Shock First Aid Treatment

Overview

What is shock first aid treatment?

Shock first aid treatment involves giving first aid to someone who has suffered from shock. Shock requires immediate treatment. As many as 1 in 5 people who get shock die from it. Hospital emergency departments in the United States report more than 1 million cases of shock each year.

What is shock?

Shock is a serious, life-threatening condition that happens when your body doesn’t get enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow to your organs means they won’t get enough oxygen, which can cause them to fail. Shock may also lead to a lack of oxygen in your body’s tissues (hypoxia) and can cause your heart to stop (cardiac arrest).

What causes shock?

Several medical conditions may cause shock, including:

• Low blood volume.
• Inadequate pumping action in your heart.
• Excessive widening (dilation) of your blood vessels.
• Certain medications that reduce heart function.
• Damage to your nervous system.

What are the four main types of shock?

There are several different types of shock. These include hypovolemic shock, cardiogenic shock, obstructive shock and distributive shock.

Hypovolemic shock

Hypovolemic shock occurs due to low blood volume. Low blood volume means the amount of blood entering your heart with every heartbeat is lower than normal. So, the amount of blood pumped out to your body is lower than normal. Hypovolemic shock may be caused by:

• Excessive external bleeding due to cuts or other injuries.
• Severe internal bleeding due to an ulcer, a ruptured blood vessel or a ruptured pregnancy outside of your uterus (ectopic pregnancy).
• Loss of other bodily fluids due to major burns, inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis), a hole in your intestinal wall, severe vomiting or diarrhea, certain kidney disorders, excessive use of diuretics (medications that rid your body of salt and water) or untreated diabetes.
• Severe dehydration.

Cardiogenic shock

Cardiogenic shock occurs when damage to your heart leaves it unable to pump as much blood as your body needs. The most common causes of cardiogenic shock include:

• Heart attack (myocardial infarction).
• Malfunction of a heart valve.
• Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
• Heart muscle rupture or infection (myocarditis).
• Heart valve tear or infection (endocarditis).

Obstructive shock

Obstructive shock occurs due to a blockage in your heart, arteries or veins which prevents blood from flowing properly. It can also occur due to a buildup of fluid in your chest cavity. Causes of obstructive shock include:

• Blood clot in your lungs (pulmonary embolism).
• Air trapped between your lung and chest wall (tension pneumothorax).
• Blood or fluid buildup in the space between your heart muscle and outer heart sac (cardiac tamponade).

Distributive shock

Distributive shock occurs due to excessive widening (dilation) of your blood vessels. When this happens, your blood pressure lowers and your organs don’t receive enough blood flow and oxygen. There are several types of distributive shock. These include:

• Anaphylactic shock: Occurs due to a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
• Septic shock: Occurs due to a severe bacterial infection in your bloodstream.
• Neurogenic shock: Occurs due to damage to your nervous system, caused by a spinal cord injury.

Distributive shock may also occur due to drug overdoses, brain injuries and certain endocrine disorders (such as Addison’s disease).

How long does shock last?

The amount of time shock lasts depends on the type of shock and how quickly you receive treatment. Shock may have long-term effects.

What are the signs and symptoms of shock?

The symptoms of shock depend on the cause and type of shock. Extremely low blood pressure is one of the most common signs. Other signs and symptoms of shock may include:

• Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness.
• Anxiety.
• Blue or gray lips and fingernails.
• Confusion.
• Excessive sweating.
• Low or no urine (pee).
• Pale, cool or clammy skin.
• Fatigue.
• Rapid but weak heartbeat.
• Shallow breathing.