Hypovolemia is a serious condition in which there is heavy reduction of blood volume in the body. If left untreated or not treated promptly, hypovolemia can cause death. Hence this condition needs emergency medical care and is a kind of hemorrhagic shock wherein loss of 1/5th of blood volume occurs. Hypovolemia shock is a life threatening disorder in which the person loses 20-25% of blood volume or body fluids. Under such condition, the heart would not be able to pump the required blood needed by the body. Sudden loss of blood can cause vital organ failure resulting in death.
Intense bleeding during accidents or internal bleeding can cause this condition. Severe dehydration can result in loss of basic ions like sodium leading to reduction of intravascular water and hypovolemia. Complete depletion of sodium ions from the body can occur due to diarrhea can lead to this condition.
Causes :
Severe loss of blood in volume is the major cause for hypovolemia. It can occur either through internal bleeding of organs or external bleeding due to accidents. Bleeding of organs in the digestive tract and severe loss of blood due to vaginal bleeding can cause this condition. Reduction in the levels of plasma due to discharge of bodily fluids by lesions or burns can cause hypovolemia. In rare cases rupture of ectopic pregnancy can cause heavy loss of blood.
Sudden depletion of sodium ions in the blood due to repeated vomiting or diarrhea can result in hypovolemia. Significant loss of body fluids can occur due to diarrhea can reduce the normal blood volume drastically. Loss of body fluids can occur due to prolonged diarrhea, severe burns and stomach flu.
Symptoms Of Hypovolemia :
- Many symptoms can accompany loss of blood and bodily fluids.
- The skin becomes pale and bluish due to loss of blood.
- Heart rate increases due to reduced blood circulation increasing the risk of an attack.
- It can cause sudden increased anxiety.
- Rate of respiration increases drastically and the person begins to breathe fast to make good the loss of fluids/blood.
- Blood pressure falls suddenly due to reduction in the supply of blood to vital organs like kidney and brain.
- In the final stage, the person may have issues like confusion, altered mental state, disorientation and loss of consciousness. The pulse gets weaker and weaker.
- In case of internal bleeding, symptoms may not appear until the situation becomes worse and uncontrollable.
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