Shock (circulatory)

A person is in shock when blood is not sufficient to bring oxygen to the brain. The shock is progressive and can be deadly if it is not quickly made well.

For other uses, see Shock (disambiguation).

Shock
US Navy EMT trainees and firemen using IV fluid replacement in treating a trauma training mannequin to prevent hypovolemic shock
Medical specialty	Critical care medicine
Symptoms	Initial: Weakness, fast heart rate, fast breathing, sweating, anxiety, increased thirst[1] Later: Confusion, unconsciousness, cardiac arrest[1]
Types	Low volume, cardiogenic, obstructive, distributive[2]
Causes	Low volume: Severe bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, or pancreatitis[1] Cardiogenic: severe heart attack (especially of the left or right ventricles), severe heart failure, cardiac contusion[1] Obstructive: Cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax[1] Distributive: Sepsis, spinal cord injury, certain overdoses[1]
Diagnostic method	Based on symptoms, physical exam, laboratory tests[2]
Treatment	Based on the underlying cause[2]
Medication	Intravenous fluid, vasopressors[2]
Prognosis	Risk of death 20 to 50%[3]
Frequency	1.2 million per year (US)[3]

The normal first aid action is the Trendelenburg position, the person is lying face upward, with legs lifted. The blood is forced to flow to the brain.