The primary role of albumin is to help regulate osmotic pressure within the body’s cells and keep fluid balanced between them. Low levels of albumin mean that there’s less available to do this job, resulting in fluid buildup around cells and subsequent swelling edema.
This can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain or distention, weight gain or loss due to fluid accumulation in different areas of the body, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Patients may also experience muscle aches or joint pain if their joints swell up due to hypoalbuminemia. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory distress due to pleural effusions and fluid build-up around the lungs.
In order to diagnose hypoalbuminemia doctors will typically order a complete blood count (CBC) test which measures levels of various proteins present in the bloodstream including albumin. If this reveals low levels then further tests will usually be ordered to identify any underlying causes such as liver or kidney problems or malabsorption disorders like celiac disease.
Treatment plans vary depending on the underlying cause but generally involve dietary changes or supplementation with vitamins minerals amino acids which are necessary for proper albumin production as well as medications used to target whatever specific condition is causing it.
Overall hypoalbuminemia is an important condition that needs prompt diagnosis and treatment in order to avoid long-term complications like edema formation or even death from respiratory difficulties if left untreated for too long. While many people with this disorder don’t experience any symptoms at all others may suffer from significant discomfort so it’s important for anyone experiencing suspicious signs and symptoms associated with it to seek medical attention right away!
