Hypervolemia is an abnormal increase in the body's blood volume, particularly in the sense of blood plasma. Plainly speaking, the volume of fluid in the blood is too high in a case of hypervolemia.

Hypervolemia symptoms

Signs and symptoms of hypervolemia are not always the same in each case, and may vary, however some possibilities include:

Acites (fluid buildup in the abdomen)
Crackles on auscultation
Edema (swelling) - particularly hands, feet, and ankles
Difficulty breathing while lying down
High blood pressure
Irritated cough
Jugular vein distension
Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
Strong, rapid pulse

Hypervolemia causes

Causes of hypervolemia can vary, and some may include the following:

Blood transfusion reaction
Chronic liver disease
Congestive heart failure
Cushing's syndrome
Glomerulonephritis
    Acute
    Focal or embolic
    Membranoproliferati
    Postinfectious
    Post-streptococcal
Heart problems
Hyperaldosteronism
Kidney failure
Liver failure
Lung problems
Nephritis (kidney inflammation)
    Familial interstitial
    Hereditary
    Lupus
    Secondary
Nephropathy
Nephrotic syndrome
Preeclampsia
Pregnancy
Surgery / operation complications

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of a case of hypervolemia may be given by a medical professional or doctor. The diagnosis can be made through a variety of means, such as the medical signs and symptoms, patient's medical history, and tests and exams including: abdominal ultrasound, albumin, blood chemistry, cholesterol, electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), liver enzymes, and urinalysis.

Treatment for hypervolemia may depend upon the underlying cause, which may also need to be treated. Some possible treatments are sodium restriction, fluid restriction, and taking diuretics.

What is hypovolemia?

Hypovolemia is the opposite of hypervolemia. In a case of hypovolemia, the fluid levels in the blood are abnormally low.