In hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term care centers, IV fluid delivery is a standard treatment. If your doctor suggests IV therapy for you or a loved one, you might want to understand more about it and how it can help you. Let’s take a closer look at how IV therapy works so you can see how it can benefit you.
What can you expect?
Intravenous (IV) therapy involves injecting a fluid into the bloodstream that contains medication or nutrients. A medical professional injects a needle into a vein and starts the drip. The IV’s contents are delivered from a bag to a vein through a tube and a specific needle (cannula).
Most IVs have a sterile saline solution in the liquid portion that hydrates dilute drugs and help in the absorption of nutrients. An IV may contain other substances in addition to the saline solution.
In a skilled rehab center, common substances used in IV therapy include:
- Electrolytes, glucose, and other essential nutrients.
- Antibiotics
- Pain relievers
- Blood and blood compounds
- Anesthetics
Chemotherapy, dialysis, surgery, and other treatments often require antibody IV therapy.
Benifits of IV therapy
An IV is a quick way to deliver medication and nutrients to the body without waiting for them to be processed by the digestive system. IV therapy allows the bloodstream to absorb several drugs far faster than any other mode of delivery.
Because of the rapidity of the delivery technique, patients frequently receive faster relief. A person who is dehydrated, hypoglycemic, or in pain, for example, may feel better after receiving the appropriate IV therapy in a short period.
Despite its fast delivery and recovery durations, IV therapy poses very little danger when properly given. Inflammation, leakage, and infection are all risks linked with IVs, but qualified doctors know how to minimize them, making side effects much less likely. IV therapy is quite pleasant in the right hands, aside from the initial pinch of the needle.
Finally, the IV device is built in such a way that exact dose and delivery are possible. Medical staff can make incremental modifications to the dosage and quickly adjust the drip line to maximize effectiveness.
Common Reasons for IV Therapy
Because of its flexibility and effectiveness, an IV is one of the most common objects in a hospital setting. IVs have been used to supply essential nutrients in the body and aid healing since the 1830s. The basic principle of IV therapy hasn’t changed much since its start, but the variety of medicines available and their efficacy have significantly increased.
IV therapies are expected in a short- or long-term care facility for the following reasons:
- Dehydration
- Deficits in nutrition
- Immune system problems
- Pain caused by a disease
- Infection
- Loss of blood
. Dehydration
Although proper hydration is required for nearly every system in our bodies to function, almost one-third of the American population is chronically dehydrated. Dehydration can be a severe risk factor for older adults, even if most of us merely need to drink more water daily.
. Deficits in nutrition
Patients may have minimal nutrients or deficiencies in their bodies due to some health disorders or a bad diet. When malnutrition is a concern, nutritional IV therapy delivers vitamins, nutrients, and amino acids to the bloodstream right away.
. Immune system deficiencies
A weak immune system can be caused by aging, chemotherapy, autoimmune disorders, and other reasons. IV therapy is one method of delivering antibodies and other disease-fighting chemicals. Immunoglobulin therapy, for example, helps to improve a weakened immune system so that it can better fight illness.
. Pain caused by a disease
Surgery and conditions including arthritis, cancer, and fibromyalgia can cause pain and inflammation. An IV can deliver pain or anti-inflammatory medication directly into your system, providing instant relief. Your doctor can also make simple changes to your pain medication until you find the correct dose for you.
. Infection
Antibiotics taken orally are usually effective in treating a wide range of infections. Severe infections including pneumonia, sepsis, MRSA, UTIs, and other diseases, on the other hand, may benefit from more potent IV antibiotics. IV antibiotics are also commonly used to treat wounds and people who are unable to take oral antibiotics.
. Loss of blood
Blood transfusion is another reason you might encounter IV therapy at a rehabilitation facility. You may need a transfusion to replace blood lost due to an injury, illness, open wound, or surgery. You may require a blood transfusion or IV therapy if you have chronic anemia.
IV Therapy at Livv Natural
IV therapies aren’t always available in short-term care centers, but Livv Natural can provide them because of its qualified 24-hour healthcare professionals. The doctors and medical professionals at Livv Natural who deliver and monitor IVs around the clock have special training and expertise in the treatment to ensure the safest, most pleasant experience possible.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.