Shock affects the circulatory system, which is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. In shock, the body tries to keep blood moving to important organs like the brain and heart. This can make the skin look pale because less blood is flowing to the surface. However, in some cases, the skin can look flushed or pink due to the body trying to compensate for the lack of blood flow.
Temperature changes can also occur in the circulatory system. If certain parts of the body, like the arms and legs, aren’t getting enough blood, they may feel cooler and look paler. Meanwhile, other parts of the body might feel warmer. This all happens as the body responds to stress, like during cardiac or respiratory distress.