A person with shock has an underlying illness that prevents the heart and bloodstream from delivering enough oxygen to keep up with the demand of the tissues. Prolonged shock results in the death of cells in the tissues that do not receive enough oxygen.

Causes of shock include:

• Severe bleeding:
• Blood loss leading to shock
• Severe laceration
• Ruptured spleen
• Pelvic fracture
• Heart attack
• Heart arrhythmia:
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Third degree heart block
• Severe dehydration
• Sepsis
• Anaphylaxis
• Severe heart failure
• Secondary to severe heart attack
• Secondary to valvular heart disease
• Spinal cord injury