Your doctor may order imaging tests to check for injuries or damage to your internal tissues and organs, such as:. 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. It contains an easy-to-inject needle with a dose of hormone called epinephrine.
You can use it to treat anaphylaxis. If they begin to vomit, turn their head sideways. This helps prevent choking. Instead, stabilize their neck and roll their entire body to the side to clear the vomit out.
Different types of shock are treated differently. For example, your doctor may use:. Some forms and cases of shock are preventable. Take steps to lead a safe and healthy lifestyle. For example:. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. When you experience a severe allergic reaction, you may experience anaphylaxis.
When this happens, your body is flooded with chemicals which can lead…. From first exposure to life-threatening complications, learn how quickly an allergy attack can escalate and why it can become life threatening. Showering during a thunderstorm is not safe. Learn more about staying safe in your home during a thunderstorm and activities you should avoid. Dopamine is strongly associated with pleasure and reward.
It's also involved in motor function, mood, and even our decision making. Learn about…. Stay with the person and follow the first aid steps until medical help arrives. Learn ways to prevent heart disease , falls, injuries, dehydration , and other causes of shock. If you have a known allergy for example, to insect bites or stings , carry an epinephrine pen. Your health care provider will teach you how and when to use it. Angus DC. Approach to the patient with shock. Goldman-Cecil Medicine.
Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 6. Updated by: Jacob L. Some of the causes of shock include uncontrolled bleeding, severe burns and spinal injury. If the blood flow is not restored, the person may die from complications due to lack of oxygen supply to major organs hypoxia.
At first, the body responds to this life-threatening situation by constricting narrowing blood vessels in the extremities hands and feet. This is called vasoconstriction and it helps conserve blood flow to the vital organs.
When this happens, the blood pressure drops, which can be fatal. Many things affect the severity and effect of shock on a person, such as their health, age, gender and personality, where on their body they are injured, and the environment. If a person has emotional distress or sudden fright, their body releases adrenaline into the bloodstream, but this usually reverses itself in a healthy person. Symptoms of shock Depending on the cause, symptoms and signs of shock may include: Pale, cold, clammy skin Shallow, rapid breathing Difficulty breathing Anxiety Rapid heartbeat Heartbeat irregularities or palpitations Thirst or a dry mouth Low urine output or dark urine Nausea Vomiting Dizziness Light-headedness Confusion and disorientation Unconsciousness.
Types of shock Some of the different types of medical shock include: Hypovolaemic — meaning not enough blood volume. Causes include bleeding, which could be internal such as a ruptured artery or organ or external such as a deep wound or dehydration. Chronic vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration or severe burns can also reduce blood volume and cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure Cardiogenic — caused when the heart cannot effectively pump blood around the body.
The blood vessels below the spinal injury relax and expand dilate and cause a drop in blood pressure Septic — an infection makes the blood vessels dilate, which drops blood pressure. For example, an E. Obstructive shock can be caused by cardiac pericardial tamponade, which is an abnormal build-up of fluid in the pericardium the sac around the heart that compresses the heart and stops it from beating properly, or pulmonary embolism a blood clot in the pulmonary artery, blocking the flow of blood to the lungs Endocrine — in a critically ill person, a severe hormonal disorder such as hypothyroidism may stop the heart from functioning properly and lead to a life-threatening drop in blood pressure.
First aid for shock Medical shock is a life-threatening emergency. If the person is conscious, lie them down and keep them warm and comfortable. Loosen their clothing. If possible, raise their legs above the level of their torso and head to improve blood flow to the brain, heart and lungs. Do not raise their legs if you suspect a spinal injury or if moving their legs causes pain, such as in the case of a suspected fracture in their leg s. Specific subtypes of shock may have additional symptoms.
Hypovolemic shock, the most common type, is caused by insufficient circulating volume, typically from hemorrhage although severe vomiting and diarrhea are also potential causes. Hypovolemic shock is graded on a four-point scale depending on the severity of symptoms and level of blood loss. Typical symptoms include a rapid, weak pulse due to decreased blood flow combined with tachycardia, cool, clammy skin, and rapid and shallow breathing.
Cardiogenic shock is caused by a failure of the heart to pump correctly, either due to damage to the heart muscle through myocardial infarction or through cardiac valve problems, congestive heart failure, or dysrhythmia. Obstructive shock is caused by an obstruction of blood flow outside of the heart. This typically occurs due to a reduction in venous return, but may also be caused by blockage of the aorta. Distributive shock is caused by an abnormal distribution of blood to tissues and organs and includes septic, anaphylactic, and neurogenic causes.
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