Which of the following is a sign of shock?

• A. Tachycardia
• B. Fever
• C. Warm, flushed skin
• D. Strong, bounding pulse

Answer: (A)

When tissues aren’t getting enough blood, the body activates the fight-or-flight response to preserve perfusion. A rapid heart rate, or tachycardia, is the most common early compensatory change because increasing the heart rate helps maintain cardiac output and push blood to vital organs. This makes tachycardia a reliable sign of shock in the initial stages.

Fever isn’t a direct sign of shock itself; it points more to infection or inflammation. Warm, flushed skin isn’t typical during shock, which often presents with cool, clammy skin due to vasoconstriction. A strong, bounding pulse suggests good or high stroke volume, which is not characteristic of shock where the pulse is usually weak and rapid as perfusion falls. So tachycardia best reflects the body’s immediate response to falling perfusion in shock.