How Infusion Therapy Can Improve the Quality of Life for Chronic Illness Patients

Needles scare a lot of people, and the idea of having IV drips alone is terrifying for most people. However, for people suffering from chronic illnesses, infusion therapy can be a real game changer. It’s beneficial in many ways, and can help to significantly improve their quality of life.

This method of treatment, which involves directly injecting fluids into the patient's body, has proven to be more effective while also being more manageable and less intimidating than other methods of medication.

How Infusion Therapy Works

Before we get into how infusion therapy actually helps people with chronic illnesses, let’s first explain what it is, and how it works.

Infusion therapy is the intravenous administration of medicine or fluids into a patient's bloodstream. This method bypasses the digestive system and immediately introduces substances into the bloodstream, which is much faster than other methods.

Infusion therapy uses pumps to deliver the fluids to the veins via gravity-controlled drips.

As a result, it’s preferable for use on patients who have difficulty taking oral medication for one reason or another.

How Infusion Therapy Improves Quality of Life for Chronic Illness Patients

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), a chronic illness is any condition that lasts longer than a year, requires ongoing medical attention, and limits a patient’s day-to-day living. For people suffering from these illnesses, taking oral medication can be intimidating and exhausting.

In this particular instance, infusion therapy is a considerably better and preferable treatment option for a variety of reasons.

Infusion Therapy Is a Quick Process

One of the primary advantages of infusion therapy over other methods of administration is that it acts much faster in the body. This allows patients with chronic illnesses to feel better and get relief from their symptoms much faster.

It also makes the medication process much smoother since the administration takes less time than other methods of treatment, which gives the patients more time with their lives. A recent study shows that approximately 40 percent of Americans find it more difficult to swallow pills as compared to other forms of medication.

Infusion Therapy Is More Controlled and Customizable for Every Patient’s Unique Needs

Unlike traditional medication, infusion therapy can be used to administer the correct medication in the right amounts, depending on a patient’s unique needs and symptoms. This means they’re more effective at offering relief to chronic illness patients compared to alternatives such as oral medication.

A qualified IV infusion nurse, like those at AmeriPharma Infusion Center, will administer the treatments prescribed by a doctor for a patient's particular conditions. In some cases, they can even be supplemented with oral pills for maximum effect.

Infusion Therapy Allows for Maximum Absorption Into the Bloodstream

Another significant advantage of infusion over oral medication is that it allows for complete absorption of substances into the bloodstream regardless of dosage. This means there is no waste, and the body receives the entire dosage as prescribed by a doctor.

In the case of oral medications and supplements, some of them pass through the digestive system without being absorbed and are excreted as waste. This means that an oral dose may be less effective if the patient has a digestive problem, which isn’t uncommon in people with chronic illnesses.

All of this means that infusion is more effective in the long run and is guaranteed to provide patients with the relief they need, which isn't always the case with oral medications.

It Has Less Side Effect to Patients

Chronically ill people are especially vulnerable to secondary infections and opportunistic diseases. As a result, seemingly minor issues like a stomach upset can lead to more serious issues later on.

As a result, oral supplements and medications are less desirable because they may contain components that are difficult to digest, causing upset stomachs in patients.

Infusion therapy avoids these problems because the substances are injected directly into the bloodstream, making it safer for people with chronic illnesses.

Patients can do the infusion at home after receiving a prescription from a qualified doctor, eliminating the need to visit the hospital on a regular basis, but some patients feel more at ease getting their infusion from a qualified nurse at a hospital or infusion center.

Conclusion

Is IV infusion therapy the best option for you? That’s a question only a qualified physician can help you answer and depends on your unique medical condition and symptoms.