IV therapy, or intravenous therapy, is a treatment option that will provide an individual with fluids or medicine right into their veins. It must be done with a catheter or a needle that will be inserted into the vein so the fluid or medicine can go right in. There are many reasons why an individual will choose to use IV infusion or therapy, but it is often done for medical conditions the individual has.
Conditions IV Therapy Helps With
IV therapy may take some time to get used to, but it is able to help treat a wide variety of conditions. Some of the conditions your medical team may decide to use the IV therapy for includes:
Dehydration: When an individual is severely dehydrated, using IV therapy can replace some of that in a natural manner and one that is much safer than some of the traditional methods.
Malnutrition: Many vitamins and minerals can be given through the veins in a manner that is safe and effective, especially when eating large amounts of food may not be the best.
Alcohol or drug dependence to help fight through the detox period and keep the individual healthy.
Cancer: This is sometimes used to help administer chemotherapy. The patient may also get liquids and nutrients through this method during their cancer treatment to help them feel better.
Infections and other diseases
Autoimmune disorders: The body may mistakenly attack the body’s own tissues through an autoimmune disorder. Some treatments can be done through IV therapy to help fight these conditions.
IV therapy is able to provide a good deal of benefits to the individual, giving them a way to add more nutrients into their lives and to assist them with feeling and looking their very best.
The Process of IV Therapy
A clinical setting is the most often used option when it is time for the patient to get IV therapy. This means that it may be given in an urgent care clinic, outpatient clinic, physician’s offices, infusion centers, and hospitals. In some cases, a visiting nurse or healthcare provider will be able to come to your home to assist with IV therapy.
That brings us to how the process of IV therapy is meant to work. The IV therapy will start when the healthcare professional inserts a needle, which is attached over to a smaller tube, into the vein of the arm. The small tube will be connected to the IV bag, one that holds onto the liquid medications or a nutrient-rich fluid.
Through the therapy, the solution from the IV bag will enter the bloodstream through the vein. There will be an adjustable valve or automated pump that helps to move the liquid into the vein. Individuals who go through the therapy will need to be monitored. This ensures that the flow of the liquid is done at the right speed and that the needle stays in place.
This process can take a little time to complete. Most therapy sessions will take at least half an hour, but it can depend on the medications or the type of fluids you will receive. Once the bag is empty, the healthcare professional will come back and take the needle out of your arm and check how you are doing.
Types of IV Therapy
There are actually a few different types of IV therapy that you can choose. Some of the most common will include:
IV line: This will be inserted directly into the vein using a needle.
Central venous catheter: This will be a tube that is inserted into the chest through a vein that is there.
Central venous catheter and port: A tube that will get attached to a port under the skin.
PICC: This is known as a peripherally inserted central catheter. It will include a long tube that gets inserted through the vein in the arm and then goes all the way to the large veins found near the heart.
Uses
There are different reasons why you may need to undergo some form of IV therapy. Some patients will be given IV therapy if they are not able to handle an oral medication or if they need to take a medication that does not come in an oral form. Sometimes the medicine is more effective and will work faster when given through the veins, rather than orally.
Some patients will be given an IV therapy session if they are severely dehydrated. This allows the liquid to get into the body faster and will not cause damage to the stomach or other parts of the body at that time. The medical professional will be able to insert the IV therapy and then give them liquids to help fight off the dehydration.
Those who are malnourished or need to get nutrients into the body quickly may work with IV therapy as well. It is much easier to get the nutrients in through the bloodstream rather than trying to have the person, who may be sick or can’t eat food well for another reason, to scarf down a lot of food. The vitamins and minerals can be given through the bloodstream in a liquid form.
Preparing for IV Therapy
If you need to go in for IV therapy, there are a few steps that you can take to make sure you are as comfortable as possible. Some of these include:
- Pick out clothes that are loose-fitting and comfortable,
- Make sure the medical professional is able to reach your arm easily,
- Bring something that you can listen to or read during the therapy.
IV therapy can be the trick that you need to improve your life and make sure that you feel and look your very best. You want to make sure that you pick out the right professionals to do this therapy, ones who will take your best interests at heart and can provide you with amazing results each time. The IV Therapy at Kare Health & Wellness can provide you with the best services at an affordable cost to help you feel amazing.
