Dorothy FarrarShock
In medicine, shock is a sudden acute circulatory failure. Heart failure, allergic reactions, blood poisoning or severe blood loss can lead to an oxygen deficiency with failure of metabolism. The state of shock is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate emergency medical care. Pale complexion, cold sweat, rapid pulse and anxiety are typical signs of an acute state of shock.
What is a shock?
In medicine, the term shock refers to a life-threatening condition in which blood circulation in the capillaries is reduced. The blood can no longer flow normally and the heart and other organs are no longer adequately supplied with oxygen. In extreme cases, the oxygen deficiency of the tissue can lead to a complete metabolic failure.
The colloquial “shock” as a result of an exceptional mental situation is not referred to in medicine as a shock, but as an acute stress reaction.
In medicine, several types of shock are defined:
- Hypovolemic shock (volume deficiency shock)
- Cardiogenic shock
- Neurogenic shock
- Hypoglycemic shock (hypoglycaemia))
Causes
A shock can have different causes and so different forms of shock states are distinguished. In a volume deficiency shock, the causes are internal bleeding or burns, which cause the total blood volume to be reduced.
This usually happens in serious accidents. Blood circulation stops completely if the patient suffers from blood or fluid loss, resulting in shock. In the case of rapid blood loss, the pumping power of the heart is reduced. A relative reduction in blood circulation occurs when circulatory regulation in the periphery of the body fails.
This can happen with blood poisoning. Allergic shock is the most violent reaction of an allergy sufferer to the substance in question. In addition, the heart can also be the cause: If it is no longer able to pump sufficient blood through the body, it can also come to a shock (cardiogenic shock).
Damage to the capillaries – the smallest blood vessels in the human body – can also be a cause, as this leads to fluid loss in the vessels. In neurogenic shock, the brain is the cause of the disease, which may be injured or damaged.
Symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of shock:
- profuse sweating
A typical symptom of shock is difficulty breathing. Here, those affected also suffer from a rattling noise when breathing, in the X-ray image signs of lung congestion can be observed. The low heart volume can also be seen in an echocardiogram. In addition, the oxygen content in the blood is much lower and the blood pressure is slightly lower.
Dizziness, headaches and anxiety may also occur. The other symptoms of shock depend on the cause. The patient may complain of thirst and increased sweat. Other symptoms include kidney failure and faster breathing. The course of shock is independent of the cause and initial symptoms.
Diagnosis
A shock usually consists on the one hand of the determination of the cause, but also on the other hand of the clinical picture of the shock. A low systolic blood pressure (below 90 mmHg) can be observed. An increased heart rate (more than 100 beats per minute) can also be observed as part of the diagnosis.
Patients have pale, pale skin and appear tired and inattentive. In the hospital, patients are diagnosed according to a complex scoring system: This includes, for example, the Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE). These systems allow better and more accurate forecasts. Certain values are measured in the laboratory, for example a blood gas analysis in which pH, hemoglobin and lactate values are measured.
Devices such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also help to find the exact cause. Since these methods are only carried out in the hospital, other diagnostic methods must be used in rescue medicine and in acute emergency treatment.
For example, there is the fingernail test, in which the nail is pressed into the nail bed for a short moment. Because the blood is displaced, the fingertip turns white. If it takes more than a second for the nail bed to turn red again, there may be gastric perfusion. However, nail injuries can lead to the result of such a shock diagnosis being falsified.
treatment and therapy
In the event of shock, treatment must be started as soon as possible. Depending on where the patient is located, this is of course possible to varying degrees. It is necessary to know to what cause the shock can be attributed. It is important that the airways are kept clear.
The patient should not become hypothermic and oxygen can be given through a nasal tube. Shock positioning should also be carried out. The patient’s legs are raised so that the blood flows towards the heart.
In the hospital, all bodily functions of the shock patient such as pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation should be monitored. Certain medications, such as Adrenaline , can be administered to the patient via an infusion in the event of a shock, which is intended to normalize the blood circulation.
Prevention
You cannot fundamentally prevent a shock. However, you can actively protect yourself against possible causes such as a Heart Attack . allergy sufferers can also prevent an allergic shock by being particularly careful.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.