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Causes of Hypovolemia

Hypovolemia is a condition in which there is a decreased volume of plasma in the blood. Symptoms include tachycardia (heartbeat faster than 100 beats per minute), faintness, loss of consciousness, hypotension (low blood pressure), rapid breathing, confusion/altered mental state and a decrease in the output of urine. There are several causes of hypovolemia.

  1. Medical Causes

    • Hypovolemia can be caused by medical conditions like extreme weight loss, bleeding, vomiting, marasmus (a type of malnutrition which is characterized by extreme deficiency of both calories and protein), dehydration, heat stroke, protein energy malnutrition (characterized by the lack of adequate protein intake to meet your body's metabolic needs and demands, can be caused by lack of dietary intake, poor quality of protein intake or increased demand due to other diseases), severe vomiting and peritonitis (when the lining of your abdominal cavity becomes inflamed).

    Caused by Another Condition

    • Several medical conditions list hypovolemia as a complication of the primary condition, including naked brimcap poisoning, pseudohypoaldosteronism and Lassa fever. Naked brimcaps are a type of mushroom. They are usually brown, covered in small hairs and become slimy when wet. They grow in the wild and are poisonous in sufficient quantities. Pseudohypoaldosteronism describes a group of medical disorders in which the kidney is unable to respond to aldosterone, resulting in significant electrolyte imbalances. Lassa fever is an infectious viral disease out of West Africa.

    Additional Causes

    • Additional causes of hypovolemia include excessive alcohol consumption, excessive sweating, diuretic use, blood donation, use of vasodilators (medications that dilate blood vessels), use of ACE inhibitors (which relax blood vessels) and severe burns (which can cause significant fluid loss and edema).

    Hypovolemic Shock

    • Hypovolemic shock is an emergency situation in which the heart is unable to pump adequate blood supply to the rest of the body due to severe fluid and blood loss. It can lead to potential organ failure and is caused by losing 20% or more of your blood volume. This can be a result of bleeding from cuts or injuries or internal bleeding. The volume of blood circulating in your body can abruptly decline if you lose too many bodily fluids. This can happen with vomiting, diarrhea and burns. Symptoms include agitation, anxiety, rapid breathing, confusion, clammy skin, weakness, decrease in urine output, pale skin, loss of consciousness and rapid breathing. There is also related hypotension (low blood pressure), low body temperature and rapid heartbeat. Seek medical attention immediately.

    Treatment

    • Treatment options for hypovolemia are largely dependent on the severity of your condition and include IV fluids, fluids by mouth, oxygen, dopamine, epinephrine, thrombolytics, blood transfusion and plasma transfusion. There are also several medications that can be used such as diphenhydramine, dobutamine, H-2 blockers, H-1 blockers, B2 blockers, calcium gluconate, albuterol, cimetidine, glucagons, naloxone, phenylephrine and norephinephrine.

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