Hypervolemia (Fluid Overload) Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Health Line

02-06-2025

Hypervolemia occurs if your body retains too much fluid. You can experience swelling, discomfort, and other symptoms. Untreated, hypervolemia can cause severe complications, including heart failure.
Hypervolemia, or fluid overload, occurs when your body holds onto more fluid than it needs, leading to swelling and other complications.
Fluids in the body include:
water
blood
lymphatic fluid
If the amount of fluid gets too high, it can impact how it's moved through your body and negatively affect your organ function.
Keep reading to learn the signs and causes of hypervolemia and how doctors diagnose and treat the condition.
What are the signs and symptoms of hypervolemia?
The symptoms of hypervolemia can include:
swelling, also called edema, most often in the feet, ankles, wrists, and face
discomfort in the body, causing cramping, headache, and abdominal bloating
high blood pressure caused by excess fluid in the bloodstream
shortness of breath caused by extra fluid entering your lungs and reducing your ability to breathe normally
heart problems, because excess fluid can speed up or slow your heart rate, harm your heart muscles, and increase the size of your heart
increased weight, caused by excess fluid
Medical emergency
If you experience severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, severe pain, or irregular heart rhythm, call 911 or your local emergency services, or visit a local emergency department.
What causes hypervolemia?
Often, problems with your kidneys cause hypervolemia. This is because the kidneys normally balance the salts and fluids in your body.
But when they retain salt, they increase the body's total sodium content, which increases your fluid content.
The most common causes of hypervolemia can include:
heart failure, specifically of the right ventricle
cirrhosis, often caused by excess alcohol consumption or hepatitis
kidney failure, often caused by diabetes and other metabolic disorders
nephrotic syndrome, a disorder that causes excess excretion of protein in the urine
premenstrual edema, or swelling that occurs prior to your menstrual cycle
pregnancy, which changes your hormonal balance and can result in fluid retention
You can also experience hypervolemia from being on an IV, which can cause your sodium levels to be unbalanced. It can also occur if you consume too much sodium.
How is hypervolemia diagnosed?
If you believe you're experiencing hypervolemia, speak with a doctor. They can determine if you're experiencing this condition.
First, a doctor typically conducts a physical exam. The key signs of hypervolemia include weight gain and swelling. One or more parts of your body may appear swollen, depending on whether you have been sitting, lying, or standing before your visit.
The doctor is also likely to perform a blood test to check your sodium levels. While your body's total sodium levels will appear elevated if you have hypervolemia, your sodium levels in the blood work may be high, normal, or low.
Performing a sodium test on your urine can help determine if your kidneys are causing your hypervolemia or if there is another cause.
For renal failure, urinary sodium content is typically greater than 20 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L), while in cases of heart failure, cirrhosis, and nephrotic syndrome, it is typically less than 10 mEq/L.
If you are hospitalized, your care team may measure your fluid intake and output and your weight to check for hypervolemia.
Can hypervolemia lead to other conditions?
Untreated hypervolemia can cause several complications, some of which can be life threatening. These can include:
pericarditis, or swelling of the heart tissues
heart failure
delayed wound healing
tissue breakdown
decreased bowel function
How is hypervolemia treated?
Treatment of hypervolemia differs from person to person, depending on the cause of the condition.
Generally, people with hypervolemia may receive a round of diuretics. These medications remove excess fluid.
In severe cases, a doctor may recommend dialysis (fluid removal through the kidneys) and paracentesis (fluid removal through the abdomen).
A doctor may also require you to restrict your dietary sodium intake.
What is the outlook for hypervolemia?
While you recover from hypervolemia, a doctor may request that you weigh yourself daily to ensure you're expelling the excess fluid from your body.
Many people who stick to a doctor's treatment plans fully recover. This can be important for preventing severe complications.
If an underlying condition is causing your hypervolemia, treating the underlying condition may help your recovery.
Besides monitoring your weight, you can prevent a recurrence of fluid overload by:
tracking your fluid intake
following the fluid intake guidelines from a doctor
managing your thirst with sugar-free candies, ice chips, frozen grapes, and other low-fluid, thirst-quenching foods
ensuring you do not consume too much sodium