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Patients in shock can appear cold, clammy, and cyanotic. [ 4 ] Early signs and symptoms include tachycardia given rise to by catecholamine release; skin pallor due to vasoconstriction triggered by catecholamine release; hypotension followed by hypovolaemia and perhaps arising after myocardial insufficiency; and confusion, aggression, drowsiness ...
Shock is a medical emergency and requires urgent medical care. If shock is suspected, emergency help should be called immediately. While waiting for medical care, the individual should be, if safe, laid down (except in cases of suspected head or back injuries). The legs should be raised if possible, and the person should be kept warm.
A patient may lose more than 30% of their blood volume before there are changes in their vital signs or level of consciousness. [4] This is called hemorrhagic or hypovolemic shock, which is a type of shock that occurs when there is not enough blood to reach organs in the body. [5]
Hypovolemia can be recognized by a fast heart rate, low blood pressure, [12] and the absence of perfusion as assessed by skin signs (skin turning pale) and/or capillary refill on forehead, lips and nail beds. The patient may feel dizzy, faint, nauseated, or very thirsty. These signs are also characteristic of most types of shock. [13]
One must also consider the possibility of multiple types of shock being present. For example, a trauma patient may be hypovolemic from blood loss. This patient could also have tension pneumothorax due to trauma to the chest. [22] Vital signs in obstructive shock may show hypotension, tachycardia, and/or hypoxia.
Common signs of shock include weak pulses, altered mental status, bradycardia or tachycardia, low urine output, hypotension, and pale, cold skin. [6] Treating shock focuses on increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues and organs before organs are permanently damaged. [4] This section will discuss the recognition and management of shock.
Inevitably, patients imagined being told they were a good person at heart, that they were forgiven, and that they could go on to lead a good life. Of course, these conversations rely on imagination. But the technique allows the patient to articulate in his or her own words an alternative narrative about his injury.
Those signs - in non-neurogenic shock - would include: tachycardia (increased heart rate), tachypnea (increased breath rate), sweating, and adaptive vasoconstriction, which serves in other forms of shock to shunt blood away from the extremities and to the vital organs. In neurogenic shock, the body loses its ability to activate the SNS so that ...