Shock

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Overview	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention

Shock

Symptoms

A person in shock has extremely low blood pressure. Depending on the specific cause and type of shock, symptoms will include one or more of the following:

Anxiety or agitation
Confusion
Pale, cool, clammy skin
Low or no urine output
Bluish lips and fingernails
Dizziness, light-headedness, or faintness
Profuse sweating, moist skin
Rapid but weak pulse
Shallow breathing
Chest pain
Unconsciousness

References

Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002.

Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Textbook of Medicine.22nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2004.


Shock

Review Date: 2/19/2008
Reviewed By: John E. Duldner, Jr., MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Director of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Akron General Medical Center and Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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