In hospital, you will get fluids through an intravenous drip. If you are mildly dehydrated, the best thing you can do is to drink more water. Drink small amounts of water regularly. You can also drink oral rehydration solutions that you buy from your pharmacy.
Intravenous (IV) fluids and IV medication -- including some that contain electrolytes or medications that help normalize electrolyte levels -- are often used. Other IV medications may need to be used to treat underlying causes of dehydration (for example, IV antibiotics for dehydration caused by infection).
Diuretics. Also called water pills, diuretics remove salt and water from your body when you pee. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, your doctor may suggest you take them because they cut the amount of fluid in your blood vessels. This eases the pressure on the walls of your blood vessels.
Many patients can be rehydrated entirely with oral rehydration solution (ORS). Even if patients get intravenous (IV) rehydration, they should start drinking ORS as soon as they are able.
If dehydration is suspected, you may be given a blood test or a urine test to check the balance of salts (sodium and potassium) in your body.
First your doctor will check your blood pressure, since low blood pressure is a typical sign of dehydration. They will also check your heart rate. If it's faster than normal, this may indicate that you're dehydrated. If your doctor believes you are severely dehydrated, they may order a blood test and a urinalysis.
Moderate to severe dehydration needs medical attention. Go to an emergency room or call 911. Untreated severe dehydration can cause seizures, permanent brain damage, and even death. Call your family doctor if you're not sure if your symptoms are serious enough to go to the hospital.
Though various home remedies serve the purpose, the IV hydration process offers you a quicker and more effective dehydration relief than ordinary water. The difference is that IV fluids comprise a saline solution made of vital vitamins and minerals that help restore your body's water-electrolytes balance.
The researchers found that while water — both still and sparkling — does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.
A person needs IV fluids when they become dangerously dehydrated. Serious dehydration may occur when you: Are sick (vomiting and diarrhea). Exercise too much or spend too much time in the heat without drinking enough.
Diuretics ― also known as water pills ― are medicines that help you move extra fluid and salt out of your body.
Diuretics, often called water pills, are drugs or foods that cause your body to release water and salts by increasing urination. They are commonly used for heart conditions and weight loss pills. However, diuretics can have side effects — one of which is particularly concerning is dehydration.
Electrolyte or hydration tablets offer a method of replenishing fluids, and are convenient for individuals or athletes who place themselves under a lot of physical stress. When you take sports hydration tablets you are automatically avoiding sports drinks, which often contain high levels of sugar.
Children and adults who are severely dehydrated should be treated by emergency personnel arriving in an ambulance or in a hospital emergency room. Salts and fluids delivered through a vein (intravenously) are absorbed quickly and speed recovery.
If you can't get a pre-mixed rehydration solution, don't try to make one yourself. Instead, replace lost fluids naturally with sips of water, fruit juice, crushed fruit mixed with water, or salty soups or broths.
Healthcare providers typically use IV therapy to treat someone in the advanced stages of dehydration who needs fluids replaced immediately, like patients who are fainting or experiencing symptoms of heat stroke.
Gatorade, because of its electrolyte content, helps to restore the lost electrolytes and keep a person hydrated, during intense activity. It can also replace electrolytes, during times of illness, such as stomach viruses.
It hydrates you
This myth comes from a study funded by Gatorade that found people who drank their product were better hydrated than if they drank water—but only because they drank more fluids. If you drank the same volume of water versus Gatorade, you'd be equally hydrated.
Compared to Gatorade, Liquid IV has less calories and sugar, but higher amounts of the electrolytes sodium and potassium. Liquid IV also contains B vitamins, too.
Liquid IV vs Gatorade? We're not surprised you asked. Liquid IV doesn't come ready to drink like Gatorade, but it has fewer sugars and calories. It also contains vitamins and minerals that Gatorade doesn't.
IV fluids generally remain in your body for a couple of hours after absorption. That said, the nutrients and minerals present in the fluids may remain in your body for days, weeks, or even months.
In general, however, it usually takes about two hours for your body to rehydrate fully after drinking a significant amount of water. As for how you should rehydrate, water is the best choice. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade, can be helpful for athletes who need to replenish electrolytes.