A common cause of a headache, a stomach ache, or any other minor discomfort could be dehydration. Though there’s no standard amount of water that every person should be drinking each day, the rule of thumb is to drink water based on the individual’s weight.
If a person becomes dehydrated, they may need to get IV fluid hydration to alleviate their symptoms and restore their health.
What Is IV Fluid Hydration?
IV fluid hydration is a treatment provided in hospitals to treat severely dehydrated patients. A nurse will insert an IV (intravenous line) into the patient’s arm and inject rehydrating fluids into the IV line. The fluids will enter the patient’s bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system.
IVs are an effective treatment for re-hydration because the fluids go directly into the bloodstream, eliminating the wait time that occurs when the patient drinks fluids. IV fluids usually also include electrolytes which further help to speed up the recovery time and replenish the body’s fluid supply.
When Is IV Fluid Hydration Necessary?
Patients with conditions or circumstances causing severe dehydration need IV fluids. For example, children who come down with the flu may lose a significant amount of fluid from diarrhea and vomiting. If dehydration becomes severe, it may be safer to rehydrate the child via IV, rather than forcing the child to drink lots of fluids.
Dehydration doesn’t just affect children, though. It can happen in adults, too.
Even mild dehydration can cause an increased desire to drink, headaches, light-headedness, fatigue, and nausea. If the dehydration becomes severe, adults can experience loss of consciousness. This is why it’s so important to keep track of fluid intake throughout the day.
Who Can Obtain IV Fluid Hydration?
IV fluids are usually prescribed by a physician and administered by a medical professional such as a nurse or nurse practitioner in hospitals or other medical settings. Only professionals trained in IV insertion should be allowed to provide IV fluid hydration.
Who Benefits The Most From IV Fluid Hydration?
Though there are many groups of individuals who may receive IV fluids at some point in their lifetime, a few populations in particular may need this type of dehydration treatment.
Elderly patients, for example, experience dehydration more frequently than the average adult. This may be due to certain medications, decreased kidney function, and simply forgetting to drink fluids as a result of memory loss.
The chronically ill are also frequently treated with IV fluids. This is because certain conditions make it difficult or impossible to independently eat or drink. IV fluids can help rehydrate patients who are unable to freely hydrate themselves.
How Dehydration Is Treated With IV Drips
Most cases of dehydration are mild and can be treated at home. But if a patient’s symptoms worsen, they may need to call their doctor or visit the nearest urgent care facility.
IV fluid hydration is fairly simple and shouldn’t cause any serious side effects.
IVI Pharmacy offers IV fluids to help patients restore proper hydration and improve their health. Depending on the patient’s condition and nutritional needs, our IV fluids can be customized to deliver specific vitamins and minerals.