What Causes Hypervolemia?

Nephrotic Syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome is another kidney condition that can cause or occur along with hypervolemia. It is characterized by excreting an excessive amount of vital proteins in the urine, which again is due to a faulty and ineffective filtration system. Increased sodium content causes an increase in fluid available in the body, leading to increased urination and decreased retention of the nutrients that are meant to be reabsorbed. This causes low levels of protein to exist in the blood. High cholesterol also plays a role in its development, as it can cause the blood to stick and clot in both the legs and the lungs. Nephrotic syndrome can manifest as swelling around the extremities as well as near the eyes.

Premenstrual Edema

Premenstrual edema one of the symptoms that develops in an individual at certain times during their premenstrual cycle, where too much fluid in the body leads to swelling. Premenstrual edema develops in the second phase of an individual's menstrual cycle when levels of progesterone become elevated. This hormone can cause the venous walls to sag, which impairs the process of returning blood to the heart efficiently. When the valves in an individual's venous walls are not able to perform their function correctly, the return of blood to the heart decreases in speed. Fluids are forced out of the venous walls and into the extracellular spaces because this return process is impaired. In addition, higher progesterone levels cause increased renin, which immediately counteracts the process of natriuresis. Natriuresis is the homeostatic mechanism the body uses to lower sodium by inducing its excretion through the urine. Therefore, too much sodium is retained during this part of the menstrual cycle, which causes the retention of too much fluid, and potential hypervolemia.