5 Types of Shock

5 Types of Shock

Shock is a life-threatening condition that can be caused by various factors including uncontrolled bleeding or a severe allergic reaction. There are five primary types of shock that individuals may experience and each type has different causes and symptoms.

What is shock?

Shock is typically experienced when the body is not able to produce adequate blood flow which negatively impacts the body's organs. Various patient of victim presentations include nausea, dizziness, chills, or a weak pulse. However, there are various causes of shock so the symptoms can vary in intensity and duration. There are some type of shock that are more common than other types but with all types of shock it is critical to provide fast and adequate treatment

So WHAT ARE THE 5 TYPES OF SHOCK?

​1. Hypovolemic Shock.
Hypovolemic shock is a type of shock that impacts the cardiovascular system. This type of shock is most exacerbated by excessive blood loss or loss of body fluids and subsequently the heart is no longer able to pump sufficient blood for their body to function properly. Hypovolemic shock is most often caused by excessive bleeding leading to low blood plasma, vomiting, and diarrhea. Hypovolemic shock is one of the more common types of shock.

2. Anaphylactic shock
Anaphylactic shock is most often experienced when someone ingests something accidently, such as peanuts, and is severely allergic to them. Along with hypovolemic shock, this is one of the more common types of shock. The body releases histamine to counteract the allergen during an episode of anaphylactic shock, which causes the airway to tighten and potentially causes organ inflammation.

3. Cardiogenic shock
Cardiogenic shock is often caused by cardiovascular issues which impede the normal function of the heart causing the heart to not pump enough blood through the body. This type of shock is usually caused by myocardial infarction, a heart attack, or another severe heart condition. 

4. Neurogenic shock
Neurogenic shock is devastating consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI). Other causes of neurogenic shock that are far less common include spinal anesthesia, Guillain-Barre syndrome, autonomic nervous system toxins, transverse myelitis, and other neuropathies. Neurogenic shock is different from spinal shock, which is often more temporary type of shock.

5.  Septic shock
Septic shock is an infection that spreads throughout the body and can cause organ failure and low blood pressure. The increased susceptibility to septic shock is caused by bacteria, fungi, and some viruses. Risk factors for septic shock include diabetes, chronic kidney and liver disease, burns, trauma, and use of corticosteroids This type of shock most commonly affects infants, seniors, and those that are immunocompromised.

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