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.
Why Should I Take The Full Dose
Antibiotics work well against UTIs. You might start to feel better after being on the medicine for just a few days.
But even so, keep taking your medicine. If you stop your antibiotics too soon, you wonât kill all the bacteria in your urinary tract.
These germs can become resistant to antibiotics. That means the meds will no longer kill these bugs in the future. So if you get another UTI, the medication you take might not treat it. Take the full course of your medicine to make sure all the bacteria are dead.
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.
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About Urinary Tract Infections In Children
Urinary tract infections in children are fairly common, but not usually serious. They can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
A UTI may be classed as either:
- an upper UTI if it’s a kidney infection or an infection of the ureters, the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder
- a lower UTI if it’s a bladder infection or an infection of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body
How To Identify Urinary Tract Infections In Elderly Loved Ones
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For adults over 60, urinary tract infections are the most common types of bacterial infections. This is because they tend to be more vulnerable to the condition. A UTI can cause serious health problems if unaddressed, and therefore it is important to catch them early. That means it is important to know how to identify urinary tract infections in your elderly loved ones.
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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.
- Doxycycline.
- Quinolones .
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.
Avoid Holding Your Pee
Avoid holding in your urine, as this can encourage bacterial growth. Try not to wait more than 3 to 4 hours to pee, and completely empty your bladder each time.
This is even more important if youre pregnant as pregnancy puts you at an increased risk for a UTI. Holding your pee can further increase the risk.
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Treatment From A Gp For Utis That Keep Coming Back
If your UTI comes back after treatment, you may have a urine test and be prescribed different antibiotics.
Your doctor or nurse will also offer advice on how to prevent UTIs.
If you keep getting UTIs and regularly need treatment, a GP may give you a repeat prescription for antibiotics.
If you have been through the menopause, you may be offered a vaginal cream containing oestrogen.
Natural Remedies For Urinary Tract Infection
Many people who are prone to UTIs experience them frequently. They take antibiotics or other antibacterial treatments, but the infection comes right back. Sometimes its a new type of bacteria, but other times its the same one. They just didnt get killed off by the drug like they were supposed to.
Luckily, there are a variety of natural home remedies for urinary tract infections that are effective. By using these natural remedies for UTIs, you can stop your infections from ever coming back:
1. Cranberry juice: One of the most effective natural treatments for UTIs is cranberry juice. Cranberry juice contains acidic substances that make it harder for bacteria to get a hold in your urethra and cause an infection. Cranberries are a scientifically proven treatment. Studies have shown that it is of particular benefit for women who get recurrent UTI infections. For other groups of people, the benefits are less clear.
3. Vitamin C: When your urine is more acidic, bacteria has a more difficult time growing. Any home remedy that can make your urine more acidic will also make it harder for infections to occur. Vitamin C stops the growth of bacterial infections by acidifying your urine. You can take Vitamin C as a supplement, or you can eat foods loaded with the vitamin, such as oranges, bell peppers, and certain types of juice. Drinking orange juice will not only help stop the growth of bacteria, but it will also help flush out your urinary tract in the same way that water does.
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Are Some People At A Higher Risk Of Getting A Uti
Women get more UTIs than men. This is because women have a shorter urethra the tube that brings urine out of the bladder. This allows bacteria to enter the urethra and bladder more easily.
Also, a womans urethral opening is closer to the anus, where most UTI-causing E.coli bacteria are found.
Other factors that can further increase the risk of UTI include:
- frequent sexual activity
UTIs cant always be avoided, but its possible to reduce your risk of getting one. Here are nine prevention methods that may help you sidestep a UTI.
Why Do I Keep Getting Urinary Tract Infections
UTIs can be extremely frustrating when they keep coming back. Most of the time, the recurrent infection is caused by the same pathogen as the initial infection. And about 80% of UTIs are reoccurring.
This could be due to the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria. Since we take so many antibiotics, they are becoming less and less effective against many strains of E. coli. It can also be simply physiology certain women are just more prone to urinary tract infections.
One of the keys is to make sure that you start treating a UTI as soon as you feel even very mild symptoms pop up. The longer the bacteria have a chance to multiply, the harder the infection is to get rid of.
Practicing the natural and preventive measures I’ve laid out here is a great idea take a daily probiotic, vitamin C, and drink plenty of watereven if you don’t have symptoms right now. These good habits can go a long way towards keeping a UTI from cropping back up.
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How To Get Rid Of A Uti In 24 Hours
Are you experiencing painful urination and a constant need to run to the bathroom? If so, then youre already wondering how to get rid of a UTI in 24 hours. The seven home remedies in this article can help.
If youre still experiencing symptoms after 24 hours, then you need antibiotics. To get your hands on them, youll need to visit the doctor.
The doctors at Oxford Urgent Care will provide you with prompt treatment and relief. Check out our contact information and visit our office as soon as possible to remedy your UTI.
Can Home Remedies Quickly Treat A Uti
As resistance to antibiotics is becoming more common, many people are looking for ways to avoid using them. While this can be a good thing in some cases, it can draw out your illness in other instances.
The most commonly asked about home remedy for UTIs is cranberry. Drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry tablets has been long-touted as a natural alternative for treating UTIs. The thought is that cranberry makes your urine more acidic which, in turn, kills the bacteria causing your infection.
Unfortunately, cranberry does not treat UTIs very well. On the flip side, though, it can be useful for helping to prevent infections if youre prone to them. This seems to also be the case for other acidic fruits like lemon. Just be sure if youre going to try this for preventing future UTIs that you drink unsweetened juice, as sugar actually helps bacteria to grow.
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Southern Cross Medical Library
The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross. For more articles go to the Medical Library index page.
The Best Natural Remedies For A Uti
The best natural remedy for a UTI is, first and foremost, prevention. As I mentioned earlier, practicing good sex hygiene is essential, and so is wiping from the front to back when using the restroom. Anything you can do to help prevent the spread of bacteria from the anus to the urethra is key.
However, another thing to focus on is keeping your immune system strong at all times.
Here are some of the ways to support your immune system and specifically fight off bladder infections that you can try before resorting to antibiotics or if you’ve tried medications and they didn’t work.
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How To Identify A Urinary Tract Infection In Your Loved One
Naturally, you will not be able to experience the symptoms of your loved one. Therefore, you will not know whether they are experiencing pain when they pee.
However, you may be able to notice other signs. Aside from confusion, it is likely you will know if they are acting out of character. Perhaps your loved one is more tired than usual or isnt eating as much as usual. Perhaps they appear uncomfortable, or you have noticed them going to the toilet more often.
Of course, one major method of identifying a UTI in your loved one is if they talk to you about some of their symptoms. They might tell you they are experiencing pain when peeing or that their urine smells strange. However, this could be a sensitive discussion.
What Are The Effects Of A Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection might have a variety of other consequences If a person has a sudden and unexpected change in their behavior, such as increasing disorientation, agitation, or withdrawal, it is possible that they are suffering from a urinary tract infection.
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Looking For More Natural Remedies
As you may know, I’m extremely passionate about providing women with all the details they need to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
I’m not in any way against pharmaceuticals when they are necessary and indicated for a particular treatment. Antibiotics have a time and a place in our health. But when other options are safe and effective, I like to offer women choices that include natural options they can administer themselves.
If you’re into that sort of balance too, I’d love to send you an email when I post new articles. Hop on my mailing list HERE so I can share my research with you!
How To Prevent Utis In Dogs
If you know that your dog is having chronic urinary tract infections, its possible to use these natural products.
In addition, as discussed earlier, making frequent trips out to allow your dog to urinate regularly is a good strategy to adopt.
Ask a nutrition expert, such as a vet, to make sure that your pet’s food is adequate.
Finally, providing fresh water and encouraging your dog to drink plenty of water is an important benefit in the prevention of UTIs in dogs.
Now that you are well-equipped to identify a dog UTI at the first sign, be sure to have these ingredients and our natural products on hand to help your pooch of its symptoms.
The faster you act, the more successful you will be in your treatment. And your dog will thank you for it.
You can keep cranberries, apple cider vinegar and vitamin C in your kitchen, as most are just as effective for your own urinary tract infections!
In addition, you will have all the delicious elements needed to concoct a good salad!
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Is It Possible To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections With Diet And Supplements
It is possible to reduce the chance that a UTI will develop with dietary methods and some supplements but prevention of all UTIs is unlikely with these methods. Supplements such as eating cranberries, taking vitamin C tablets, and eating yogurt and other substances also may reduce the chance that a UTI will develop . However, as stated in the prevention section, changes in a person’s lifestyle may reduce the chance getting a UTI as good as, if not better than, any diet or supplement.
Treatment For More Severe Utis
Kids with a more severe infection may need treatment in a hospital so they can get antibiotics by injection or IV .
This might happen if:
- the child has high fever or looks very ill, or a kidney infection is likely
- the child is younger than 6 months old
- bacteria from the infected urinary tract may have spread to the blood
- the child is dehydrated or is vomiting and cannot take any fluids or medicine by mouth
Kids with VUR will be watched closely by the doctor. VUR might be treated with medicines or, less commonly, surgery. Most kids outgrow mild forms of VUR, but some can develop kidney damage or kidney failure later in life.
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Herbal Remedies For Uti
There are several herbal remedies, which are also used to cure a urinary tract infection.
1. Uva Ursi
This herb contains a compound, known as arbutin, which kills the bacteria present in the lining of the urinary passage. It also helps in stimulating the urination.
Note- Children, nursing or pregnant women, and people with liver or kidney disease should not take this herb.
2. Horsetail
Horsetail is a good diuretic, which aids in the proper urine flow as well as stops the bleeding during the urinary tract infections.
3. Echinacea
Echinacea works as a natural antibiotic. Therefore, it helps to fight against the viruses and bacteria that are the main cause of infection in the urinary tract.
4. Parsley
Parsley seeds are also helpful in treating the urinary tract infection as it reduces the inflammation and pain caused due to the UTI.
5. Mullein
Another effective herb for treating the inflammation caused due to the UTI is Mullein.
6. Horseradish
Horseradish is a natural antibiotic, which is good for controlling the infection of the urinary tract.
7. Goldenseal
The compound berberine found in this herb stops bacteria from sticking to the urethra walls.
What Are The Causes Of Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs
In most cases, UTIs are caused by bacteria, most commonly Escherichia Coli. They migrate from the outside through the urethra to the bladder. When the bladder is inflamed, this is called cystitis.
A dog that does not urinate often is more prone to bacterial urinary tract infections, as these bacteria have more time to migrate and develop in the bladder. That’s why it’s important to provide frequent wee breaks for your dog.
Some dogs are also more susceptible to UTIs and can have them repeatedly.
Diet plays an important role as well, as it influences the pH of the urine. A slightly acidic pH is preferred, as the bacteria develop more easily in an alkaline pH environment. See below how to help achieve this optimal pH level.
- Your dog has a harder time holding his bladder.
- They need to wee in small amounts, and more often.
- They start to have accidents in the house.
- Noticeable dripping after they have finished urinating .
- The urine looks darker and smelly.
In the case of a more advanced urinary tract infection, symptoms can change:
- Your pet seems in pain during urination, it seems forced.
- You notice blood in the urine.
- Your dog becomes incontinent .
- Your dog frequently licks its genitals.
- They become more apathetic in general.
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What About Cranberry Juice
Thereâs no harm in trying it. But itâs not a proven fix.
Over the years, a lot of studies have focused on a substance found in cranberries thatâs thought to prevent bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract. But none of these studies have shown how much of this substance it would take to help prevent UTIs.
If you still want to give it a try, drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry pills is probably fine to do. But there are some exceptions, like if you take a blood-thinning medication, a medication that affects the liver, or aspirin. Itâs always wise to talk to your doctor first, before you try any supplements.
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