On World Sepsis Day, health experts remind Americans that sepsis strikes 1.7 million people in the U.S. each year and causes more than 350,000 deaths.
Yet despite those staggering numbers, many Americans don't know what sepsis is or how to recognize it before it turns deadly.
"Symptoms can range from rapid breathing, increased rate, fever, chills and sudden drop in blood pressure," Dr. Faisal Masud, medical director of critical care at Houston Methodist, said in a news release. "It's important to share your symptoms with a health care professional as soon as possible as early recognition can make a difference between life and death."
Sepsis is an extreme response to infection. When the immune system overreacts, it triggers widespread inflammation that can damage organs and lead to death. Even a minor infection can set off this dangerous reaction.
Worldwide, sepsis is responsible for 1 in 10 ICU admissions and remains the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals, experts say. And most cases begin outside of the hospital, making it essential to spot early warning signs at home.
