The Cause and Effect of Shock

Shock as a medical term can be summed up with one simple phrase. "Inadequate tissue profusion" what this means is that some unnatural reason has caused the blood flowing to our organs to be cut off or it's unable to reach certain areas of the body. Shock is very serious, lack of blood to key organs can cause permanent physical, or mental damage, and in extreme cases death.

When a person goes into shock then something has gone terribly wrong with their body. There are five common forms of shock and all need to be taken seriously to avoid further injury. Listed below are the five kinds of shock, their symptoms and how to treat each in an emergency situation. Always remember that nothing can beat professional medical attention, so don't think that 911 should be ruled out as an option. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the following seek medical attention immediately.

Cardiovascular shock - This form of shock is caused when blood flow is restricted or not enough to keep vital organs supplied with fresh oxygenated blood. Organs affected are the Heart, Brian and Skin for the most part as well as every other organ in your body, but these are the most effected. Symptoms include cool clammy skin, decreased mental capacity and rapid pulse rate. When you are treating shock make sure the victim has plenty of fluids on hand, raise their feet to increase blood flow to the core of the body, and look for obvious signs of external blood loss. Someone who is the victim of a massive stab wound and bleeding profusely will inevitably enter Cardiovascular shock. Also a heart attack victim will go into this form of shock.

Anaphylactic shock - Is usually brought on due to an extreme allergic reaction of some kind. Common causes of Anaphylactic shock include Snake bits, bee stings, and poisonous plant interaction. These situations can only be treated with Emergency medical assistance, but in some cases the victim will have means of saving their own life. Many people with sever allergies carry around an Eppi Pen. This pen carries a does of Epinephrine that will counteract the poison that it is designed to treat. Eppi Pens should not be used lightly, but save lives in cases of Anaphylactic shock. The pen should be administered by the person using it and used on the outside of either thigh. Other treatments include elevating the legs and being supplied with plenty of water.

Neurogenic shock - This is one of the most dangerous forms of shock, although not the most deadly. It is induced by the loss of your sympathetic nervous system capabilities resulting from spinal chord and brain injuries. This must be treated with the utmost care and consideration. Many times victims of Neurogenic shock will also have other injuries especially to the neck and back. You should never ever move patients with this form of shock. Signs of someone with this form of shock are dry skin, low blood pressure and weak pulse. Many times victims will complain of lack of feeling in the arms and legs, or a tingling sensation. Treatments include lots of fluid, and atropine to speed up heart rate, but both methods in this case should come from emergency care workers.

Septic shock - Septic shock is the result of a massive infection. Many times this can be induced by a wound that was not properly treated for infection, a bacterial growth inside the body resulting from internal injury, or a backup of the large intestine and colon (although this is rare) and massive infection in general. Victims of Septic shock are usually unaware anything is wrong until the shock actually sets in, they fall hard. Septic shock in most cases is preventable, proper hygiene is a must, and make sure you change bandages over a large wound frequently to prevent infection. Medical attention is needed quickly for anyone in Septic shock. There is no outside treatment for this dangerous form of shock. Anyone in Septic Shock can and will experience multiple organ failure and death if not treated immediately. Signs of Septic shock include dry skin, and above average breathing rate, also any external signs of infection around a wound site. Internal infection is hard to diagnose without proper medical equipment.

Psychogenic shock - Ever seen something scary or gross and passed out? Well if so then you have experienced Psychogenic shock. This form of shock is the only type that may not require medical attention, although I'm not advising for or against it here, I'm just saying in most cases it's not life threatening. Simple ways to tell if someone has undergone Psychogenic shock is to look at them passing out from a scary sight, like blood, many times people will also experience this form of shock at a haunted house attraction. Other signs include increased heart rate, and cool clammy skin. It's caused by the sudden decrease of blood to vital organs due to an unexpected fear. Treatment includes making sure the person is hydrated with plenty of fluids and possibly marinating elevation on their legs.

Knowing the different forms of shock, their cause, and treatment will help out anyone finding themselves in a dangerous situation where they need this vital information to survive or help others. Again nothing beats professional medical attention so don't hesitate to use the 911 emergency system. I hope you never have to deal with any of the above scenarios but it's always a good idea to be prepared and armed with knowledge.