You may have seen these IV Vitamin Hookups at your local shopping mall and wondered. . . Who needs them? Well, it appears that many people do. "Rent-a-drip" IV Lounges are popping up across the country, promising speedy recovery for hangover sufferers, jet lag victims and others seeking an intravenous solution to modern dilemmas. But experts say these lounges are at best a waste of money and could be potentially dangerous. "The whole thing is really nonsense," said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a professor of medicine with the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. "It's just catering to people's sense that they're taking their health into their own hands."
So, lets do a little digging. . .
The acronym “IV” stands for intravenous therapy, “intra-” meaning within or inside, and “venous” relating to the veins. IV therapy, then, is a method of administering fluids to the body by way of the blood vessels. So, when we talk about the benefits of IV therapy, we’re referring to both the IV method itself and the ingredients found within your chosen drip. IV therapy is best known for its ability to hydrate your body and make you feel your best.
HOW DO IV DRIPS WORK?
An IV fluid drip involves a small tube called a catheter and a saline-based electrolyte solution that contains your selected vitamins and nutrients. An IV drip delivers these essential nutrients and fluids directly into your bloodstream, bypassing your digestive tract. There’s no wait time, and the nutrition is instantly available to remedy your body’s health and wellness needs.
WHAT GOES INTO AN IV?
Some IV drips contain electrolytes and salts, while others contain sugars, vitamins, and antioxidants. Each concoction differs depending on the health and wellness needs of each patient. The most common ingredients that go into IVs include:
Salt. The most commonly used fluid is normal saline. This is a salt solution of purified water. You can’t have plain water going into your veins. All the existing salt in your body, which you need, would rush out of cells and tissues where it is needed — not a good thing! Normal saline approximates the ratio of salt to water that exists naturally in the human body.
Sugar. Sometimes the doctor will choose a dextrose, or sugar solution, that also contains salt. If you see “D5” written on the bag, that means sugar. These fluids are OK for people who do not have diabetes and who are not terribly dehydrated. If you have a bad infection, the doctor might not want to use D5, in order to keep your blood sugars well controlled to discourage the infection.
Electrolytes. Some fluids may contain these minerals. One particular solution, for example, combines saline with bicarbonate, sugar and potassium. This is one of the preferred fluids for surgeries, likely because surgery can alter your electrolyte and acid-base balance.
Vitamins. If you have a bright yellow bag hanging above your bed, it may mean you’ve been drinking too much. “Banana bags” contain multivitamins as well as fluids intended to replace the vitamin loss that drinking alcohol causes.
Be proactive & educate yourself regarding what goes into your body!
People who go to an IV lounge are offered a variety of different intravenous fluids containing a blend of saline, vitamins and medicines targeted to their needs. For example, a hangover IV bag also typically contains anti-nausea medications. Treatment costs range from roughly $80 to $875. The practice is generally unregulated, raising concern among the medical community.
IV lounges are remarkably adaptive to whatever is happening in the national moment. Right now, many lounges are offering drips containing "immunity-boosting" vitamins to flu victims during this pandemic. The entire notion dates back to 2012, when an enterprising anesthesiologist in Las Vegas came up with "Hangover Heaven," a mobile IV unit that would come out to your hotel and provide an intravenous hangover remedy, explained by Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
When it's all said and done . . . if there was no need for this kind of Hook Up they would not be popping up in a shopping mall near you. It is very important that we speak to our Physician before we try any health and/or fitness treatments. So, call your Doctor and do your own research before you jump on this bandwagon!
** Thanks for Visiting! This post is F Y E. I'm not a Physician, and NOT giving any advice here! I'm just a woman on this life journey. If you like this post, please comment & Email it to others. As with all subjects that have Health concerns, please Consult your Medical professional. Don’t forget to follow me on Bloglovin for new post updates, and on Pinterest. **
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