When you are dehydrated, what comes to mind is to consume water, or a sports drink loaded with electrolytes. But if you are looking for a fast way to remedy dehydration, water may not be the quickest way to replenish lost fluids. Dehydration (Vitamin IV Therapy) can help treat moderate to severe dehydration by replenishing lost electrolytes and fluids.

Dr. Susan A. Baker provides dehydration IVs throughout Beverly Hills, California, to cure dehydration and get you feeling better as soon as possible. Read on to learn how dehydration IV therapy works and how it can help you. 

What Is Dehydration?

Dehydration is a condition that occurs when your body loses more fluid than you take in. If left unaddressed, the lack of water throws off balance the balance of minerals in your body. This will ultimately affect how systems in your body function and lead to serious health consequences. Therefore, it is essential to avoid dehydration and replace lost fluids. Dehydration can cause fatigue, brain fog, irritability, anxiety, and kidney stones. There are three stages of hydration: mild, moderate, and severe-which is the most dangerous, and you can experience seizures and go into shock.

What Causes Dehydration?

Sweating

Dehydration can result from excessive sweating and poses a risk to athletes and people who work outdoors in hot weather. Sweating, however, can lead to dehydration in any weather if, for instance, you have a high fever due to flu or another illness.

Illness

Illness conditions such as vomiting, persistent urination, and diarrhea can be significant causes of dehydration.

Alcohol consumption

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes frequent urination. Hangover and headache can be a sign of dehydration.

Diabetes

People with diabetes have a higher risk of dehydration because the body constantly tries to remove high levels of glucose from the body by creating more urine.

Symptoms of Dehydration

Dehydration can range from mild to severe. Some of the most common symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration include the following:

  • Feeling thirsty
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Infrequent urination
  • Headache
  • Dry skin
  • Dry lips
  • Dry tongue
  • Rapid breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Muscle cramps

Severe dehydration cases will lead to symptoms such as: 

  • Rapid heart rate
  • Severe dizziness
  • Lethargy
  • Fever
  • Poor skin elasticity
  • No urine or little urine that is dark yellow or amber.

What Is Dehydration (Vitamin IV) Therapy?

Consuming water may not be enough to treat dehydration; your body needs electrolytes to replenish fluids. We get our electrolytes from foods such as fruits and veggies. These foods contain vital electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium, sodium, and chloride. Electrolytes are crucial for helping your cells absorb water to hydrate properly and regulate muscle and nerve function. If you have an electrolyte imbalance, you will continue to feel thirsty and consume more fluids without replenishment.

Dehydration (Vitamin IV) therapy delivers a specially formulated mix of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants designed to support healing, recovery, and restore nutrient levels while treating dehydration symptoms. Your doctor may suggest and include an IV therapy in your treatment plan as one of a comprehensive, individualized care plan based on your health status and laboratory results, for example, if you have health conditions such as:

  • Dehydration 
  • Anemia
  • Low on specific vitamins 
  • Gastrointestinal conditions 
  • Malnutrition
  • Thyroid problems
  • Cancer 

The exact combination of fluids will depend on factors like age, medical history, existing medical conditions, and severity of dehydration.

What Fluids and Vitamins Are In An IV Bag?

The fluids inside an IV bag depend on the type of therapy you are undergoing. Some standard components of IV bags include:

Saline: The saline solution is the standard base ingredient of an IV bag. It is made up of water and sodium chloride and serves as a delivery system for other components of your IV therapy. It also helps to hydrate your body.

Dextrose: Dextrose is a healthy type of sugar that helps normalize low blood sugar and is also converted to energy by your body.

Magnesium: This mineral has numerous benefits, such as preventing migraines, reducing inflammation, and combating leg cramps in pregnant women.

Lactated Ringer’s: Lactated Ringer’s is commonly used to treat hydration and helps to deliver other ingredients.

Antioxidants: Antioxidants such as glutathione, or vitamins A, C, or E, protect your body cell’s from various diseases.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C sustains the immune system’s pathogen response, helping it fight diseases and prevent them from onsetting. It is a vital component in your IV bag.

Vitamin B: Vitamin B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6, B-9, and B-12 are collectively called Vitamin B complex and directly contribute to primary body functions such as metabolism and nerve function. This essential Vitamin is often delivered using IV therapy if you have trouble absorbing vitamins naturally.

Calcium: This essential mineral is needed to build strong bones and teeth. Intravenous calcium can supplement a low-calcium diet or treat specific conditions like hypoparathyroidism or acute hypocalcemia.

What To Expect During Hydration (Vitamin IV) Therapy 

IV therapy is a simple, straightforward procedure, but the treatment must be administered in a hospital or by a qualified professional.

You will be seated comfortably for the duration of the therapy.’ IV’ means intravenous, which means the fluid is administered through the veins. The doctor will determine the right solution based on your dehydration levels, age, and potential medical condition.

The nurse will disinfect the injection site and place a needle in a vein. The arm or hand is the most common insertion point because it is easily accessible. The arm is also a low-risk entry point compared to others areas like the neck or thigh, and proximity to the heart helps the medication to move much faster. Once the IV is inserted, a manual or electronic pump will deliver the fluid into an IV bag. The nurse will check and ensure the pump’s delivery rate is correct. The liquid will drip from the bag through the catheter and into your body, and once inside, the fluid will enter the bloodstream.

Hydration (Vitamin IV) Therapy Benefits

Hydration (Vitamin IV) therapy ensures that the fluids go directly into your blood system, and you immediately feel the rehydrating effect. Other benefits include:

Immune system boost: IV therapy provides vital vitamins and minerals to improve and boost your immune system naturally. This helps fight off infections, keeps you healthy, and reduces the chances of getting sick. If you get sick, the dehydration IV can help you recover quickly. 

Hangover relief: You might wake up feeling awful with a dry mouth, pounding headache, upset digestive system after overindulging during a night out, all the tell-tale of a hangover. Hydration (Vitamin IV) therapy is an effective way to find relief. It includes fluids to rehydrate your body, vitamins to help improve your energy levels, and meditation to reduce the painful symptoms of headache, nausea, and heartburn.

Athletic Performance Recovery: Hydration (Vitamin IV) therapy helps athletes recover following periods of exertion. Fluids help rehydrate, while vitamins, antioxidants, and amino acids boost your energy levels and help your body repair any tissue damage. It can improve athletic performance by:

  • Providing fast and adequate hydration
  • Flushing out free radicals that result from intense exercise
  • Acting as part of a recovery plan after a competition or workout
  • Acting as a pre-exercise endurance boost
  • Maintaining healthy muscle and tissue
  • Supporting muscle recovery
  • Reducing recovery time

Hydration Therapy is Easier on Your Digestive System: Taking lots of fluids can take a toll on your digestive system. Sometimes you may drink more fluids than your body can absorb at once. When this happens, your digestive system has to work harder to eliminate the excess fluids. This may flush out essential nutrients that your body requires to function. If you are taking supplements or other medications, they can irritate your digestive system. With hydration IV therapy, your body can absorb nutrients effectively without depending on your digestive system, retain more nutrients needed, and there is less waste than drinking fluids.

Improved Skin, Joint, and Muscle Health: Our bodies are made of about between 50% and 60 % water. Dehydration can cause joint pain, dry skin, and muscle pain. It is not easy for these areas to get enough liquids, even if you drink fluids. With hydration IV therapy, the health of your joints, skin, and muscles will be drastically improved. Additionally, toxins will be flushed out, and their health will be restored. 

Hydration IV Therapy is Customized to Your Body: Everyone’s body is unique. Our needs differ depending on health, activity levels, and lifestyle needs. Your body cannot operate at optimum levels with only drinking fluids. You can benefit from hydration IV therapy since it can be customized to your body. It has the perfect blend of electrolytes, fluids, nutrients, and minerals to get you feeling great. You can have your customized hydration IV therapy focus on the following: 

  • Immunity boosts
  • Hangover recovery
  • Athletic recovery
  • Energy boosts
  • Skincare

For more information about how hydration IV therapy can help you, contact Susan A. Baker, MD, today or schedule an appointment online.