Symptoms Of Hypervolemia

Rapid Unexplained Weight Gain

Patients who have hypervolemia will also likely notice they suffer rapid unexplained weight gain, even when eating normally and trying to exercise. This is because there is so much excess fluid, which is mostly water and salt, that it adds to their weight.

According to research, the average weight gain in a patient with hypervolemia is twenty to twenty-four pounds. Unlike weight gain caused by the accumulation of fat, which is gradual, this rapid unexplained weight gain can happen over mere days. In some cases, the person notices they have gained a significant amount of weight over the course of several hours.

Abdominal Swelling

Abdominal swelling due to hypervolemia, also called ascites, occurs when the excess fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity. Sometimes, the abdominal swelling is minor and may not be noticed. Patients usually seek medical help after the swelling becomes noticeable, does not go away, and their abdomen starts to feel weighty or full as if they’ve eaten a heavy meal. They may also find it hard to breathe because their swollen abdomen interferes with the action of their diaphragm, a sheet of muscle beneath the lungs that helps in breathing. Some patients have so much fluid in their abdomen that the doctor notices a wave of fluid when they push on one side of the distended abdomen.