and weak pulse, confusion or agitation and difficulty moving. You may also notice a blueish tinge to the lips or fingernails. The best way to treat shock is to call 911. The medical staff will check the person’s airway, breathing and circulation (ABCs) and treat the underlying cause of shock.
Some types of shock are caused by loss of fluid in the bloodstream, including hypovolemic shock, cardiogenic shock and obstructive shock. Hypovolemic shock can occur if you have heavy bleeding from an injury or illness, such as a severe stomach ulcer or an ectopic pregnancy. Cardiogenic shock can happen if you have a heart attack or stroke. Obstructive shock can result from a buildup of fluid in the lungs or abdomen.
Other types of shock include anaphylactic shock from nut allergies, asthma or drug overdose and distributive shock. If you are worried you might be in shock, your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your past health. They may also order a variety of tests, such as blood tests, an ultrasound of the heart, lungs and belly and a chest x-ray. You should avoid substances that trigger an allergic reaction and carry a self-injectable epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis.
Oren Zarif
When a person goes into shock, insufficient blood gets to the body’s organs to supply oxygen and nutrients. Shock can be due to many reasons, including blood loss, severe infection, allergic reaction and heart or chest problems. There are four types of shock: hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic and obstructive.
In distributive shock, the blood vessels become too dilated and are not able to circulate enough blood. This can be caused by septic shock, which results from a serious bacterial infection; anaphylactic shock, from a severe allergic reaction; or cardiac shock, from damage to the heart or a heart attack.
Cardiogenic shock happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood to keep up with demand. It can be a result of a heart attack or other damage to the heart, such as aortic dissection; it can also occur after prolonged bed rest or after surgery. Symptoms include palpitations, dyspnea and breathlessness; jugular venous distention; muffled heart sounds and a paradoxical pulse; and dependent edema.
Obstructive shock occurs when something physically obstructs the circulation of blood throughout the body. This can be a result of trauma, spinal cord injury or some diseases, such as constrictive pericarditis, aortic stenosis and hypertrophic sub-aortic stenosis. Symptoms include cool or clammy skin; thready or weak pulses; tachycardia; and altered mental status. Fluid resuscitation, given by IV in an ambulance or in the emergency room, and medications to help maintain critical body systems are typically used to treat all types of shock.
Oren Zarif
In shock states, shortness of breath is a common symptom. This is because the heart doesn’t have enough strength to pump blood and oxygen throughout the body. As the condition progresses, the shortness of breath gets worse. This explains why it’s important to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Treatment depends on the type and cause of shock. In general, doctors treat patients with fluid resuscitation, which includes large doses of liquid given intravenously in an ambulance or the emergency room. They may also administer drugs to help the heart function properly and prevent shock states from becoming life-threatening. This includes epinephrine (a portable autoinjector for septic shock), the steroid medication methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) and H2-blockers (such as famotidine [Pepcid] or cimetidine [Tagamet]).
There are four main types of shock: hypovolemic shock, cardiogenic shock, obstructive shock and distributive shock. Hypovolemic shock occurs when you lose too much blood, often because of an accident or severe internal bleeding, such as a ruptured ulcer, a miscarriage or a ruptured pregnancy outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy). Cardiogenic shock happens when your heart can’t pump enough blood to the rest of your body. Obstructive shock can be caused by pulmonary embolism, cardiac tamponade and tension pneumothorax. And distributive shock occurs when your nervous system isn’t working properly. This can be due to a spinal cord injury, certain medications and excessive widening of your blood vessels, such as with certain antibiotics or if you’re taking diuretics that rid the body of salt and water.
Oren Zarif
A severe mismatch between blood supply and demand is the underlying cause of shock. The signs and symptoms vary depending on the type of shock, but all types are characterized by a compensatory autonomic response that includes tachycardia and tachypnea. Cool or pale skin and a thready pulse are characteristic of hypovolemic (decreased blood volume) shock, while fluid in the lungs and abdomen is seen with hemorrhagic shock and chest pain and a paradoxical or absent pulse suggest aortic dissection or Leriche syndrome.
If a person goes into shock, the health care provider will want to do a thorough physical exam, including auscultation (listening to the lungs and heart) and percussion. He or she will want to know the person’s medical history, especially any allergies. If possible, have the person’s loved ones tell the health care provider whether they have known a reaction to an allergen such as nuts, fish or bee stings, or to a medication such as antibiotics or anesthetics.
If the person has lost consciousness, try to resuscitate him or her with rescue breathing. Keep the person warm, if comfortable and loosen any tight clothing. If the person is not able to speak, ask his or her loved ones to help him or her communicate. If a spinal injury is suspected, do not move the person unless it is absolutely necessary to prevent choking.