| Dehydration |
Decreased fluid volume leads to decreased preload and cardiac output, reducing blood pressure. |
Oral or IV fluid rehydration with isotonic fluids (e.g., normal saline); monitor electrolytes and urine output. |
| Blood Loss (Haemorrhage) |
Significant blood loss decreases circulating volume and compromises perfusion. |
Control bleeding, administer crystalloids/colloids, and consider blood transfusions (packed RBCs) if necessary. |
| Cardiogenic Shock (e.g., Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure) |
Failure of the heart to pump effectively, leading to reduced cardiac output. |
Administer inotropes (e.g., dobutamine), vasopressors if necessary (e.g., norepinephrine), oxygen, and treat underlying cause (e.g., percutaneous coronary intervention for MI). |
| Septic Shock (Sepsis) |
Systemic infection leads to vasodilation and capillary leakage, causing low systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and hypotension. |
IV fluids (aggressive fluid resuscitation), broad-spectrum antibiotics, vasopressors (e.g., norepinephrine), and treat the source of infection. |
| Anaphylactic Shock |
Allergic reaction triggers systemic vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, and bronchoconstriction. |
IM epinephrine/adrenaline, IV fluids, antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), corticosteroids, and bronchodilators if bronchospasm is present. |
| Neurogenic Shock (e.g., Spinal Cord Injury) |
Loss of sympathetic tone due to spinal cord injury leads to unopposed parasympathetic response and widespread vasodilation. |
IV fluids, vasopressors (e.g., phenylephrine), and supportive care (immobilization of the spine, oxygen). |
| Endocrine Causes (e.g., Addison’s Disease, Hypothyroidism) |
Insufficient cortisol or thyroid hormone levels decrease vascular tone and fluid retention, leading to hypotension. |
IV hydrocortisone for adrenal crisis, fluid resuscitation, and hormone replacement therapy (e.g., levothyroxine for hypothyroidism). |
| Postural (Orthostatic) Hypotension |
Failure of autonomic nervous system to compensate for the change in position from lying to standing, leading to blood pooling in lower extremities. |
Encourage gradual positional changes, compression stockings, increase fluid/salt intake, and consider medications (e.g., fludrocortisone or midodrine) if persistent. |
| Drug-induced Hypotension (e.g., Antihypertensive, Diuretics, Vasodilators) |
Excessive pharmacologic reduction in vascular tone or volume depletion. |
Adjust medication dosage, discontinue offending drugs if possible, and provide IV fluids if necessary. |
| Vasovagal Syncope |
Excessive vagal stimulation leads to bradycardia and peripheral vasodilation, causing transient hypotension and syncope. |
Reassurance, supine positioning, IV fluids if necessary, and beta-blockers for recurrent cases. |