Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are
the second most common reason people visit their doctors each year. Men get
UTIs, but they are much more common in women — more than eight
million women head to their doctor for UTI treatment annually. And 20 percent
of these women will get a second UTI.
If you’ve ever had a UTI, you’ll
probably never forget the symptoms. It usually starts with a sudden and
frequent need to visit the potty. When you get there, you can squeeze out only
a little bit of urine, and that’s usually accompanied by a burning sensation in
your bladder and/or urethra. In more extreme cases you may end up with fever,
chills, back pain, and even blood in your urine.
The good news is that there are many
home remedies you can try to prevent or remedy a UTI. Go to the next page to
learn more.
This information is solely for
informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither
the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author
nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any
treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of
medication which results from reading or following the information contained in
this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the
practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your
physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of
treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health
care provider.
1. Baking Soda
UTIs that last longer than two days
require medical intervention. Untreated UTIs can infect
the kidneys and turn into a much more serious problem. To help
prevent a UTI from developing or nip one in the bud, try adding 1
teaspoon baking soda to a glass of water as it may help ease your
infection. The soda neutralizes the acidity in your urine, speeding along your
recovery.
2. Blueberries
Blueberries and cranberries are
from the same plant family and seem to have the same bacteria-inhibiting
properties. In one study, blueberry juice was found to prevent UTIs. Since
you’re not likely to find a gallon of blueberry juice at your local store, try
sprinkling a handful of these flavorful, good-for-you berries over your morning
cereal.
3. Cranberry Juice
Many studies have found that
drinking cranberry juice may help you avoid urinary tract infections.
It appears that cranberry juice prevents
infection-causing bacteria from bedding down in your bladder, and it
also has a very mild antibiotic affect. Drinking as little as 4 ounces of
cranberry juice a day can help keep your bladder infection-free. But if you
tend to get UTIs or are dealing with one right now, try to drink at least 2 to
4 glasses of cranberry juice a day. If pure cranberry juice is just too bitter
for your taste buds, you can substitute cranberry juice cocktail . It seems to
have the same effect as the pure stuff. Take note: If you have a UTI, cranberry
juice is not a replacement for doctor-prescribed antibiotics in treating your
infection.
4. Pineapple
Bromelain is an enzyme found in
pineapples. In one study, people with a UTI who were given bromelain along with
their usual round of antibiotics got rid of their infection. Half the
people who were given a placebo plus an antibiotic showed no signs of lingering
infection. Eating a cup of pineapple tastes good and may just help rid you of
your infection.
5. Water
If you tend to get urinary
tract infections, be sure to drink plenty of water — about 8
eight-ounce glasses a day. You should be urinating at least every four to five
hours. If you are currently dealing with an infection, drink buckets of water
to fight it off. Drink a full 8 ounces of water every hour. The river of water
in your system will help flush out bacteria by making you urinate more
frequently.
You can also heat up some water on
the stove and pour it into a hot water bottle. Place the water bottle on your
lower abdomen to help ease any pain caused by the infection.
Some doctors are prescribing at
least 5,000 mg or more of vitamin C a day for patients who develop
recurrent urinary tract infections. Vitamin C keeps the bladder healthy by
acidifying the urine, essentially putting up a no-trespassing sign for
potentially harmful bacteria.
7. Do’s and Don’ts
- DO use it. When you’ve got to go, go. It sounds simple, but how many times have you held it — when you’re in a business meeting, when you’re stuck in traffic, when you’re at a concert and the lines are too long. If you hold your urine, you’re more likely to get a backup of bacteria and end up with an infection.
- DO consider cotton. Anything that comes into close contact with any of those ultra-personal areas should be cotton. Women should wear cotton underwear or cotton-lined panty hose to help stay fresher and dryer. Guys should go for boxer shorts.
- DON’T drink alcohol. Alcohol is an irritant to your bladder, just what you don’t need when you’re dealing with an infection.
- DO cut the caffeine. Also avoid caffeine-loaded drinks such as caffeinated soda pop, coffee, and tea. Caffeine can irritate the bladder, which is the last thing you need when a UTI has taken hold.
- DO pull out a nonprescription pain reliever. Taking acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin can help ease the pain during your infection.
- DO follow the rules for making love. If you have trouble with UTIs, be sure you and your partner clean up before making love. After you make love, head to the bathroom to urinate and get rid of any potentially harmful bacteria. And try using a condom instead of a diaphragm. Diaphragms may promote UTIs.
- DO go with the flow. After urinating, be sure to wipe from front to back to keep bacteria from getting close to the urethra.
These home remedies can help you
prevent a UTI or eliminate one already in progress. However, be sure to check
with your doctor, especially if a UTI lasts longer than two days.
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