Getting To Know Hypovolemia, Body Conditions Lack Of Fluids That Are Different From Dehydration

Illustration of liquid shortage (Pexels/Marcus Aurelius)

JAKARTA - The condition when the body lacks fluids is known as dehydration. However, apart from dehydration, there is also a condition of a lack of fluids that is referred to as hypovolmia.

Quoted from Verywell Health, on Thursday, September 4, 2025, hypovolmemia is different from dehydration. Dehydration means that the body lacks overall fluids, while hypovolemia is more specific, namely the volume of fluids in the blood vessels which decreases drastically.

The human body consists mostly of fluids, and when experiencing hypovolemia it can lose more than 15 percent of the total fluids in the blood circulation system. This condition cannot be underestimated, because it can develop quickly into a medical emergency.

Symptoms Of Hypovolemia

Symptoms of hypovolmemia often appear without realizing it. In the early stages, the symptoms can be excessive thirst, dry skin, and the body easily feels weak.

If left unchecked, these conditions will get worse with the appearance of low blood pressure, the breath becomes fast, the heart rate becomes irregular, until the body temperature is lower than normal.

This condition causes the body to not get adequate oxygen supplies and if not treated can cause tissue damage, organ failure, or even death known as hyponolemic shock.

People Who Are Vulnerable To Hipovolemia

Hypovolemia can be experienced by anyone. However, there are several groups who are more vulnerable to these conditions, such as the elderly, diabetics, or those who like to exercise in hot weather.

Postoperative patients and people with chronic diseases also have a higher risk of losing body fluids that lead to hypovolmemia. Especially for people who have a history of low blood pressure or anemia.

How To Prevent And Overcome Hypovolemia

To prevent the simplest hypovolemia is to regularly drink enough every day. Try to drink at least 8 glasses a day, or more when you dry a lot and do heavy activities.

If you have hypovolmemia and the symptoms are still mild, you can deal with it by consuming electrolyte liquid to replace lost body fluids. If it is at a severe stage, medical treatment such as infusion and transfusions needs to be done immediately.