Drink Plenty Of Water
Drinking water and other non-carbonated, low-sugar fluids helps dilute your urine and flushes bacteria from your bladder.
Proper hydration can also prevent further bacteria growth.
Studies show that increasing your overall water intake can decrease your risk of recurrent UTIs.
On average, its suggested that women get at least 11.5 cups and men 15.5 cups of water per day, but that number varies from person to person, and about 20 percent of that water will likely come from food.
Your goal should be to see clear or light yellow urine, and to urinate at least every four hours.
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Get Your Fill Of Water And Water
One of the first things to do when you have a urinary tract infection is drink plenty of water. Thats because drinking water can help flush away the bacteria thats causing your infection, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases . It puts you on the right track for recovery.
Most people can be assured theyre getting the water they need by simply drinking water when thirsty, according to the health and medicine division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. But to be safe, you may want to make sure youre drinking at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. General recommendations have suggested that women get about 91 oz of water daily and men get about 125 oz each day, including water from food, as also noted in that groups report.
Cut Bladder Irritants From Your Diet
When you have a UTI, caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, nicotine, carbonated drinks, and artificial sweeteners can irritate your bladder further, making it harder for your body to heal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Focus on healthy foods, such as high-fiber carbohydrates , that are good for your digestive health, says Holly Lucille, ND, RN, a naturopathic doctor in private practice in West Hollywood, California, and the author of Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Womans Guide to Safe, Natural Hormone Health.
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How Are Urinary Tract Infections Diagnosed
Your doctor will use the following tests to diagnose a urinary tract infection:
- Urinalysis: This test will examine the urine for red blood cells, white blood cells and bacteria. The number of white and red blood cells found in your urine can actually indicate an infection.
- Urine culture: A urine culture is used to determine the type of bacteria in your urine. This is an important test because it helps determine the appropriate treatment.
If your infection does not respond to treatment or if you keep getting infections over and over again, your doctor may use the following tests to examine your urinary tract for disease or injury:
- Ultrasound: In this test, sound waves create an image of the internal organs. This test is done on top of your skin, is painless and doesnt typically need any preparation.
- Cystoscopy: This test uses a special instrument fitted with a lens and a light source to see inside the bladder from the urethra.
- CT scan: Another imaging test, a CT scan is a type of X-ray that takes cross sections of the body . This test is much more precise than typical X-rays.
Take An Otc Pain Reliever
Over-the-counter pain medications can temporarily relieve pain caused by a UTI. Use caution here, and always speak with a doctor first, as some UTIs can turn into kidney infections. In these cases, patients should avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , which could make the infection worse.
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Load Up On Vitamin C For A Healthy Urinary Tract
Getting plenty of foods high in vitamin C is important because large amounts of vitamin C make urine more acidic. This inhibits the growth of bacteria in your urinary tract, according to Johns Hopkins Medicines health library. However, if you have an active UTI, you may want to avoid citrus or other acidic foods. These foods are known to irritate the bladder, which is the last thing you need when youre having pain urinating.
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Does Cranberry Juice Prevent A Urinary Tract Infection
Many people say that cranberry juice can help treat, or even prevent, a UTI. Researchers are currently looking into the topic, but havent found a definitive answer yet. Healthcare providers recommend drinking lots of fluids if you have, or have a history of getting, a UTI. Adding a glass of unsweetened cranberry juice to your diet isnt a proven way to prevent a UTI, but it typically wont hurt you either.
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What Is The Treatment For A Bladder Infection
Most bladder infections are treated with antibiotics. This is the fastest way to get rid of a bladder infection. In some mild cases, bladder infections may go away on their own without treatment, but because untreated UTIs can lead to complications, consult your doctor to see if letting the infection run its course is the right option for your case.
Medications to treat bladder infections include:
Natural Treatments For Painful Urination
1. Drink More Water
While it may cause an increase in urination frequency, drinking more water than you typically do may help flush out the toxins and reduce painful urination, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Recent news of contaminated water supplies, the potential dangers water bottled in plastic and city water treated with fluoride shouldnt dissuade you from drinking fresh, clean water. If you live in an area with contaminated or questionable water, you may want to invest in a water filter system. The key is to stay hydrated by drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water every day.
2. Probiotics
Adding friendly bacteria to your system with probiotics can help fight the unfriendly bacteria and fungi that can cause dysuria. As a bonus, if youve been diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, STD or yeast infection and youve been prescribed antibiotics, probiotics can help counteract the negative side effects of these drugs.
In addition to a high-quality, soil-based organisms probiotic supplement, when you are fighting an infection, be sure to add plenty of probiotic-rich foods to your diet. Add kefir to your post-workout smoothie, sauerkraut or kimchi to your dinner plate, a bowl of yogurt to your breakfast, or use apple cider vinegar, with the mother culture, in your salad dressings to reap the benefits of natural probiotics.
3. Clove Oil
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Why Are Females At A Higher Risk For Utis
UTIs are a common bacterial infection in women, with approximately 40% of women developing a UTI in their lifetime. UTIs are more common in women than men due to anatomy the female urethra is shorter and closer to the rectum, making it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract. Sexual activity can introduce bacteria from the rectal area into the urethra, as can the use diaphragms for birth control. Spermicide application for birth control can offset the good bacteria that offer protection from overgrowth of bacteria causing UTIs. Periods of hormonal changes, as
seen in pregnacy and menopause, can also increase the risk for developing UTIs in women.
What To Expect At Home
UTIs can lead to infection. Most often the infection occurs in the bladder itself. At times, the infection can spread to the kidneys.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain or burning when you urinate
- Needing to urinate more often
- Hard to empty your bladder all the way
- Strong need to empty your bladder
These symptoms should improve soon after you begin taking antibiotics.
If you are feeling ill, have a low-grade fever, or some pain in your lower back, these symptoms will take 1 to 2 days to improve, and up to 1 week to go away completely.
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Get Your Prescription Filled Right Away
Once you are done with your appointment and have received a prescription for an antibiotic, its important you get it filled at a pharmacy as soon as possible. The faster you start taking your medication, the faster your UTI will be gone.
If you usually use next-day prescription delivery or a mail order pharmacy, this is one time when you should avoid doing this. These options can cause a delay by anywhere from 1 day to 1 week . Youre better off using a local pharmacy in this case.
If going into the pharmacy is a concern due to COVID-19, many pharmacies have added options to help minimize the amount of time you are inside the building. Some options to ask about at your pharmacy include:
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Same-day delivery through services like Instacart
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Using the pharmacys drive-thru pick-up window
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Curbside pick-up
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Paying ahead of time through the pharmacys smartphone app to make your time spent at the checkout counter faster
Every pharmacy is different, so make sure to ask your personal pharmacy if these options are available at your location.
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Smelly Or Cloudy Urine
Ramin said that sometimes, one of the early signs of an impending UTI is a distinctly unusual smell or cloudy appearance of your urine. If you suddenly notice a foul or otherwise unusual smell to it, this may indicate a urinary tract infection or urinary stones, especially if the smell is also accompanied by a cloudy appearance.
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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
A similar technique to electro-acupuncture is called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation . With TENS, electrodes are taped to the surface of the skin rather than being inserted like electro-acupuncture needles. TENS is used in people who have a condition that prohibits them from being needled, or who have a fear of being needled.
The mild electrical pulses of TENS are delivered through the skin to stimulate the nerves of the bladder. TENS is also useful for alleviating interstitial cystitis symptoms by strengthening the pelvic muscles that help control your bladder, increasing blood flow to the bladder, and releasing substances known to block pain.
A study published in the Journal of Mid-Life Health in 2017 found that TENS effectively and safely treated interstitial cystitis or chronic pelvic pain.
Azo Urinary Pain Relief Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:hives difficult breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using AZO Urinary Pain Relief and call your doctor at once if you have:
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little or no urinating
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confusion, loss of appetite, pain in your side or lower back
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fever, pale or yellowed skin, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting or
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blue or purple appearance of your skin.
Common side effects may include:
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Natural Remedies For Uti Relief
A true UTI needs antibiotics to clear the bacteria responsible for the symptoms and infection, Dr. Sherry explains, so call your doctor if you’re experiencing UTI symptoms. While you wait for your appointment, though, there are some home remedies you can try to help relieve some of the discomfort.
Avoid Feminine Hygiene Products With Scents And Chemicals
Using feminine products that have perfumes and other irritating chemicals can introduce disruptive bacteria into your body, Dr. Sherry says. Even more so, Dr. Sherry stresses that if youre prone to UTIs, any products that will allow unwanted bacteria to enter your body should be avoided. Avoid diaphragms, vaginal sponges, diva cups, and sex toys if youre prone to UTIs, she advises.
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Homeopathic Remedies For Bladder Infections
1. Cantharis : When the person experiences an acute pain due to the bladder infection along with a sudden urge to urinate but not able to urinate, this remedy is used.
2. Pulsatilla : This remedy is helpful when there is frequent pain along with a sudden urge to urinate and the bladder infection commence after getting the feet cold and wet.
3. Nux vomica : This remedy can be taken when there is a frequent urge to urinate and the urge never get fully satisfied, even after urination.
4. Sarsaparilla : This remedy is recommended when the person feels a burning pain while urinating, due to a bladder infection.
Who Can And Cannot Use Cephalexin
Most antibiotics come with a risk of side effects, and while cephalexin can be safe in both adults and children, certain people should not take it.
For people with certain health conditions or allergies, cephalexin could result in severe adverse events.
It should be avoided or you should consult with your doctor about the risks if you:
- Are allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics
- Have liver or kidney disease
- Have been diagnosed with colitis
- Have a seizure disorder
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Consider Switching Birth Control
Birth control methods with spermicides, as discussed above, have been linked to increased risk for UTIs. Additionally, other birth control methods, like intrauterine devices have also demonstrated to act as a source for recurrent UTIs. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control options or if you suspect your current contraceptive may be causing recurrent UTIs.
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Im Pregnant How Will A Uti Affect My Baby
If you have a UTI and it isnt treated, it may lead to a kidney infection. Kidney infections may cause early labor. Fortunately, asymptomatic bacteriuria and bladder infections are usually found and treated before the kidneys become infected. If your doctor treats a urinary tract infection early and properly, it wont hurt your baby.
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Consider Switching Birth Control Methods If You Have Repeat Bladder Infections
If you have trouble with repeat bladder infections, talk with a health care professional about your birth control. Consider switching to a new form of birth control if you use diaphragms, unlubricated condoms, or spermicide, all of which can increase your chances of developing a bladder infection. Consider using lubricated condoms without spermicide or using a nonspermicidal lubricant.
Does Cranberry Juice Help Prevent Utis
Youve probably heard cranberry is an effective way to ward off a UTI. Though cranberry is a popular home remedy, scientific evidence does not currently support that it helps prevent UTIs.
Mann says if you want to try it, opt for cranberry tablets rather than sugary cranberry juice. Before taking any supplements, talk to your health care practitioner. These tablets may interact with other medications you are taking, such as blood thinners.
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What Is Bladder Inflammation
Inflammation is a process where tissues become swollen, reddened, warm, and tender. It results from the activation of the immune system, usually against a microbe or another pathogen. In some cases, no infection is seen. Instead, the tissue becomes infected due to an auto-immune process.
Bladder inflammation features swelling of the bladder with the characteristics mentioned above. It is usually due to an infectious process called cystitis.
However, similar symptoms may show up if you have kidney disease, kidney stones, or bladder spasms. Bladder cancer also causes significant inflammation, and prostatitis may also affect the bladder and trigger similar symptoms.
Thus, urinary symptoms should be evaluated, and the source should be detected before treatment. Each disease is very different from the rest, even if they share similar features.
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When To See A Healthcare Provider
Conversations about urinary symptoms can be uncomfortable, but if youre experiencing symptoms consistent with a UTI, its best to seek medical advice. Your provider can order tests if needed, discuss treatment options, and help you understand the cause of your infection, as well as providing strategies to prevent recurrences.
The sooner you seek help, the sooner those painful symptoms will be goneand you can go back to getting a good nights sleep.
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A Note About Cranberry Juice And Utis
Cranberry juice or cranberry extract in supplemental form has long been used as a home remedy for UTIs.
The thought is that the proanthocyanidins in cranberries may help prevent bladder infections by keeping the bacteria from clinging to the bladder wall, says Sonya Angelone, MS, RDN, a nutrition consultant based in San Francisco, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Yet theres scientific controversy over how effective cranberry juice is at preventing UTIs due to conflicting conclusions in studies on the topic, according to an article published in May 2016 in Advances in Nutrition. Some studies have found it might work, while others have found no effect.
Bottom line, there is some evidence it may help, and it doesnt hurt to try it, says Angelone. Just be sure to chose unsweetened cranberry juice . Mix this with sparkling water or plain yogurt, she recommends.
Another low-calorie option choose a cranberry pill that contains d-mannose, she says.
Treatment For Cystitis That Keeps Coming Back
If you keep getting cystitis, a GP may prescribe:
- a single-dose antibiotic to take within 2 hours of having sex, if you’ve noticed sex triggers cystitis
- a low-dose antibiotic to take for up to 6 months
- a vaginal oestrogen cream, if you have gone through the menopause
In some women, antibiotics do not work or urine tests do not pick up an infection even though you have cystitis symptoms.
This may mean you have a long-term bladder infection that is not picked up by current urine tests. Ask the GP for a referral to a specialist for further tests and treatment.
Long-term infections are linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer in people aged 60 and over.
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