The Effects of Electric Shock on the Body

An electric shock occurs when a human body gets in contact with a source of voltage that is high enough to cause current flow. There are thousands of people who die every year because of electric shock. It is important that whenever you use an electronic product, make sure that you have read through the manual carefully and checked the product for any loose wire ends and for incorrect insulation. It is important to follow all the safety precautions while using these devices.

The minimum current that a human can feel is 1 milliampere (mA). The current can result in damage of tissues or fibrillation if it is of high voltage. Electric shock can also cause death and is referred to as electrocution. It is usually said that currents about 100 mA can be lethal when applied to the sensitive parts of the human body. There are a number of complications that can arise from an electric shock. Some of these are mentioned below:

Burns

Shocks can give rise to burns. An electric shock for a lower voltage can result in superficial burns on the surface of the skin. But, electric shocks of voltage between 500 to 1000 volts can give rise to internal burns. It can lead to organ burns that can also affect the heart. This makes the burns; caused from electric shock different from chemical burns and fire burns. The burns from an electric shock can result in organ failure and can lead to death. It is difficult to treat these kinds of burns and the healing process is usually slow and difficult.

Neurological Effects

An electric shock can interfere with the nervous control especially on the heart, lungs. Repeated electric shock that does not lead to death has been shown to be a cause for neuropathy. When the current moves near the head then loss of consciousness occur fast.

Effect on the Chest

When a small current 50 or 60 Hz is passed through the chest, it can result in ventricular fibrillation. If this is not treated immediately by defibrillation, it can be lethal as the heart muscle cells start moving independently. A shock more than 200 mA is so strong that it can literally stop the heart muscles from moving.

When a person is affected by an electric shock it can lead to:

  • Collapse of the person.
  • Severe muscle contractions that can result in fractures, loss of consciousness or dislocation of joints.
  • The respiratory system can be paralyzed and the heartbeat can either become very fast and irregular or can completely stop beating.
  • Any high voltage transmission of electric shock can cause death of tissues at the entry and the exit points of the current. There can be presence of edema as the blood at the point coagulates and the muscles swell up.
  • A drop in blood pressure, disturbance in fluid and electrolyte balance can cause the release of myoglobin and result in kidney failure.
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Comments 11
  1. This page was very informative, but it really makes you feel sorry for those people in mental hospitals who got shocks IN the head! So sad, awful useless therapy. I think it has been outlawed though??? ='(

  2. I was hit by 19,000 volts in 1985. I did not pass out and had no burns. I do have a lot of neuropathy and migraines. Can you explain how I survived this?

  3. This article is great. It truly shows the effect of shock in the body. It is relevant and a great learning experience.

  4. Well. This article is really an adequate source for projects, assignments, term papers and etc.

    On the other hand, I have a question. Is it possible that electric shock/currents can affect only internal part, not your external such as our skin?

    Because you have mention different drastic effects of electric shocks/currents, but you didn't mention the external one. I really consider the "burn" area there. But the paragraph was concise and concentrates only on the internal one. Please clear it out 🙂

    All the love. x

  5. I am forced to go through electric shock of my body and head, and I am having a hard time getting the doctor to grant me a referral for an mri, it is painful, and the mind reader whom remotely does this to me needs to go to jail, my organs feel burned and my fallopian tubes have hemorrhaged and my stomach swells, it feels like my stomach is going to pop, somebody plz help me, no one will help me, to get a physical checkup because they keep taking his word for the truth in him stating there is nothing wrong with me, plz help!

  6. To Shelia Conway

    How is it that anyone can remotely force you to be shocked? It is unclear how this is happening to you or why you can’t just go to any doctor for help. No one in this website knows where you are to help you. If you are experiencing so much pain, go to your nearest emergency room for treatment. Good luck.

  7. I’m mortified a how routine the ETC has become for mental health patients. It is at the top of the list and you have to know that it’s a money maker.

  8. I’ve had terrible pain from an Emg/NCS.

    Electrical shocks felt I was getting electrocuted.

    I’m on the small side 52 kg (114 pounds) and 1m59 (5,2 feet) and my guess is that the doctor used too high of a voltage.

    The doctor had problems with the machine and was very frustrated and in a bad mood.

    He kept zapping me in each point 10 times really hard.

    The needle was thick / long and the doctor pushed it in really hard and deep. He was constantly stirring it when it was in my muscle.

    I have been through a lot in my life. But this test was a really traumatic experience.

    Before I got the tests my symptoms where all gone in hands and feet. I actually went for tingling in the left side of my face. But since they couldn’t test that, they decided to test my left leg and arm.

    After the tests everything is 100x than before. Pins and needles in legs, feet, arms and hands even in places I never had them before.

    I feel like the electrical shocks did the most damage. All the spots where these were applied to hurt really bad. (Left knee (back), inside of the elbow, my wrist and my foot).

    Since the tests I’m also having migraines.

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