Shock:Inmedicine, a criticalconditionthat is brought on by a sudden drop inbloodflow through the body. Thecirculatory systemfails to maintain adequate blood flow, sharply curtailing the delivery ofoxygenand nutrients tovitalorgans. It also compromises the kidneys and so restricts the removal of wastes from the body. Shock can be due to a number of different mechanisms, including not enough blood volume and not enough output of blood by the heart. The signs and symptoms of shock include low blood pressure (hypotension);overbreathing(hyperventilation); a weak, rapidpulse; cold, clammy, grayish-bluish (cyanotic)skin; decreasedurineflow (oliguria); and asenseof great anxiety and foreboding, confusion, and sometimes combativeness. Shock, which is amajormedical emergency, is common after seriousinjury. Emergency care for shock involves keeping thepatientwarm, giving fluids bymouthor, if necessary, intravenously, and frequently the administration of drugs that act to improvecardiacandcirculatoryfunction.
