Final answer:
Hypovolemia typically presents as tachycardia and hypotension due to the body's attempt to compensate for low blood volume. Treatment for hypovolemic shock includes intravenous fluids and medications to support blood pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hypovolemia often initially presents in a patient as tachycardia and hypotension. Tachycardia, or a rapid heart rate, is the body's response to compensate for the reduced blood volume by increasing heart rate to maintain adequate blood flow, particularly to vital organs. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, occurs because there is not enough blood volume to maintain a normal pressure within the arterial system.
Common causes of hypovolemic shock include hemorrhage in adults, while in children, it can result from severe vomiting or diarrhea. The condition is characterized by a rapid, almost tachycardic heart rate, a weak and thready pulse, cool and clammy skin, rapid shallow breathing, and hypothermia. Treatment involves intravenous fluid replacement to restore normal function and medications such as dopamine, epinephrine, or norepinephrine to raise blood pressure.