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Your body experiences shock when you don’t have enough blood
circulating through your system to keep organs and tissues functioning
properly.
It can be caused by any injury or condition that affects the flow of blood
through your body. Shock can lead to multiple organ failure as well as life-
threatening complications.
There are many types of shock. They fall under four main categories,
based on what has affected the flow of blood. The four major types are:
obstructive shock
cardiogenic shock
distributive shock
hypovolemic shock
severe allergic reaction
significant blood loss
heart failure
blood infections
dehydration
poisoning
burns
Obstructive shock
Obstructive shock occurs when blood can’t get where it needs to go.
A pulmonary embolism is one condition that may cause an interruption to
blood flow. Conditions that can cause a buildup of air or fluid in the chest
cavity can also lead to obstructive shock. These include:
pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
hemothorax (blood collects in the space between the chest wall and
lung)
cardiac tamponade (blood or fluids fill the space between the sac that
surrounds the heart and the heart muscle)
Cardiogenic shock
Damage to your heart can decrease the blood flow to your body, leading to
cardiogenic shock. Common causes of cardiogenic shock include:
Distributive shock
Conditions that cause your blood vessels to lose their tone can cause
distributive shock. When your blood vessels lose their tone, they can
become so open and floppy that not enough blood pressure supplies your
organs. Distributive shock can result in symptoms including:
flushing
low blood pressure
loss of consciousness
Hypovolemic shock
Your blood delivers oxygen and vital nutrients to your organs. If you lose
too much blood, your organs can’t function properly.
Serious dehydration can also cause this type of shock.
Once you’re stable, your doctor can try to diagnose the cause of shock. To
do so, they may order one or more tests, such as imaging or blood tests.
Imaging tests
Your doctor may order imaging tests to check for injuries or damage to your
internal tissues and organs, such as:
bone fractures
organ ruptures
muscle or tendon tears
abnormal growths
ultrasound
X-ray
CT scan
MRI scan
Blood tests
Your doctor may use blood tests to look for signs of:
If you suspect someone has gone into shock, call 911. Then follow these
steps:
If they’re breathing:
If you suspect the person has injured their head, neck, or back, avoid
moving them.
Apply first aid to any visible wounds. If you suspect the person is
experiencing an allergic reaction, ask them if they have an epinephrine
auto-injector (EpiPen). People with severe allergies often carry this device.
If they begin to vomit, turn their head sideways. This helps prevent choking.
If you suspect they’ve injured their neck or back, avoid turning their head.
Instead, stabilize their neck and roll their entire body to the side to clear the
vomit out.
Medical care
Your doctor’s treatment plan for shock will depend on the cause of your
condition. Different types of shock are treated differently. For example, your
doctor may use: