Could IV Therapy Help You Recover From A Cold and Flu?

No one likes getting sick. You have a lot going on and things to get done, and suddenly you catch the flu and are bedridden for at least a few days. Or you get a cold that won’t go away, leaving you coughing and clutching tissues for weeks. Either way, we all want something that can quickly knock a cold or flu out. IV drip therapy could be the solution. 

IV therapy might be a good choice when other medications or cures don’t work. IV therapy involves delivering needed nutrients, fluids, and medicine directly into a patient’s vein. It is the fastest way to get treatment into the body, so it can help with healing and fighting off illness. The ingredients in an IV are customizable, so it can be designed to help someone fight off cancer or even the common cold. 

IV therapy specifically is often used to help people receive more nutrients they lack and generally feel more hydrated, energized, and rejuvenated. But it can do a whole lot more when used to target specific problems. IV therapy helps people suffering from all kinds of ailments and illnesses, including the cold and flu. 

Types of Therapy

IV therapy is beneficial for patients who struggle to keep things like food and water down. Someone suffering from the flu may be unable to retain fluids and begin suffering from extreme dehydration. IV therapy can help with that. There are two main types of IV therapy to be aware of, though they both serve the same purpose and need to be administered by a medical professional. 

IV Push

IV push therapy involves 30-60 ml of fluid, which is injected into the vein slowly for around 15 to 20 minutes. The fluid is pushed via a syringe into the previously inserted catheter. This therapy needs to be monitored by a healthcare professional.  

IV Drip

IV drip therapy relies on gravity to do most of the work. It generally consists of 250-1000 ml of fluid moving into the vein through a catheter over 45-60 minutes. It is more relaxed, and the patient can sit and work or relax while it is happening. 

Both of these therapies allow nutrients and fluids to enter the bloodstream quickly and begin taking effect almost immediately. Often an IV drip will be administered during the IV therapy, allowing a patient to sit back and relax for the time it takes to deliver the fluids. 

Cold And Flu Symptoms

Before you jump to signing up for IV drip therapy, you want to ensure it will work for you and what you have. You have to recognize the symptoms of your sickness to know if IV therapy can help in the ways you hope it will. 

IV therapy can be beneficial if you feel symptoms coming on and can also work well to help you get over a cold or flu faster.

The Cold

A common cold is generally caused by the rhinovirus, which can spread through air or close contact with someone else. The cold is not usually a serious issue and should peak at two to three days of symptoms and then dissipate and clear up in a week, though some symptoms can last up to two weeks. 

A cold often consists of the following:

• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose
• Fever (not usually)
• Mucus drip
• Watery eyes

While these symptoms typically clear up after around a week with no further complications, they can knock you down for a few days. And more persistent symptoms like a cough and runny nose can hang around for weeks. It is not unusual for someone seeing persistent symptoms and wanting to help their immune system beat the cold to get IV therapy as treatment. 

The Flu

The flu is caused by the influenza virus, and many different varieties go around each year. The best way to beat the flu is to get the vaccine each year, so your body is prepared and has all the tools it needs to combat the virus. It spreads through droplets in the air when people talk, cough, or sneeze. 

People usually begin exhibiting symptoms within one to four days of getting sick and may experience symptoms for up to seven days, with most going away after or before that point. While the flu is very common, it is more serious than a cold and can sometimes lead to serious sickness and death. 

The typical flu symptoms include:

• Coughing
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Chills
• Sore throat 
• Stuffy nose
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Headaches
• Fatigue

The flu can be more severe than the cold and cause more painful and unpleasant symptoms. Due to the risk of dehydration from symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, IV therapy could be especially helpful in helping your body regain lost fluids. 

IV therapy could be a good choice when you are going through an illness, and your body can’t seem to get rid of it completely. It has been used to treat various issues and provides many benefits.

Could IV Therapy Help?

The basic answer is yes. IV drip therapy can help you recover from a cold and flu. Not only could it help you recover, but it could also help you get over your symptoms quicker while sick. 

When over-the-counter medication isn’t working to relieve symptoms, IV therapy may be the next best option and could provide fast relief. When you get IV therapy for the flu or cold, you will receive a combination of electrolytes and antiemetics. These will help restore the nutrients and fluids your body lost and help your immune system fight off the virus. Because the medication is going directly into the bloodstream, you will experience relief of symptoms much faster than taking oral medication. 

Some places will also offer different cocktails for the IV to help, depending on your symptoms and the severity of the sickness. For the flu, some will use a combination of vitamins and glutathione to help cut down on fatigue and boost the immune system.

IV therapy may help ease aches and pains from the sickness and help you feel healthier sooner. It can also be used for other treatments. Many seek IV therapy outside of being sick to boost their immune system to prevent getting sick in the first place and ensure they receive the necessary vitamins and nutrients for optimal health. 

Treatment Expectations

If you are considering IV therapy to help with cold or flu symptoms, you should know what to expect. You will need to consult with a trained medical professional before moving forward. They will want to discuss your symptoms to know the best IV therapy cocktail for your sickness. Next, you will be walked through the dosage, how long the treatment will take, and if you should expect any side effects. 

After you have consulted with a professional and they have determined the right mixture, you will be set up with an IV bag. The actual treatment shouldn’t take more than 30 to 40 minutes. And once you are done, you can resume normal activity levels or whatever you find doable depending on persistent symptoms. 

If you want to use IV therapy for the cold or flu, you should remember that it isn’t a miracle cure. It can help boost your immune system and relieve symptoms but will not immediately erase your sickness. IV therapy can speed up the healing process and help your body fight off the virus faster, but you still need to get good amounts of rest, stay hydrated and eat well so that your body has every advantage in its corner. 

Side Effects

IV therapy, like any treatment, does come with some side effects. You are not guaranteed to experience side effects, but it’s important to be aware of them. That way, if you experience any of these listed below, you know it could be from the IV therapy and not a strange new symptom related to the cold or flu.

Possible symptoms from IV therapy include:

• Metallic taste in the mouth
• Ringing in the ears
• Muscle spasms 
• Cooling sensation in the arm
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Redness and soreness at the injection site
• Lower urination
• Drowsiness

These will vary depending on the person, and you may not have any side effects at all. Some deal with having an injection in their arm, and most will go away soon after treatment. 

Added Benefits

IV drip therapy isn’t only used to help people suffering from the flu or cold. It has a lot of positive effects that can relieve many different issues. Even if you are not suffering from a cold or flu, you may benefit from IV therapy in other ways.

IV therapy has been known to help with hangover relief. The added fluids, medicine, and nutrients help the body recover from a dehydrating night and can return to where you were pre-night out faster. 

IV therapy can help athletes recover from injury or from pushing their bodies too hard. It helps to restore energy levels and also repair tissue that has been damaged due to injury or overuse. It can also help individuals who suffer from consistent headaches or migraines since it can reduce inflammation. 

The boost in the immune system that IV therapy delivers can benefit many people, including healthy individuals who worry they may be missing essential vitamins and nutrients. And, of course, this feature plays a role in helping those suffering from the cold or flu.

Custom IV Treatments 

If you are suffering from the cold or flu or want to help boost your immune system, IV therapy could be a big help. By restoring fluids and providing a way for your body to get the medicine it needs quickly, IV therapy can provide almost instant relief from persistent symptoms. 
If you are considering IV therapy, schedule a consultation through CORR today to learn more about how it could benefit you. There are many options depending on what you’re looking for, as the contents of each IV bag can be customized to your needs.