Shock happens when your blood pressure is too low and not enough blood and oxygen can get to your organs and tissues. Causes of shock include internal or external bleeding, dehydration, burns, or severe vomiting and/or diarrhea. All of these involve the loss of large amounts of body fluids. Shock often accompanies injury.
Specific types of shock include
Symptoms of shock include cold and sweaty skin, weak but rapid pulse, irregular breathing, dry mouth, dilated pupils and reduced urine flow. Shock is life-threatening and it is important to get help right away. Treatment of shock depends on the cause.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)