Fluid balance in the body is an important value in maintaining good health. The amount of water in the body generally comprises about 60 percent of the total body weight. According to HealthLine, when the amount of water going into the body is the equivalent to urine output by the kidneys, the body is said to have fluid balance. Fluid balance is necessary to maintain cellular activity, vital to all bodily functions.
Homeostasis
Homeostasis, as it relates to fluid balance, means that there is the right amount of intake in conjunction with the body's output. Montana State University at Bozeman's Sport Nutrition Center defines how a loss of only 2 percent of the body's fluid can cause dehydration and imbalances. With just 2 percent dehydration, the body has a difficult time regulating temperature, poor muscle endurance, decreases in strength and power to exercise. The result is the increased likelihood of hyperthermia and cardiovascular problems.
Dehydration
Dehydration is the depletion of fluid balance in the body. The Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health posits that the thirst mechanism is typically initiated by dehydration, causing the individual to seek out fluids. However, when intake and output are compromised, there can be a number of medical conditions contributing to this deficiency. Conditions include: vomiting, diarrhea, diuretic use, excessive heat, excessive sweating, fever, decreased water intake, diabetes and Addison's disease.
Overhydration
Overhydration is the exact opposite of dehydration. In other words, the fluid imbalance is due too excessive fluids and insufficient urine output by the kidneys. According to the Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health suggests that the body retains and receives more fluids than necessary and simply cannot expel them quickly enough. Medical conditions that contribute to the retention of fluids include edema, heart failure and liver cirrhosis as these can increase the likelihood of becoming overhydrated with storage of fluids in the abdomen, chest and legs.
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