Shock is a life-treatening condition that can be caused by severe bleeding, an injury or sudden illness. The circulatory system fails to carry oxygen-rich blood to all body parts. The body's oxygen-starved major organs cannot function properly, triggering a series of responses which produce specific signals known as shock. Three conditions are needed for the body to maintain adequate blood flow: the heart must be working well, an adequate amount of blood must be circulating, and the blood vessels must be intact and aable to adjust blood flow. When a severe injury or illness occurs, the body sends blood to the vital organs: brain, heart and lungs, among others. When the tissues of the arms and legs begin to die, the body sends blood to them and away from the vital organs. The victim goes unconscious as the brain is affected, his or her heartbeat slows and stops as the heart is affected, and then breathing stops as well. Without proper medical treatment, a person in shock will die.
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