Article
Article
Shock (circulatory)
Article By:
Stapczynski, J. Stephan Emergency Medicine Department, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
Last reviewed:June 2022
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.620400
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- Shock syndrome, published June 2020:Download PDF
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A clinical condition caused by widespread impairment of blood flow resulting in an inadequate supply of oxygen to the body's tissues and organs. Shock is a response to hypoperfusion, which is the inadequate circulation of blood throughout the body. A sudden and progressive condition, shock can lead to death if not reversed through immediate medical attention (see illustration). Shock affects the entire body, as opposed to other conditions where blood flow is reduced to only a portion of a single organ, such as stroke or heart attack. Typically, but not always, shock is associated with a low blood pressure that can be felt as a weak pulse. See also: Blood; Circulation; Death; Tissue
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