Basics of Hydration and IV Therapy

Article Written By: Dr. Taylor J. Graber MD

Peer Reviewed By: Dr. Ilona Cataline Juan MD

Date Updated: August 3rd, 2022

What Is IV Hydration Therapy?

Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water. About equally impressive, 60% of the human body is composed of water. Maintaining this level of water (H20) in your body is one of the primary drives of human existence, and without it, not only does performance diminish (athletic, academic, cognitive), but it becomes difficult to survive. Water functions by keeping cells hydrated, that is, capable of carrying out metabolic requirements and chemical reactions. Too much water, and the electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, Magnesium) and chemical composition of a cell become too dilute. This makes it difficult to perform their functions, such a nerve firing, a muscle contracting, or a heart beating. Too little water, and your electrolytes become too concentrated, which also makes it difficult for cells to perform. That is why the body has several adaptations to conserve water, and drive us to acquire it when the store in our body is low.

Does My Body Need an IV?

The amount of water in your body, in medical terms, is dictated by inputs and outputs, or more simply, what goes in and what comes out. The inputs are mostly what you consume through your diet (drinking water, beer, Gatorade, and foods). The outputs are more diverse, such as from your urinary system, gastrointestinal system, saliva production, maintaining how moist your mouth, nose, and mucous membranes are, and sweat. A net balance of these inputs and outputs, around neutral, will allow the body to be in homeostasis. In fact, when you are in the hospital, these numbers are religiously tracked by nurses and doctors to help promote healing.

Your body has many natural defenses to help maintain this water level around neutral. Two of the primary drivers are sodium level and anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) level [a diuretic is a substance which makes you urinate more, such as coffee and alcohol]. When your outputs are high (negative water balance), then your sodium and AHD levels are high, helping your body tell itself to retain water. The AHD acts mainly on your kidneys to tell them to keep water rather than urinating, which will lower your sodium level and bring you back into balance.

Will IV Hydration Help Cure My Hangover?

This is all and well, until a night of binge drinking or a heavy workout happens. Alcohol, no matter the source (beer, wine, hard liquor) inhibits the action of ADH, which results in excess urination. Losing too much urine makes you have a net negative water balance and results in an imbalance of your electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium). This has a negative effect on your body, and leads to numerous symptoms which are experienced as a “hangover” such as fatigue, weakness, excessive thirst and dry mouth (xerostomia), headaches, muscle aches (myalgias), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, poor sleeping (insomnia), sensitivity to light (photosensitivity) and sound, and many others.

There have been many medically tested attempts to make a hangover cure, but the most effective of all these is to replace what was lost. The available ways to replenish these fluids are orally and intravenously (IV) (through a vein, which is any blood vessel in your body which brings blood back to your heart!). With bad hangovers, getting any oral fluid in can be impossible with all of the nausea and vomiting. This is where IV fluids are your best friend, as it gets the fluid/electrolytes/medication directly into your bloodstream where it can take immediate effect and get you feeling better more quickly. It avoids the “first-pass metabolism” which is the absorption of the fluid/electrolytes/medication by your stomach/intestines and processing by the liver before it is finally distributed to the rest of your body. This is part of the reason why IV fluids work so well and work so quickly.

How Do I Schedule an IV Therapy Appointment?

Next time you have a bad hangover, a tough workout, or you just want to maintain a healthy level of hydration and water homeostasis, book an appointment with ASAP IVs to help get you back on your feet!