Chronic dehydration can sneak up on you. It starts with not getting enough water on a daily level. Maybe you forgot to get enough fluids during a hard day of work or forgot to pack a water bottle on your daily hike.

Before you know it, minor dehydration issues have ballooned into something bigger. Your energy levels are lower, and you’ve become more prone to symptoms such as headaches and fatigue.

The problem is: If you don’t keep an eye on your water intake over a prolonged period of time, or perhaps you have a medical event or illness, that thirst can tip over into chronic dehydration. That’s when you can turn to the nourishing liquid of an IV for proper rehydration.

Chronic Dehydration Causes and Symptoms

Depending on your lifestyle, there are a number of possible situations where you can start to get dehydrated. Here are a few possible scenarios to look out for:

• Spending a great deal of time outdoors, especially in hot climates
• Inadequate water consumption
• Lack of regular access to water or other hydrating fluids
• Heavy sweating during outdoor work or exercise
• Regular use of diuretics
• Diarrhea caused by a medical condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome or gluten sensitivity
• Severe vomiting due to illness or intense morning sickness

How can you tell if you’re suffering from chronic dehydration? Here are some symptoms to watch out for:

• Extreme thirst that can’t be resolved by drinking a glass or two of water (you can’t stay hydrated)
• Urine that’s dark in color
• Lightheadedness
• Muscle weakness
• Papery skin that’s dry and flaky
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Fatigue

It’s important to treat this type of dehydration as soon as possible. You could be at higher risk of kidney stones, electrolyte imbalance, intestinal problems, dementia, or high blood pressure, and you may need to be hospitalized if you don’t address the situation.

Chronic Dehydration Treatment

Your healthcare provider will first want to examine you to determine if you have chronic dehydration. There are a few symptoms that will tell if you are dehydrated or not.

It might be as simple as checking the skin for elasticity, as a lack of elasticity indicates dehydration. It may also involve labs that measure your electrolyte, sodium, and potassium levels. 

Depending on your results and the seriousness of your condition, your doctor may recommend an IV. IV fluids have been used for decades to help rehydrate the human body, and are very effective in helping to solve dehydration issues.

IV therapy can help in the following ways:

• It delivers hydration directly to the bloodstream (as opposed to oral medications, which first travel through the digestive system). This makes IV therapy fast-acting and effective.
• An IV solution contains vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes to replenish your body.
• Trained medical professionals oversee your IV treatment to ensure everything goes smoothly and that your body responds to the therapy.
• IV therapy is generally well-tolerated, with minimal side effects.

Many people wonder, how long does it take to reverse chronic dehydration? The answer depends on the individual’s health condition and the severity of dehydration. People tend to bounce back more quickly with IV therapy because it infuses vitamin-rich hydration that balances the body. Your healthcare provider will also want to retest your levels to make sure your treatment is working. Once you’re back to normal, it’s helpful to monitor your water consumption to prevent a recurrence. You may also need to make some changes to your usual habits, such as cutting back on stress, alcohol, and caffeine.

Mobile IV Nurses is a leader in IV therapy for chronic dehydration, with affordable pricing packages that make treatment accessible for everyone. Contact us today to book an appointment over the phone or through our easy online scheduler.

Mobile IV Nurses is open from the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and can offer after-hours appointments in some markets, depending on nurse availability. We can’t wait to hear from you!

FAQs

Does IV therapy help with dehydration?

One of the main effects of IV therapy is solving dehydration issues in the human body. The saline solution is well-suited to work quickly in the bloodstream. IV fluids have been used for decades to treat people who are chronically dehydrated, especially during an illness or after surgery. It’s a simple, safe way to rapidly rehydrate the body and get your health back on track again.

How do you reverse chronic dehydration?

Reversing chronic dehydration starts with consistently rehydrating your body. In many instances, someone just needs to drink water or water-based beverages with electrolytes to get the body back into equilibrium. Adhering to consistent hydration with beverages will go a long way in restoring hydration and balancing out the body’s electrolytes. If drinking water isn’t enough, you can supplement with IV therapy, which is great for rapidly rehydrating the body reversing chronic dehydration. 

How long does it take to be rehydrated with IV?

You can feel rehydrated after an IV almost immediately. Since the sterile saline solution goes right into your bloodstream, it starts to work its magic right away. Within a half hour, you should be feeling considerably better as your body restores its fluid balance and stock of electrolytes. After the end of an IV treatment session, which takes about 45 minutes, you should have cured your dehydration and be ready to tackle the rest of your day.

Contact Us

Get in touch with Mobile IV Nurses to book your IV session today. We can help you solve dehydration issues and get your energy levels up. We’re also available to answer any questions you might have about how IV therapy works and what it can do for you.