heart and blood vessel disorders
Shock
Introduction
Shock is a life-threatening condition in which blood flow to the organs is low, decreasing delivery of oxygen and thus causing organ damage and sometimes death. Blood pressure is usually low. (See also Low Blood Pressure .) Shock has several causes: Low blood volume, inadequate pumping action of the heart, or excessive widening (dilation) of blood vessels. When shock is caused by low blood volume or inadequate pumping of the heart, people may feel sluggish, sleepy, or confused, and their skin becomes cold and sweaty and often bluish and pale. When shock results from excessive dilation of blood vessels, the skin may be warm and flushed, and the pulse may be strong and forceful (bounding) rather than weak. People who are in shock should be kept warm and positioned so their legs are elevated. Intravenous fluids, oxygen, and sometimes drugs are given to help restore the blood pressure. Many people who are in shock are brought to emergency departments every day. People go into shock when their Low Blood Pressure that the body’s cells do not receive enough blood and therefore do not receive enough oxygen. As a result, cells in numerous organs, including the brain, kidneys, liver, and heart, stop functioning normally. If blood flow (perfusion) to these cells is not quickly restored, they become irreversibly damaged and die. If enough cells are damaged or dead, the organ they are in may fail and the person may die. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is the failure of two or more organs. This diagnosis carries a significant chance of death. People in shock require immediate emergency treatment and are usually cared for in the hospital intensive care unit. Shock has nothing to do with sudden emotional stress. Although low blood pressure is generally the cause of shock, blood pressure may not be low in the early stages of shock. Also, blood pressure can be low in people who do not have shock. The medical disorder of shock has nothing to do with the “shock” that people feel from a sudden emotional stress. 