It’s no secret that Houston and Montgomery County experience some of the most severe summer heat in the country. This hot and humid climate can take a toll on your body, leading to dehydration if you’re not careful. People who are severely ill, or those who work or exercise in this intense environment might become so dehydrated that they develop life threatening symptoms. One of the best ways to prevent dehydration is by getting outpatient hydration infusions at an Urgent Care facility near you. In this blog post, we will discuss what Outpatient Hydration Infusions are and how they can help you stay safe and healthy during the summer months.
What is Outpatient Hydration?
Outpatient hydration infusions can be used to bring the body to proper levels of hydration and reduce potentially life-threatening symptoms. These treatments are typically done intravenously and deliver fluids to the body filled with important electrolytes such as potassium, B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and sulfate which are important for the body to function properly.
Conditions That May Require Hydration Infusions
Dehydration, in general, entails the body has been depleted of water and electrolytes which need to be replenished to return to an optimal level of hydration. However, when drinking water or other liquids that include electrolytes is insufficient on its own, outpatient hydration infusions may be required in some circumstances. Some of the symptoms of dehydration include:
- Confusion
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Lethargy
- Headache
- Rapid heart rate
- Rapid breathing
- Little or no urine output
- Shock
- Seizures
Dehydration that goes undetected or untreated can worsen and result in fatal outcomes. Click here for more about the signs and dangers of severe heat expose in Houston. If you or someone you know is showing any of the above symptoms, they might be dehydrated and require medical care.
How Outpatient Hydration Infusions Work
Outpatient hydration infusions are administered via an IV, which delivers fluids infused with important vitamins and minerals directly into the circulation. For optimum results, the liquid should be released gradually into the system. Most often, treatment lasts up to one hour.
During the treatment, a medical expert will track the patient’s vitals and ensure that their general health is improving during the treatment. The majority of individuals will notice a significant difference in how they feel by the end of a therapy, and their condition may continue to improve over time following the treatment.
Potential Side Effects of Treatment
Overall, the risk of adverse effects from outpatient hydration infusions is low. The most frequent adverse effects include an infection at the injection site or an IV slipping out of the vein. These effects are common with any IV treatment and can be easily treated.
When a medicine is to be administered straight into the body’s bloodstream, it’s critical that the patient inform the healthcare provider if they have any underlying medical issues or medicines. This will allow them to make better judgments about any problem that may arise and treat you as effectively as possible.
Benefits of Treatment
Hydration can take many forms including drinking water or fluids with electrolytes, but there are some unique benefits that can come with outpatient hydration infusions such as:
- Faster absorption and recovery – Dehydration can be prevented by drinking a lot of water containing electrolytes, but this may take time to work its way through the body and be absorbed. When an injection is given into a vein, it enters the blood circulation much more quickly, which helps you obtain faster results.
- Customization – Outpatient hydration infusions do not have to be administered the same for everyone. A major benefit to this treatment is they may vary to suit the patient’s individual condition.
- Detoxification – With the introduction of key fluids into the bloodstream, they are able to get to major organs significantly faster, allowing organs like the kidneys and liver to eliminate existing pollutants more effectively.
Getting Outpatient Hydration Infusions at Urgent Care
Hospitals have long had the ability to provide hydration infusions but are often so inundated with patients that finding the space and time to do so can be difficult. Particularly in the wake of a pandemic, hospital waiting rooms are more crowded than ever before, which can provide challenges for those seeking medical care. Fortunately, neighborhood urgent care centers tend to serve a smaller geographic area than hospitals and often have fewer people in the waiting room with a lesser wait time.
In addition, urgent care facilities also offer a convenience that is hard to beat. Although these centers are open during the daytime, their weekday hours often extend beyond the normal hours for close of business. They may also offer patients some limited weekend hours as well. Many patients find these hours more accommodating when it comes to balancing family and work obligations with getting healthcare.
This flexibility with business hours becomes an even bigger perk when it is combined with the fact that urgent care centers do not rely on appointment scheduling. Most of these centers welcome walk ins with no appointment required.
Hospitals often have full waiting rooms and therefore getting Outpatient Hydration Infusions at an Urgent Care is a more convenient option for many people. Family First Urgent Care in Conroe, TX offers convenient hours, minimal wait times and personalized care to suit the unique needs of yourself and your loved ones. If you or someone you know is struggling with dehydration, be sure to head to Family First Urgent Care today!
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