What is cardiogenic shock?
It is basically a condition wherein the heart suddenly stops pumping sufficient blood needed by the body. Mostly, it is caused due to a severe heart attack. Moreover, the condition is rare, however if its not treated promptly, cardiogenic shock can turn fatal. Fortunately, around fifty percent of individual who faces cardiogenic shock manages to survive.
What are the symptoms of cardiogenic shock?
Few common symptoms of cardiogenic shock are:
- Confusion.
- Tachycardia, rapid heartbeat.
- Rapid breathing.
- Severe breathing difficulties.
- Fainting.
- Pale skin.
- Sweating,
- Weak pulse.
- Cold feet or hands.
- No or less urination.
What causes cardiogenic shock?
When heart stops pumping sufficient blood needed by our body, cardiogenic shock occurs. Usually, it happens when the heart’s left ventricle- which is the major pumping chamber, gets damaged because of oxygen deficiency. Such deficiency occurs due to a heart attack. Quite rarely, it also occurs when the right ventricle of the heart gets damaged. (Normally, the right ventricle is responsible for supplying blood to our lungs).
Even though, heart attacks tend to be the major cause of the condition, does not merely means the only factor triggering cardiogenic shock, however some other conditions are also considered responsible such as endocarditis, myocarditis, poisoning with substances or drug overdose.
What are the risk factors of cardiogenic shock?
Certain factors that make you more likely of cardiogenic shock include:
- Heart attack.
- Older adults.
- Previously had a heart attack or heart failure.
- Coronary artery disease.
What are the complications of cardiogenic shock?
In case, prompt medical care is not provided, the condition can turn fatal. Organ damage is another life-threatening complication linked with cardiogenic shock.
How is cardiogenic shock diagnosed?
It is mostly diagnosed during the emergency setting. The doctor will observe the signs of shock and then conduct additional tests in order to identify what’s exactly causing the condition:
- Electrocardiogram.
- Blood pressure measurement.
- Chest x-ray.
- Blood tests.
- Echocardiogram.
- Angiogram.
How is cardiogenic shock treated?
Its treatment aims in repairing the damage of organs and heart muscle caused due to insufficient oxygen. The treatment plan includes:
- Emergency support: extra oxygen is given to the patient for breathing in order to reduce the damage to his organs and muscles.
- Medications: the goal of medications is to increase the pumping ability of the heart and improve the flow of blood through it. Medicines may include:
- Aspirin.
- Thrombolytics.
- Superaspirins.
- Heparin.
- Epinephrine or dopamine.
- Medical procedures: medical procedures aim to restore the flow of blood through the heart.
- Balloon pump.
- Angioplasty and stenting.
- Surgery: incase medical procedures and medications fail to treat the condition, then the doctor can suggest surgery.
- Heart transplant.
- Heart pumps.
- Surgery for repairing the heart injury.
- Coronary artery bypass surgery.
Prevention:
By preventing heart attack to occur, one can greatly prevent cardiogenic shock. Few lifestyle changes can help you minimize the risk of heart attack.
- Quit smoking.
- Control or manage high blood pressure.
- Healthy weight is important.
- Lower saturated fat and cholesterol in diet.
- Regularly exercise.
By : Natural Health News
