Water makes up over half of the human body and is essential for nearly every process that keeps us going, including the immune system. Proper hydration enables immune cell transportation, toxin elimination, and protective barrier integrity. But when life gets busy or you place more demands on your body, staying hydrated can be difficult, leaving you more vulnerable to viruses. When you’re sick, sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea can further dehydrate you, making it harder for your immune system to function.
An IV infusion can rapidly replenish essential fluids, electrolytes, and nutrients to support your immune system, helping you fight infections more effectively and bounce back quicker. In this article, we explore hydration’s role in immune function and the unique benefits of IV hydration for flu season.
An IV infusion can rapidly replenish essential fluids, electrolytes, and nutrients to support your immune system, helping you fight infections more effectively and bounce back quicker. In this article, we explore hydration’s role in immune function and the unique benefits of IV hydration for flu season.
Hydration’s Role in the Immune System
Water is an essential part of the complex processes that work together in the body’s immune response.- Blood and lymph, the fluids that transport immune cells throughout the body, are primarily water.
- Proper hydration also supplies the kidneys and lymphatic system with the water needed to filter and flush out pathogens and waste.
- Mucous membranes, the body’s first line of defense in the nose, throat, and respiratory tract, require ample moisture to trap viruses and bacteria.
Dehydration impairs these processes and can lead to inflammation and oxidative stress, weakening your defenses and making recovery take that much longer.
What Causes Dehydration?
Between juggling work and home responsibilities, people often struggle to drink enough water and maintain a balanced diet. They might resort to drinking coffee (which is dehydrating) to stay energized or choose quick, easy meals that aren’t always the healthiest choices.Placing greater demands on our bodies can lead to low hydration levels. This includes things like intense exercise, alcohol consumption, air travel, and the disruption of daily routines that comes with traveling.
Finally, illness itself takes a toll on your body’s fluid levels. Your immune system requires additional fluids to mount a defense, while cold and flu symptoms like sweating or diarrhea further deplete these levels.
How Can IV Hydration Speed Up Flu Recovery?
There is no single best hydration method for the flu. Drinking plenty of fluids is always good advice. However, IV therapy does have unique hydration benefits that may help you recover faster. The biggest advantage of IV infusions is that they bypass the digestive system, delivering a full liter of balanced-electrolyte fluids directly into the bloodstream.This method allows for rapid rehydration so that you feel the effects within minutes instead of hours. When you drink water, it must pass through the stomach and intestines before being absorbed into the bloodstream and delivered to cells. IV fluids are immediately available to your cells, resulting in faster hydration. What’s more, trying to rapidly rehydrate by simply drinking more water is generally less effective; drinking large amounts can cause discomfort, and most people simply don’t drink enough, even when they know they should.
The other major advantage of IV fluids is that they bypass an upset stomach. Staying hydrated can be difficult when you are vomiting, coughing, sweating, or have diarrhea. Even if you are able to keep food or fluids down, illness can significantly slow stomach emptying, delaying rehydration even more. IV therapy avoids these complications.
What Is the Best IV Fluid for Hydration?
The two most common IV fluids are normal saline and lactated Ringer’s. While both solutions are hydrating, we use lactated Ringer’s for the majority of Hydration Room’s IV therapies.
Normal saline contains sodium and purified water. Lactated Ringer’s is similar, but includes more electrolytes and more closely mirrors the body’s natural fluids. In addition to sodium, LR contains chloride, potassium, calcium, and lactate—vital electrolytes that can be depleted when you are sick. Lactate can also be used as an energy source when you’re body is under stress.
Is IV Therapy Safe for Flu and Colds?
When administered by medical professionals, IV therapy for the flu is safe and generally well-tolerated. At Hydration Room, our therapies are physician-designed for the greatest benefit, using only high-quality ingredients. Our team of experienced registered nurses ensures you receive personalized care that leaves you feeling refreshed and resilient.Some of our treatments, such as the Cold & Flu Remedy, contain medicines to enhance symptom relief. Before starting treatment, tell your nurse if you are taking any medications, have allergies, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Should You Get IV Therapy When Dehydrated From Illness?
Even after you have overcome the worst part of a cold or the flu, your body can take time to recover, leaving you feeling drained and achy. This is in part due to dehydration. The fluids used to mount your immune response, combined with fluids and electrolytes lost from fever, sweating, and GI disruption, as well as reduced fluid intake, all contribute to dehydration. Studies have shown that post-virus dehydration can prolong fatigue. IV fluids for flu recovery quickly restore hydration and electrolyte levels and can help you bounce back faster.Why Hydration Room for IV Therapy?
Hydration Room delivers expert medical care with spa-inspired comfort. Whether you’re preparing for cold and flu season or are currently battling an infection, we have a physician-designed IV therapy that can help you stay resilient.Feeling too unwell to leave the house? We offer mobile IV therapy in select areas.
If you’re unsure which IV therapy is right for your needs, we encourage you to schedule a free virtual consultation with one of our nurse practitioners. Book today and start feeling like yourself again.
