Hippocrates used the word exemia to signify a state of being “drained of blood.

Shock is a common term thrown around EMS circles. Shock (hypoperfusion) is the state of insufficient blood flow to the tissues of the body as a result of problems with the circulatory system. Initial symptoms of shock may include weakness, fast heart rate, fast breathing, sweating, anxiety, and increased thirst. This may be followed by confusion, unconsciousness, or cardiac arrest, as complications worsen.

Cardiogenic Shock results when the insufficient blood flow is caused by a problem with the heart. Either the heart rate is too slow or too fast. Sometimes the patient’s heart is failing, causing the contractions to be weak. The force of contractions may be made less effective by an overdose or poisonings. The easiest way to make the cardiac contraction less effective is the decrease the amount of blood entering the heart. The easiest way to reduce blood flow into the heart is by hyperventilating the patient with positive pressure ventilation.

When blood vessels dilate, the pressure within the vessels decrease; the result is shock. Conditions that would result in vasodilation are anaphylactic shock, spinal shock, and septic shock. Obviously, the treatment goal would be reversing the vasodilation. A common example of reversing shock with a vasoconstrictor is the use of the EpiPen. These types of shock are referred to collectively as distributive shock.

A decrease in the amount of blood or blood components (like plasma, which is mainly water) can result in shock. Common causes of hypovolemic shock are bleeding, vomiting (from fluid loss), diarrhea (from fluid loss), and burns (from fluid loss).

Shock slows down inevitable death.