Cut Back On Meat And Poultry
Some studies, such as one published in August 2018 in the journal mBio, have linked contaminated poultry and meat to E.coli bacteria strains that can cause UTIs. These studies havent proven that eating meat or poultry causes UTIs. In fact, some E.coli can live in the intestines without causing any problems. However, bacteria from the gut can enter the urinary tract and cause infection. This risk is greater in women than men, because women have shorter urethras than men, meaning the bacteria has less distance to travel to reach the bladder.
Cutting back on meat and focusing on fruits and veggies may slightly cut your risk of UTIs. According to a study of Buddhists in Taiwan, published in January 2020 in Scientific Reports, compared with nonvegetarians, vegetarians had a 16 percent lower risk of UTI.
Related: Vegetarian Diet Linked to Lowered Risk Of Urinary Tract Infection
Hormone Replacement Therapy As A Uti Treatment
Sometimes, postmenopausal women find vaginal estrogen therapy helpful in preventing bladder infections since the lowered estrogen levels after menopause cause changes to and an overall thinning of the tissues in the urinary tract, making you more susceptible to infection. It appears that estrogen therapy may help strengthen urinary tract tissue and trigger the release of natural antimicrobial proteins found in the bladder.
Read Also: Do Antibiotics Cure Yeast Infections
Herbal Remedies And Vitamins
No herbal remedy has been proven to treat or prevent a UTI, and not all are tested for safety, so its best to discuss any herbal treatments with a healthcare professional first.
There are some herbal supplements that may have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that can be helpful in treating UTI symptoms.
Studies have shown that certain herbal supplements, like garlic extract, have strong anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce the growth of bacteria, including E. coli.
Other natural supplements like D-mannose, a sugar naturally found in foods like cranberries and apples, may have antibacterial properties which can help relieve UTI discomfort. Both can be taken in the form of a capsule.
Cranberry extract or cranberry juice or a vitamin C supplement may also help a UTI go away faster by changing the pH balance of your urine to help keep bacteria from growing.
While not proven to treat a UTI, these may help you feel better faster.
Read Also: Urine Infection Symptoms And Treatment
Be Aware Of Your Bathroom Habits
Take enough time to fully empty your bladder when urinatingdont rush it. Urinate after sex to flush away bacteria that may have entered the urethra during sex. Clean the genital area before and after sex.
If youre a woman, wipe from front to back, especially after a bowel movement, to keep bacteria from getting into the urethra.
Forward Improves Uti Treatment
As your primary care provider, Forward delivers one-to-one, personalized care for UTIs. You can schedule an appointment in seconds and see a doctor virtually or in person. Prescriptions come right to your door for added convenience, and we recommend the best home remedies for UTIs to keep you comfortable while you recover.
Recommended Reading: Can A Tooth Infection Make Your Jaw Hurt
How To Treat Urinary Tract Infection At Home
Here are 20 effective and natural remedies for a bladder infection that are inexpensive, harmless, and easy to use at home.
1. Drink Plenty of Water: Water is a great cleansing agent and helps in flushing out the harmful bacteria in the form of diluted urine. So, drink lots of water for quick relief from a bladder infection.
2. Baking Soda: You just need to mix a spoonful of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it. Repeat this remedy daily till the symptoms subside completely.
3. Cranberry Juice: Cranberry juice is an effective home remedy to stop bladder infections in pregnant women. Cranberry contains enzymes, which are really beneficial in treating a bladder infection. Therefore, drinking cranberry juice will let you get rid of a bladder infection quickly.
Note: Avoid intake of cranberry juice if you or any family member of yours has a history of kidney stones, or if you are taking medicines for thinning the blood.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar: Soak in water, containing apple cider vinegar. It will greatly reduce the burning sensation that is caused while urinating due to a bladder infection.
5. Yoghurt: Eating yogurt is also beneficial as it contains acidophilus, which helps in curing bladder infection.
6. Heating Pad: In order to ease out the pain, caused due to a bladder infection, use a heating pad over the abdominal area.
9. Drumstick Flowers: Mix a teaspoon of juice of drumstick flowers in ½ glass of coconut water. Drink it at least 2 times a day.
Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms
- Pain or burning while urinating
- Persistent urge to urinate even when bladder is empty
- Pressure or pain in lower abdomen
Other symptoms may include cloudy or bloody urine with an unusual odor.UTIs can spread to any part of your urinary tract, including the kidneys. If the infection has spread to your kidneys, you may experience:
- Nausea or vomiting
A kidney infection is a serious condition and requires immediate medical attention. For the most common and uncomplicated UTI, antibiotics are typically taken for 3 to 5 days, but in other cases, a longer course lasting up to 14 days may be prescribed. Even if symptoms resolve quickly, its important to finish the full course of antibiotics. Not doing so can increase the likelihood that the UTI and your pain returns, and it may be harder to treat.
Read Also: Online Prescription For Sinus Infection
Water Is Your Best Friend
When you first notice burning when you use the restroom, its tempting to reduce your water intake. After all, that will prevent the pain, right?
Wrong.
It seems counter-intuitive, but you need to flush out your system. You should drink plenty of water to help your body remove the E. Coli. Dont overdo it, but drink as much water as possible in those crucial first 24 hours.
What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture .
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDAâs Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location â one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
Read Also: Bleeding After Yeast Infection Treatment
Causes Of Bladder Infection In Men
Cystitis is less common among men. In men, a common cause is bacterial infection of the prostate that causes repeated episodes of cystitis and urethritis. Urethritis Urethritis is infection of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. Bacteria, including those that are sexually transmitted, are the most common cause of urethritis… read more Although antibiotics quickly clear bacteria from the urine in the bladder, most of these drugs cannot penetrate well enough into the prostate to quickly cure an infection there. Usually antibiotics must be taken for weeks at a time. Consequently, if drug therapy is stopped prematurely, bacteria that remain in the prostate tend to reinfect the bladder.
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use AZO Urinary Pain Relief if you are allergic to it, or if you have kidney disease.
To make sure AZO Urinary Pain Relief is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
-
a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
FDA pregnancy category B. AZO Urinary Pain Relief is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Do not use AZO Urinary Pain Relief without a doctor’s advice if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether phenazopyridine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor’s advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Don’t Miss: Does Uti Medication Cause Yeast Infections
Try Drinking Some Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
While the research is a bit unclear, cranberries have been used as a prevention of UTI for generations. Studies have shown that cranberries actually make it harder for the bacteria that cause UTIs to stick to the urinary tract walls. So, while not really a remedy, if you frequently get UTIs, it might be worth drinking a couple of glasses of unsweetened cranberry juice, or snacking on the actual fruit .
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.
Also Check: Best Pain Meds For Tooth Infection
Home Remedies And Self Care For Urinary Tract Infection Pain Relief
- Increase water intake during the day. Staying hydrated may help flush out bad bacteria from the urinary tract and clear the infection.
- Limit fluid intake at night and before bed. Reducing fluids at night can help avoid aggravating your pain symptoms before bed.
- Use a heating pad. Placing a heating pad on your back or abdomen can lessen pain.
- Urinate often and dont hold in your urine. Always get to a bathroom when needed and try to fully empty your bladder, especially before bed.
- Avoid liquids that could irritate your bladder. Alcohol, coffee, citrus juices and drinks with caffeine may aggravate urinary symptoms.
Wipe From Front To Back
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases , UTIs can develop when bacteria from the rectum or feces gain access to the urethra. This small channel allows urine to flow out of the body.
Once bacteria are in the urethra, they can travel up into other urinary tract organs, where they can lead to infections.
Also Check: How To Stop A Bacterial Infection Without Antibiotics
Read Also: How To Draw Infection Out Of Tooth
Is It Safe To Treat Utis Without Antibiotics
Antibiotics are effective treatments for UTIs. Sometimes, the body can resolve minor, uncomplicated UTIs on its own, without antibiotics.
Complicated UTIs require medical treatment. These are some factors that can make the infection complicated:
- changes in the urinary tract or organs, such as a swollen prostate or reduced flow of urine
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.
AZO Urinary Pain Relief may cause serious side effects. Stop using AZO Urinary Pain Relief and call your doctor at once if you have:
-
little or no urinating
-
confusion, loss of appetite, pain in your side or lower back
-
fever, pale or yellowed skin, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting or
-
blue or purple appearance of your skin.
Common side effects of AZO Urinary Pain Relief may include:
You May Like: Complications Of Surgery In Hiv Infected Patients
Practice Good Sexual Hygiene
Some sexual intercourse bacteria and other microbes into the urinary tract. Practicing good sexual hygiene can help to reduce this risk.
Examples of good sexual hygiene include:
- urinating before and immediately after sex
- using barrier contraception, such as a condom
- washing the genitals, especially the foreskin, before and after engaging in sexual acts or intercourse
- ensuring that all sexual partners are aware of any current or past UTIs
Can A Uti Go Away Overnight
However, the body can often resolve minor, uncomplicated UTIs on its own without the help of antibiotics. By some estimates, 2542% of uncomplicated UTI infections clear on their own. In these cases, people can try a range of home remedies to speed up recovery. Complicated UTIs will require medical treatment.
Also Check: Should I Rest With A Tooth Infection
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 Medicine’s 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.
How Are Urinary Tract Infections Treated
You will need to treat a urinary tract infection. Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria and fight an infection. Antibiotics are typically used to treat urinary tract infections. Your healthcare provider will pick a drug that best treats the particular bacteria thats causing your infection. Some commonly used antibiotics can include:
- Nitrofurantoin.
Its very important that you follow your healthcare providers directions for taking the medicine. Dont stop taking the antibiotic because your symptoms go away and you start feeling better. If the infection is not treated completely with the full course of antibiotics, it can return.
If you have a history of frequent urinary tract infections, you may be given a prescription for antibiotics that you would take at the first onset of symptoms. Other patients may be given antibiotics to take every day, every other day, or after sexual intercourse to prevent the infection. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment option for you if you have a history of frequent UTIs.
Recommended Reading: Can I Get A Kidney Infection Without A Uti
How Lemonaid Can Help You Get Uti Treatment Asap
Lemonaids UTI service makes it quick and convenient for you to get antibiotics to treat your UTIâso convenient that you dont even have to go to a doctors office!
Instead, you can have a mobile visit with one of our US-based, US-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners via the Lemonaid mobile app. The doctor or NP will ask you specific questions to help them determine whether you have a UTI they can safely treat.
If they determine that you have a UTI, they will prescribe you the antibiotic nitrofurantoin , trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole , or cephalexin
You can use Lemonaidâs convenient mobile UTI service as long as you are of female birth sex, 18 years or older, and have not reached menopause yet.
Role Of The Pharmacist
It is imperative that pharmacists urge patients who present with UTI symptoms to consult with their healthcare provider as soon as possible to receive appropriate care. Pharmacists should counsel patients on nonpharmacologic treatments and present the option of nonprescription products and UTI home test kits. Patients who decide to use UTI home test kits should be advised on how to avoid inaccurate results and to discuss their results with their healthcare provider. Patients who decide to use OTC urinary tract analgesics should be counseled on the recommended maximum dosage and duration and on common AEs. It is imperative to remind patients that these products are intended only to provide relief of pain and other related symptoms until the healthcare provider is seen. These products do not eradicate bacteria or replace the use of antibiotic treatment, and they should not be used as monotherapy.
Don’t Miss: Hair Follicle Infection Antibiotic Treatment
How Do Health Care Professionals Treat A Bladder Infection
If you have a bladder infection caused by bacteria, a health care professional is likely to prescribe antibiotics. If the diagnosis is not certain, based on your symptoms or lab test results, you may not need antibiotics. Instead, your health care professional will work to find the cause and the best treatment for your symptoms.
When To Get Medical Advice
It’s a good idea to see your GP if you think you might have a UTI, particularly if:
- you have symptoms of an upper UTI
- the symptoms are severe or getting worse
- the symptoms haven’t started to improve after a few days
- you get UTIs frequently
Your GP can rule out other possible causes of your symptoms by testing a sample of your urine and can prescribe antibiotics if you do have an infection.
Antibiotics are usually recommended because untreated UTIs can potentially cause serious problems if they’re allowed to spread.
Also Check: Can Your Period Cure A Yeast Infection
Does Walgreens Sell Over
At Walgreens, you can find options for detecting urinary tract infections and for easing symptoms. UTI test strips can help you detect infections, while urinary pain relief tablets and cranberry pills may help to relieve UTI discomfort or prevent recurring UTIs. Researchers are still looking into the possible benefits of cranberry in fighting infections, but their findings are inconclusive. To learn more about the over-the-counter options available for treating UTI symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Things You Can Do Yourself
To help ease symptoms of a urinary tract infection :
- takeparacetamolup to 4 times a day to reduce pain and a high temperature for people with a UTI, paracetamol is usually recommended over NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aspirin
- you can give childrenliquid paracetamol
- rest and drink enough fluids so you pass pale urine regularly during the day
- avoid having sex
Some people take cystitis sachets or cranberry drinks and products every day to prevent UTIs from happening, which may help. However, thereâs no evidence they help ease symptoms or treat a UTI if the infection has already started.
Also Check: How To Cure Infection Without Antibiotics