Dictionary

shock treatment See electroconvulsive therapy.

shock, vasogenic Shock caused by widening of the blood vessels, usually from medication. Symptoms include dizziness and loss of consciousness. Treatment includes lying supine, discontinuing the offending medication (if present), and fluid administration.

shock, spinal Shock caused by injury to the spinal cord. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, loss of feeling sensation, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.

shock, shell See post-traumatic stress disorder.

shock, septic Shock caused by bloodstream infection. Symptoms include dizziness and loss of consciousness. Treatment includes intravenous fluids and antibiotics. See also sepsis.

shock, psychological See post-traumatic stress disorder.

shock, hypovolemic Shock due to a decrease in blood volume from bleeding, loss of blood plasma through severe burns, or dehydration. Symptoms include dizziness and loss of consciousness. This is the most frequent cause of shock. The primary treatment for hypovolemic shock is prompt intravenous administration of fluid and blood transfusion if necessary.

shock, hemorrhagic Shock due to serious loss of blood. Symptoms include dizziness and loss of consciousness. Treatment includes intravenous fluids and blood transfusion. See also shock, hypovolemic.

shock, cardiogenic Shock due to low blood output by the heart, most often seen in conjunction with heart failure or heart attack (myocardial infarction). In cardiogenic shock, the heart fails to pump blood effectively. For example, a heart attack (myocardial infarction) can cause an abnormal, ineffectual heartbeat (arrhythmia) with very slow, rapid, or irregular contractions…

shock In medicine, a critical condition that is brought on by a sudden drop in blood flow through the body. The circulatory system fails to maintain adequate blood flow, sharply curtailing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to vital organs. It also compromises the kidneys and so restricts the removal of wastes from the body….

shingles An acute infection characterized by often severe pain and a blistering rash that is caused by the varizella (herpes zoster) virus, which also causes chickenpox. Shingles usually emerges in adulthood after exposure to chickenpox or reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which can remain latent in body tissues for years, until the immune system is…

shinbone fever See trench fever.