Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHypovolemic ShockCardiogenic ShockObstructive ShockAnaphylactic ShockSeptic ShockNeurogenic ShockSigns of an Emergency
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Hypovolemic Shock
Cardiogenic Shock
Obstructive Shock
Anaphylactic Shock
Septic Shock
Neurogenic Shock
Signs of an Emergency
Shock is a medical condition in which the body cannot get enough oxygen and nutrients to essential organs and systems. It is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of shock depend on thetype of shockthe patient is experiencing.
This article explains the symptoms of different categories of shock and how to respond to each one.
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Symptoms of Hypovolemic Shock
Not having enough fluid or blood volume (hypovolemia) is the most common type of shock. It can come from bleeding (also known as hemorrhagic shock) or from some other sort of fluid loss and dehydration. As the body tries to compensate for the loss of blood or fluid and attempts to keep the blood pressure up, these signs occur:
As hypovolemic shock gets worse, the patient becomes lethargic, confused, and eventually unconscious. If external bleeding is the cause, there will be blood. If bleeding into the gastric system is the cause, the patient might vomit blood or have bloody diarrhea. If it’s hot or the patient has been exerting themselves, consider dehydration.
How Much Blood Is in the Human Body and How Much Can Be Lost?
Symptoms of Cardiogenic Shock
When the heart has difficulty pumping blood adequately, it is known as cardiogenic shock. It can occur after amyocardial infarction(heart attack), malfunction of a heart valve,cardiac arrhythmias, infections of the heart, and trauma to the heart.
Symptoms of cardiogenic shock include:
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack can accompany cardiogenic shock.
Symptoms of Obstructive Shock
Obstructive shock is probably the least common main category of shock (neurogenic is the least common specific type). It occurs when something presses on the blood vessels inside the body. The most common cause of obstructive shock is a massive pulmonary embolism (blood clot that has traveled to the lungs).
Signs and symptoms include:
Symptoms of Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylactic shock occurs in response to potentially deadly allergies. When someone has a severe allergy, the reaction to the allergen is systemic, affecting many parts of the body. Substances most likely to cause anaphylactic shock include foods (nuts, wheat, eggs, strawberries, shellfish, and cow’s milk are common allergens), drugs (most commonly antibiotics), and stinging insects.
Anaphylaxis symptoms include:
Symptoms of Septic Shock
Sepsisoccurs when infection begins to overwhelm the body’s systems. The infection can start anywhere, but the most common source is pneumonia.If sepsis isn’t treated, it can lead toseptic shock, causing a drop in blood pressure and organ failure.
Sepsis symptoms include:
Symptoms of Neurogenic Shock
Neurogenic shock is a rare cause of shock but has a very distinct pattern of symptoms:
Neurogenic shock comes on after some sort of trauma, such as a fall or a car accident.
Shock is a true medical emergency and should be treated as soon as it is recognized. If you suspect shock, call 911 immediately and go to the hospital.
As long as the body manages to keep the blood pressure up, the medical community considers it compensated shock. When the blood pressure falls—even in cases when that happens early, such as neurogenic or obstructive shock—the medical community refers to it as decompensated shock. If decompensated shock is left untreated, it has a high likelihood of becoming fatal.
Summary
Different types of shock have different underlying causes and symptoms. One thing all types of shock have in common is the potential for a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Whether shock occurs as a result of anaphylaxis, infection, injury, or illness, it is a medical emergency and needs immediate attention from a healthcare provider.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Standl T, Annecke T, Cascorbi I, Heller AR, Sabashnikov A, Teske W.The nomenclature, definition and distinction of types of shock.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(45):757–768. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0757Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Anaphylaxis.Basodan N, Al Mehmadi AE, Al Mehmadi AE, et al.Septic shock: management and outcomes.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32158. doi:10.7759/cureus.32158Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is sepsis?Ruiz IA, Squair JW, Phillips AA, et al.Incidence and natural progression of neurogenic shock after traumatic spinal cord injury.Journal of Neurotrauma. 2018;35(3):461-466. doi:10.1089/neu.2016.4947Additional ReadingKislitsina ON, Rich JD, Wilcox JE, et al. Shock – classification and pathophysiological principles of therapeutics.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2019;15(2):102-113. doi:10.2174/1573403X15666181212125024
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Standl T, Annecke T, Cascorbi I, Heller AR, Sabashnikov A, Teske W.The nomenclature, definition and distinction of types of shock.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(45):757–768. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0757Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Anaphylaxis.Basodan N, Al Mehmadi AE, Al Mehmadi AE, et al.Septic shock: management and outcomes.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32158. doi:10.7759/cureus.32158Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is sepsis?Ruiz IA, Squair JW, Phillips AA, et al.Incidence and natural progression of neurogenic shock after traumatic spinal cord injury.Journal of Neurotrauma. 2018;35(3):461-466. doi:10.1089/neu.2016.4947Additional ReadingKislitsina ON, Rich JD, Wilcox JE, et al. Shock – classification and pathophysiological principles of therapeutics.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2019;15(2):102-113. doi:10.2174/1573403X15666181212125024
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Standl T, Annecke T, Cascorbi I, Heller AR, Sabashnikov A, Teske W.The nomenclature, definition and distinction of types of shock.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(45):757–768. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0757Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Anaphylaxis.Basodan N, Al Mehmadi AE, Al Mehmadi AE, et al.Septic shock: management and outcomes.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32158. doi:10.7759/cureus.32158Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is sepsis?Ruiz IA, Squair JW, Phillips AA, et al.Incidence and natural progression of neurogenic shock after traumatic spinal cord injury.Journal of Neurotrauma. 2018;35(3):461-466. doi:10.1089/neu.2016.4947
Standl T, Annecke T, Cascorbi I, Heller AR, Sabashnikov A, Teske W.The nomenclature, definition and distinction of types of shock.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(45):757–768. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0757
Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4
American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Anaphylaxis.
Basodan N, Al Mehmadi AE, Al Mehmadi AE, et al.Septic shock: management and outcomes.Cureus. 2022;14(12):e32158. doi:10.7759/cureus.32158
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is sepsis?
Ruiz IA, Squair JW, Phillips AA, et al.Incidence and natural progression of neurogenic shock after traumatic spinal cord injury.Journal of Neurotrauma. 2018;35(3):461-466. doi:10.1089/neu.2016.4947
Kislitsina ON, Rich JD, Wilcox JE, et al. Shock – classification and pathophysiological principles of therapeutics.Curr Cardiol Rev. 2019;15(2):102-113. doi:10.2174/1573403X15666181212125024
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