What is a sign of hypovolemia?

• A. Bradycardia with hypertension.
• B. Tachycardia with hypotension and dry mucous membranes.
• C. Hyperreflexia and dilated pupils.
• D. Urinary incontinence.

Answer: (B)

Hypovolemia means there isn’t enough circulating blood volume. In response, the heart speeds up to maintain cardiac output, but the blood pressure can fall, and the body's fluids become concentrated, leading to dry mucous membranes. So the combination of a fast heartbeat with low blood pressure and dry mucous membranes is a classic sign that the patient’s volume status is depleted. The other options don’t fit this pattern: bradycardia with hypertension isn’t typical of low volume, hyperreflexia with dilated pupils points more to neurologic or sympathetic states, and urinary incontinence isn’t a sign of hypovolemia.