What Is Cardiogenic Shock?

Cardiogenic shock is a condition similar to a heart attack. It is a state, in which blood-pumping capacity of the heart is affected. Death of heart tissues may occur, following a cardiogenic shock. It is a condition in which the ventricle - the lower chamber of the heart, do not contract effectively resulting in ventricular failure. The ventricle's function is to pump blood into the blood vessles of the heart, out to the rest of the body. When the ventricle fails to do it's job, it culminates into cardiogenic shock, or a decline in cardiac output. Cardiogenic shock is due to heart disease and can lead to myocardial infarction.

What Causes Cardiogenic Shock?

• myocardial infarction


• cardiomyopathy


• rupturing of the heart


• arrhythmia


• pulmonary embolism


• pericardial tamponade


• disorders in valves

Myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack occurs when the heart has an inadequate blood supply due to coronary artery disease. The coronary artery becomes blocked due to plaque build up or a blood clot that occludes the artery preventing the heart from receiving the necessary oxygen and nutrients.

In cardiomyopathy, the heart muscles become weak and the pumping action is not adequate enough to pump blood to the rest of the body. Dilation of the heart chambers decreases their ability to contract normally.

Three types of cardiomyopathy:

1. dilated cardiomyopathy


2. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy


3. restrictive cardiomyopathy

Symptoms of Cardiogenic Shock:

• Anxiety


• restlessness,


• cold hands,


• hypotension,


• mottled skin,


• fatigue, and


• pulmonary edema


• fatigue from lack of oxygen, or hypoxia

Treatment for Cardiogenic Shock:

Cardiogenic shock is an emergency situation and treatment needs to begin immediately. The patient will need to be tested for blockages of the coronary arteries, and in most cases just opening the blocked artery and administering oxygen via nasal cannula or other methods, will help to ease symptoms and reduce pressure on the heart. After this, diagnosis and treatment can begin.

How to Prevent Cardiogenic Shock:

• Exercise daily for 15-20 minutes.


• Stop smoking.


• Increase the content of fruits and vegetables in your diet, while decrease that of high fat.


• eat a low-fat diet and take medication as prescribed by your doctor.


• Reduce salt intake

Even with today's advances in medical science, we still need to get back to the basics of optimizing our health goals. Eating right, regular exercise, and keeping a positive attitude towards life will go a long way in reaching these goals and reducing our risk of cardrogenic shock.

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT