Shock is a medical condition that often occurs due to some sort of trauma. According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, shock, also known as circulatory collapse, sets in when the blood pressure in a person's arteries is too low to supply adequate blood to his organs and tissues. In a state of shock, a person's skin becomes cold and sweaty and his pulse becomes weak. Breathing becomes irregular, the mouth becomes dry and pupils dilate.
Septic shock results from microorganisms entering the bloodstream. Anything that introduces bacteria into the blood stream can cause septic shock. This condition causes immune chemicals to be released into your bloodstream to fight the infection and triggers widespread inflammation, leading to blood clots and leaky vessels, according to a description of the condition by National Institute of General Medical Sciences. The condition deprives the body of blood flow and damages the body's organs. An extreme form of this reaction results in septic shock and could cause death. People with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and kidney or liver disease face a higher than average risk of septic shock.(see reference 1)
Anaphylactic shock is caused by a severe allergy reaction. This results from an anaphylaxis reaction that could set in within minutes or seconds of your exposure to something you are allergic to, such as milk or peanuts, as MayoClinic.com explains. A flood of chemicals is released by your immune system during an anaphylaxis reaction. This could cause you to go into shock as your blood pressure drops and your airways become too narrow to allow normal breathing. (see reference 2)
When the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body, the result could be a cardiogenic shock. Damage to the heart muscle from a severe heart attack is the most common form of cardiogenic shock, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Not everyone who has a heart attack goes into cardiogenic shock as a result though. Only about seven percent of people who experience heart attack go into cardiogenic shock. (see reference 3)
