Sepsis can occur when a person’s immune response to an infection results in vital organ damage. Sepsis affects around 1.7 million American adults, with no less than 350,000 of those individuals ending up in hospice care or dying. Contributing to around 1 out of 3 deaths in the hospital, it is considered the leading cause of death for hospitalized patients. If a patient doesn’t receive treatment in time, sepsis can rapidly get worse and result in organ failure and death. In this article, we will find out why sepsis is deadly and who is most at risk of developing this deadly condition.
The Causes of Sepsis
One of the roles your immune system plays is that it protects your body from infections. Your immune system often responds to infections through inflammation. This inflammation produces various symptoms, such as pain, swelling, heat, and redness. On some occasions, no visible symptoms accompany the inflammation. Typically, this inflammation subsides as you recover from your infection. However, when sepsis occurs, the inflammatory response becomes excessive, leading to leaky blood vessels and blood clots. It can also result in very low blood pressure, which can deprive your organs of much-needed oxygen. Failure to treat sepsis in time can lead to serious consequences, such as organ failure, tissue damage, and death.