What is the Difference Between Hypovolemia and Hypervolemia

The key difference between hypovolemia and hypervolemia is that hypovolemia is a condition characterized by insufficient fluid in the body, whereas hypervolemia is a condition characterized by an excessive amount of fluid in the body.

There are two types of fluid balance abnormalities in the human body: a decrease in effective fluid or an overload of fluid. A decrease in an effective fluid is known as hypovolemia, while an overload of fluid is known as hypervolemia. Hypovolemia and hypervolemia are two different fluid abnormalities in the human body.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hypovolemia 
3. What is Hypervolemia
4. Similarities – Hypovolemia and Hypervolemia
5. Hypovolemia vs Hypervolemia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hypovolemia vs Hypervolemia

What is Hypovolemia?

Hypovolemia is a condition caused due to lack of fluid or blood volume circulating in the body. A low fluid volume refers to low water or plasma in the circulatory system or lymphatic fluid. About 50 % to 60 % of the human body normally consists of fluid. In hypovolemia, people may lose more than 15 % of the total volume of fluid within the circulatory system or lymphatic system.

Hypovolemic shock is the most severe form of hypovolemia and needs to be managed immediately. The symptoms of hypovolemia may include dizziness, dry skin, fatigue, muscle cramps, inability to urinate, confusion, difficulty in breathing, loss of consciousness, excessive sweating, losing conciseness, low blood pressure, low body temperature, and pale skin or cyanosis. Hypovolemia can be caused by injury, illness, internal bleeding, dehydration, and excessive sweating.

Hypovolemia is diagnosed through physical examination, blood or urine tests, and imaging tests like ultrasound or echocardiogram. Furthermore, treatment options for hypovolemia may include fluid replacement through blood transfusion, crystalloid solution, colloids, managing infections or illnesses, healing wounds, and providing missing nutrients such as electrolytes.

What is Hypervolemia?

Hypervolemia is a condition where the body has too much fluid. This condition is also known as fluid overload or volume overload. The symptoms of hypervolemia include swelling in the body, bloating in the stomach, cramping or headache, quick weight gain, high blood pressure, and shortness of breath. The causes of hypervolemia may include too much salt and underlying conditions like heart failure, kidney conditions, cirrhosis, hepatitis, diabetes, and hormonal changes.

Moreover, hypervolemia is diagnosed through physical examinations, blood volume tests, and imaging tests (ultrasound). Treatment options for hypervolemia may include taking diuretics, reducing the salt in the diet, limiting the amount of fluid intake, and undergoing dialysis or paracentesis.

What are the Similarities Between Hypovolemia and Hypervolemia?

• Hypovolemia and hypervolemia are two different fluid abnormalities in the human body.
• Both conditions may cause severe complications if not properly managed.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examinations, blood tests, and imaging tests.
• They are mainly treated through lifestyle changes and specific medications.

What is the Difference Between Hypovolemia and Hypervolemia?

Hypovolemia is a condition where people don’t have enough fluid in their bodies, while hypervolemia is a condition where people have too much fluid in their bodies. Thus, this is the key difference between hypovolemia and hypervolemia. Furthermore, hypovolemia is caused by injury, illness, internal bleeding, dehydration, and excessive sweating. On the other hand, hypervolemia is caused by too much salt and underlying conditions like heart failure, kidney conditions, cirrhosis, hepatitis, diabetes, and hormonal changes.

The infographic below presents the differences between hypovolemia and hypervolemia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Hypovolemia vs Hypervolemia

Hypovolemia and hypervolemia are two different fluid abnormalities or conditions due to fluid changes in the human body. Hypovolemia means there is not enough circulating blood volume, while hypervolemia means there is too much fluid circulating the body. Moreover, hypovolemia is managed by fluid replacement. On the other hand, hypervolemia is managed by diuretics. So, this summarizes the difference between hypovolemia and hypervolemia.

Reference:

1. Cirino, Erica. “Hypervolemia (Fluid Overload): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment.” Healthline.
2. “Hypovolemia Symptoms, Causes & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “170225 CVS Hypovolemic Shock Pathophysiology of Disease” By Doyouseewhy7 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Capillary microcirculation” By Kes47 (?) – File:Illu capillary microcirculation.jpg (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia