The human body needs water for all the parts to function normally. A healthy body can balance the water in the intracellular and extracellular spaces. Fluids in the body are gained through water intake, foods, and metabolic processes. The body also losses water through urination, sweating, and other processes such as breathing (Fernandes et al., 2019). Fluid overload results when the body gains more water than it is losing. Fluid overload in the body may result when the body cannot get rid of excess fluids. Dehydration can occur if the body excretes too much fluid from the body than it gains. Fluid imbalance had adverse effects on the body systems, including the respiratory system responsible for gaseous exchange.
One common effect of fluid overload in the body is edema. Dehydration or overload affects the movement of body fluids between compartments. Fluid imbalance increases the body’s capillary hydrostatic pressure and decreases the oncotic pressure. The effects of these pressure lead to a shift of the fluid from intravascular to the interstitial space causing edema in the body tissues. As such is pulmonary edema affects the lungs of the body (Fernandes et al., 2019). This occurs when the alveoli of the body are filled up with excessive fluids. The alveoli provide the leading surface area for gaseous exchange. The edema will therefore compromise the efficiency of the alveoli. These effects lead to the inability of the alveoli to absorb oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. The alveoli and the lungs’ inability to function well leads to impaired gaseous exchange. These conditions present with breathing difficulties and increased flow of deoxygenated blood. However, the problem can be resolved through simple pharmacological processes such as the use of antidiuretics to remove the excess fluids.
References
Fernandes, C. J., Assad, A. P. L., Alves-Jr, J. L., Jardim, C., & de Souza, R. (2019). Pulmonary embolism and gas exchange. Respiration, 98(3), 253-262. Web.