so...what exactly is shock?
yes yes, I know the S&S are weak rapid pulse, fast shallow breathing, cold clammy skin, yada yada....
but, what is shock??
shock, essentially is a life-threatening condition in which blood pressure is too low to sustain life.
Shock has several causes: a low blood volume, which causes hypovolemic shock; inadequate pumping action of the heart, which causes cardiogenic shock; or excessive widening of blood vessels, which causes distributive shock (anaphylactic shock, neurogenic shock and septic shock).
Hypovolemic Shock
Low blood volume results in less-than-normal amounts of blood entering the heart with every heartbeat and therefore less-than-normal amounts of blood being pumped out to the body and its cells.
Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiogenic Shock
Inadequate pumping action of the heart can also result in less-than-normal amounts of blood being pumped out with every heartbeat.
Distributive Shock
Distributive Shock
Excessive dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation) increases the capacity of blood vessels, so that blood meets with less resistance as it flows through them. Blood pressure in the dilated vessels is lower, so the cells fed by those vessels get less blood.
Blood vessels may be excessively dilated because of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis (see Allergic Reactions: Anaphylactic Reactions)), a severe bacterial infection (shock caused by such an infection is called septic shock (see Bacteremia, Sepsis, and Septic Shock: Introduction)), overdose of drugs or poisons that dilate blood vessels, and injuries to the spinal cord and rarely the brain.
Blood vessels may be excessively dilated because of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis (see Allergic Reactions: Anaphylactic Reactions)), a severe bacterial infection (shock caused by such an infection is called septic shock (see Bacteremia, Sepsis, and Septic Shock: Introduction)), overdose of drugs or poisons that dilate blood vessels, and injuries to the spinal cord and rarely the brain.
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