IV drip after a long flight to Seoul: when it helps

Does an IV drip after a long flight help in Seoul?

Cabin air is very dry, and many travelers drink little, have alcohol or coffee, and sleep poorly on a long flight. You can land mildly dehydrated, with a headache, dry mouth and low energy. An IV drip after a long flight to Seoul restores fluid faster than drinking, which can be helpful if you feel nauseated, have had vomiting or diarrhea on the trip, or have an important meeting within hours.

For most healthy travelers, though, drinking water and an oral rehydration solution works well and costs much less. An IV drip does not treat jet lag itself. Jet lag comes from your internal clock being out of step with local time, and the evidence for vitamins in IV form speeding that adjustment is lacking.

Check this first: blood clot warning signs

Sitting still for many hours raises the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clot in a leg vein. The risk is higher on flights over about four hours and in people who are pregnant, recently had surgery, take estrogen-containing medicines, have had a clot before, have cancer or are significantly overweight.

Do not book a drip if you notice any of the following. Get urgent medical assessment instead:

On your return flight, you can lower clot risk by walking the aisle every hour or two, flexing your ankles while seated, drinking water and avoiding sleeping pills that keep you immobile. People at higher risk should ask their doctor before flying whether compression stockings or other measures are appropriate.

• Swelling of one calf or leg, especially with pain, warmth or redness
• Calf pain when walking or standing that was not there before the flight
• Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain worse on breathing in, a fast heartbeat or coughing up blood: these can mean a clot has reached the lung, so call 119 immediately

Timing your post-flight drip

If a drip is appropriate, it is most useful on the day you arrive or the next day, while you still feel the effects of dehydration. There is little reason to have one several days later if you are drinking normally and feel well.

Pair it with the measures that actually shift jet lag: get bright outdoor light in the local morning, stay up until a normal local bedtime, keep naps short, and limit alcohol and late caffeine. Short-term melatonin can help some travelers flying east; ask the doctor whether it suits you and your medications.

If you are flying on again soon, for example on a short stopover in Seoul, tell the doctor your next departure time. He can plan fluids and advice around the next leg rather than only the one you have just finished.

Who a post-flight drip suits, and who should be careful

A drip may suit you if you are clearly dehydrated, could not eat or drink during travel, had a stomach upset on the way, or have a busy schedule and want monitored rehydration. The doctor may choose plain fluids, or fluids with electrolytes and B vitamins.

Extra caution is needed if you have heart failure, kidney disease or high blood pressure, because extra fluid can strain the heart. People with ankle swelling from the flight may simply have fluid pooling, which a drip will not fix and could worsen. In these cases, walking, leg elevation and drinking normally are usually better.

Pregnant travelers should not have vitamin drips without a specific medical reason, and should be especially alert to clot symptoms, which are more common in pregnancy. If you take blood thinners, tell the doctor, as cannula placement can cause more bruising.

What we check before your drip

Dr. HyunSung Park will ask about your route and flight length, symptoms since landing, your usual medicines and any clot risk factors. He may check your blood pressure, pulse and legs. If something suggests a clot, a chest problem or an infection picked up on the journey, he will advise the right test or refer you to a hospital rather than start an IV drip.