SHOCK TREATMENT

Shock has many different possible meanings. You could be shocked at the turn of events in a movie. You could be shocked by touching a live wire. You could be in shock after receiving news of the death of a loved one or due to trauma. For me, shock is a chilling term that portends poor outcomes despite our best medical efforts. Mortality can be 40 to 50 percent, despite the best medical care in the best hospitals. What will you do if your partner or family member has an accident or heart attack and goes into shock? Perhaps the most important part of treating shock is learning to identify it as soon as possible. The earlier the identification, the earlier the treatment can begin.

What is Shock?

First off, shock is essentially a lack of blood and oxygen supply to the tissues. The lack of these nutrients causes tissues and cells to starve. When this occurs, the tissues and organs lose function. The more organs that fail, the higher the mortality rate. The sooner the cells can restore their nutrients and function, the better the chance of survival.

The body has several mechanisms to attempt to compensate for the lack of tissue perfusion in order to minimize the damage to the cells. Although many organ systems are involved in the compensatory mechanisms, it’s the cardiovascular system that’s the foundation of the process. In order for