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Friday, December 17, 2010

Shock Symptoms and Treatment


Shock is a life-threatening condition. Shock results when vital organs fail to get enough blood.

Anaphylactic shock is a widespread and very serious allergic reaction. Symptoms include dizziness, loss of consciousness, labored breathing, swelling of the tongue and breathing tubes, blueness of the skin, low blood pressure, heart failure, and death. Immediate emergency treatment is required for this type of shock, including administration of antivenom in the case of bee or wasp stings.

Causes:

Severe infections
Allergic reactions
Heat Stroke
Trauma
Poisoning
Injury

Symptoms:

Cool, clammy skin
Lackluster eyes
Dilated pupils
Vomiting/nausea
Feeling weak
Confusion
Excitement
Anxiety
Shallow/ slow breathing or rapid/ deep breathing
Weak and rapid pulse

Treatment:

Make the person lie down on his/her back and raise the legs above head level. If raising the legs is painful, keep the person still. Check for breathing. If not breathing, do (CPR) Cardio pulmonary Resuscitation. Treat bleed wounds or injuries. Make the person comfortable by loosening tight clothes. Cover the person with a blanket.

If vomiting or bleeding from mouth -turn the patient on their side. Do not feed the person. Get emergency medical help as soon as possible.

Hypovolemic shock is an emergency condition in which severe blood and fluid loss makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body. This type of shock can cause many organs to stop working.

Causes:

Losing about 1/5 or more of the normal amount of blood in your body causes hypovolemic shock.

Blood loss can be due to:

Bleeding from cuts
Bleeding from other injuries
Internal bleeding, such as in the gastrointestinal tract

The amount of circulating blood in your body may drop when you lose too many other body fluids, which can happen with:

Burns
Diarrhea
Excessive perspiration
Vomiting

Symptoms:

Anxiety or agitation
Cool, clammy skin
Confusion
Decreased or no urine output
General weakness
Pale skin color (pallor)
Rapid breathing
Sweating, moist skin
Unconsciousness

The greater and more rapid the blood loss, the more severe the symptoms of shock.

Treatment:

Get immediate medical help. In the meantime, follow these steps:

Keep the person comfortable and warm (to avoid hypothermia).

Have the person lie flat with the feet lifted about 12 inches to increase circulation. However, if the person has a head, neck, back, or leg injury, do not change the person's position unless he or she is in immediate danger.

Do not give fluids by mouth.

If person is having an allergic reaction, treat the allergic reaction, if you know how.


If the person must be carried, try to keep him or her flat, with the head down and feet lifted. Stabilize the head and neck before moving a person with a suspected spinal injury.

The goal of hospital treatment is to replace blood and fluids. An intravenous (IV) line will be put into the person's arm to allow blood or blood products to be given.

Stay Prepared! Stay Alive!

Charlie

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