Hyperhydration

Hyperhydration is an increased storage of total water in the organism. The cause can be short-term living conditions or chronic illnesses. Medical intervention requires any form of hyperhydration.

What is hyperhydration?

Isotonic overhydration manifests itself primarily through kidney and circulatory problems. Those affected suffer, among other things, from functional disorders of the internal organs and usually feel an increasing feeling of illness.
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The Hyperhydration is excessive infiltration of water into the body. Doctors differentiate between 3 forms of pathological excess water. The basis of the classification is the distribution of the sodium concentration within the different fluid components in the organism.

Sodium is a dissolved component of table salt in the body and plays a major role in osmoregulation. This means controlling the body's water and mineral balance (electrolyte balance). The doctor speaks of isotonic overhydration when there is an abnormal increase in water and sodium in all volumes. The concentration of water and sodium in the blood as well as in the cells and the tissue fluid remains constant.

Hypertonic hydration is characterized by an excessively high level of sodium in the blood. If the amount of sodium and water in the blood is too low, it is hypotonic overhydration. Irrespective of the key symptoms, excess fluid is a characteristic of all 3 forms of hyperhydration.

causes

The Hyperhydration often has serious causes. Heart failure (heart failure) often means that the kidneys can no longer achieve the necessary filtration rate. As a result, the body excretes too little excess water and also sodium. Another underlying disease associated with hyperhydration can be cirrhosis of the liver. Both causes belong to the isotonic form of hyperhydration.

Hypotonic overhydration often occurs in acute or chronic kidney failure. The kidneys can no longer fulfill their function of keeping the internal environment constant. A less common cause is excessive consumption of low-salt fluids. This also includes gastric lavage in the event of poisoning, for example.

An oversupply of salt leads to hypertonic overhydration. It can also be from a Salt poisoning be spoken. This rarely occurs when, for example, seawater was used to quench thirst or when the consumption of other oversalted liquids leads to overhydration.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Depending on its form, overhydration can cause various symptoms and ailments. Isotonic overhydration manifests itself primarily through kidney and circulatory problems. Those affected suffer, among other things, from functional disorders of the internal organs and usually feel an increasing feeling of illness. The impaired kidney function leads to weight gain and digestive problems.

The isotonic form is associated with limited physical and mental performance. Hypertonic overhydration causes similar symptoms. The patients suffer from kidney pain, severe malaise and other non-specific symptoms. The symptoms usually appear suddenly and persist for several weeks to months.

If left untreated, hypertonic hyperhydration can develop into a chronic condition. The same applies to hypotonic overhydration, which can manifest itself through symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting and seizures. Often there are also disturbances of consciousness such as dizziness and visual disturbances.

Due to the increased intracranial pressure, there is a strong feeling of malaise, often accompanied by attacks of pain. If the course is severe, the patient loses consciousness and eventually falls into a coma. The individual forms of hyperhydration have in common that they occur in connection with an infusion and rapidly increase in intensity over time.

Diagnosis & course

The Hyperhydration The doctor recognizes both the hypertonic and the hypotonic form by the blood laboratory values. The sodium level is then increased or decreased. The patient is helped quickly and without complications if there is only a short-term oversupply or undersupply of table salt or water that is low in minerals. This is due to current living conditions.

Chronic kidney failure with hypotonic overhydration practically means the loss of organs with far-reaching consequences. Isotonic overhydration usually results in the formation of edema. Water escapes from the blood vessels into the spaces between the tissues.

Macroscopically visible signs may include swollen hands or feet. Pulmonary edema, which is recognized by eavesdropping on the lungs, is life-threatening because it is noticeable through rattle noises when breathing. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may order an X-ray examination. In the course of serious underlying diseases such as heart failure or liver cirrhosis, death is often the result of isotonic overhydration.

Complications

Overhydration leads to various symptoms and complaints that can lead to complications. First and foremost, the person concerned suffers from a relatively strong weight gain. This can be done first for no particular reason. The patient becomes exhausted and very tired.

The resilience drops and the person concerned withdraws from life. In most cases, there is also a palpitations of the heart and shortness of breath. It is not uncommon for breathing difficulties to lead to panic attacks and thus loss of consciousness. The person concerned is confused and incoordination and concentration disorders occur.

The quality of life is significantly restricted by the overhydration, so that normal everyday life is no longer possible for the patient without further ado. In the worst case, cramps and epileptic seizures occur, in which the person concerned suffers from extreme pain. Since hyperhydration is acute in most cases, it can be treated relatively quickly.

There are no further complications. However, these can occur if the overhydration is triggered by a failure of the kidney. In this case, a donor kidney or dialysis is necessary for the patient. Furthermore, heart problems can develop, so that in the worst case the patient can die of sudden cardiac death.

When should you go to the doctor?

If water retention or weight gain is noticed, the problem may be overhydration. A doctor visit is indicated if symptoms are associated with fatigue or seizures. People who feel sick and exhausted for no reason should speak to their family doctor immediately. Other alarm signs that require immediate clarification are shortness of breath, racing heart and confusion. If panic attacks occur, the person concerned must be taken to a hospital.

Overhydration can usually not be recognized by those affected, which is why unusual symptoms must be clarified medically in any case. Early examination can often prevent serious complications. However, if the excess water is left untreated, secondary symptoms such as circulatory collapse and kidney failure can occur. People with renal insufficiency are particularly prone to overhydration. There is also an increased risk of excess water in the body as a result of heart failure or liver cirrhosis. Anyone who belongs to these risk groups should have the symptoms and complaints clarified quickly.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

A Hyperhydration as an acute crisis is quickly resolved. All that is needed is the administration of electrolytes, i.e. liquids with an appropriate and beneficial mineral content. If there is acute or chronic kidney failure in the context of hypotonic hyperhydration, the patient is initially required to dialysis ("blood wash"). If the kidney fails to function completely, a transplant is sought.

The administration of diuretics (diuretics) is the first step the doctor should take if edema has developed in the course of isotonic hyperhydration. A fluid balance provides information about the water status. Often the patient is required to drink only a small amount of fluids, and the underlying disease must also be addressed. Heart failure requires heart strengthening medication ("digitalis").

If severe cardiac arrhythmias occur, the surgeon must implant a pacemaker. The last resort is a heart transplant if the course is severe. The cause of cirrhosis of the liver cannot be treated. A corresponding low-fat diet can provide some relief. Degenerating liver disease is certainly one of the worst causes of overhydration.

Outlook & forecast

General health gradually worsens with overhydration unless medical treatment is sought. Although there is usually no life-threatening condition, the quality of life is significantly reduced. This can lead to emotional stress and ultimately to psychological complications.

The symptoms can only be improved if the cause of the water retention is found and treated. Symptomatic therapy is usually given for a chronic underlying disease. There is no cure in these patients. Medical options are intended to slow the progression of the underlying disease and, if necessary, to extend the patient's life expectancy. The therapy is aimed at strengthening the well-being, since a cure is not possible with the current scientific approaches.

An acute situation is treated by intensive care. Complete relief of overhydration occurs after a short time. Nevertheless, the overall diagnosis must be considered so that a complete prognosis is possible and there is no rapid recurrence of hyperhydration.

If the patient suffers from disorders of the heart rhythm, he needs extensive further medical care. Renal insufficiency can lead to organ failure and the patient's sudden death. In the case of most underlying diseases, there is a need for action to ensure that overhydration is permanently free from symptoms.

prevention

The Hyperhydration is presented in prophylaxis as observing general instructions for a healthy lifestyle. For example, extreme over-salting should be avoided, especially in midsummer "sensible" drinks, for example low-sodium mineral water or the like, should be drunk. Failure to abuse luxury foods and instead a lot of exercise in the fresh air are ultimately also a prevention against overhydration.

Aftercare

In the case of overhydration, there are usually few follow-up measures available to those affected. First and foremost, rapid and, above all, early detection of this disease must take place so that further complications can be prevented.As a rule, it is not possible to heal the overhydration independently, so that medical treatment must always be carried out first.

The earlier the overhydration is recognized, the better the further course of the disease is usually. The disease can often be treated relatively well and easily by taking a special solution. The person affected must ensure the correct dosage and regular intake in order to alleviate the symptoms.

Regular checks and examinations by a doctor are also very useful in order to monitor the status. Since overhydration can also have a negative effect on the person's heart, the heart should also be monitored. The person concerned should not put unnecessary strain on his body and should not carry out any strenuous activities. In some cases, those affected are therefore dependent on the help and support of friends and family.

You can do that yourself

In the case of overhydration, self-treatment is often not possible, meaning that those affected have to rely on medical intervention.

First and foremost, the water supply should be reduced in the illness in order to avoid further accumulation of water if the water has been ingested in large quantities. In acute emergencies, a doctor must be called who can administer an electrolyte solution to the affected person in order to balance the mineral balance. The use of diuretic drugs can also have a positive effect on the disease and relieve the symptoms. Furthermore, a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet has a very positive effect on the course of hyperhydration. In the case of a chronic course, however, treatment by a doctor is unavoidable and cannot be replaced by self-help.

If the person concerned suffers from shortness of breath or from a loss of consciousness, an emergency doctor must be called or the hospital must be visited. Until the emergency doctor arrives, the person concerned must be given emergency ventilation and placed in a stable lateral position. In the event of salt poisoning, the person affected has to drink low-salt water in order to rebalance the body's salt balance.