Practice Healthy Hygiene Habits
Preventing UTIs starts with practicing a few good bathroom and hygiene habits.
First, its important not to hold your urine for too long. This can lead to a buildup of bacteria, resulting in infection.
Peeing after sexual intercourse can also of UTIs by preventing the spread of bacteria.
Additionally, those who are prone to UTIs should avoid using spermicide, as it has been linked to an increase in UTIs.
Finally, when using the toilet especially if you have a female urethra make sure you wipe front to back. Wiping from back to front can to the urinary tract and is associated with an increased risk of UTIs.
Benefits of healthy hygiene for UTI
Urinating frequently and after sexual intercourse can reduce the risk of UTI. Careful wiping when you use the toilet may also help decrease the risk of UTI.
Several natural supplements may decrease the risk of developing a UTI.
Here are a few supplements that have been studied and are all available in capsule form:
- D-Mannose.D-Mannose is a type of sugar that is found in cranberries. Research suggests its effective in treating UTIs and preventing recurrence.
- Cranberry extract. Like cranberry juice, cranberry extract works by preventing bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract.
- Garlic extract. shows garlic and garlic extract to have antimicrobial properties, so they it may be able to block the growth of bacteria to prevent UTIs.
Bri Nutrition 3x Strength Crangel Power Plus
Coming in at third on the list of the most popular UTI remedies is BRI Nutrition Cranberry Concentrate Extra Strength. The main difference between this product and others on the list is that it includes lingonberry into its formula, which is an all-natural ingredient that helps fight off UTI.
While its not the cheapest option on the list, it has proven to be quite effective on some people. That said however, its worth saying that BRI Nutrition Cranberry Concentrate Extra Strength has been said to be ineffective on others.
Based on consumer reviews, some people failed to experience any sort of benefit from the product, which makes it a questionable choice for some buyers. Nonetheless, it has been said to work wonders for others, so you should keep in mind that the results always depend on how the system takes to the product.
Cystex Urinary Pain Relief Tablets
Cystex Urinary Pain Relief Tablets is yet another product that contains Methenamine, and therefore works in the same way as AZO Urinary Tract Defense.
The dose of Methenamine in both products is identical and both contain the same amount of Sodium salicylate .
Cystex Urinary Pain Relief Tablets will not change the color of the urine as some other OTC medications do.
You May Like: Treatment For Urinary Retention In Males
Should Uti Treatment Vary According To Whats Causing The Infection
Your UTI treatment may vary according to whats causing the infection. Certain UTIs, especially chronic and recurring ones, will need antibiotic treatment as opposed to simple home remedies.
If youre prescribed antibiotics to treat a UTI, a healthcare professional may choose an antibiotic thats specific to the type of bacteria thats triggering your infection.
How Are Urinary Tract Infections Treated
![AZO Maximum Strength AZO Maximum Strength](https://www.urinaryhealthtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/azo-maximum-strength-let-us-help-ease-your-uti-pain.png)
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Flush Urinary Tract
Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation
If your overactive bladder hasnt improved with lifestyle changes and medicines and you dont want to have surgery, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation is an option. During this technique, the doctor inserts a fine-needle electrode into the nerve just above your ankle. A mild electrical impulse is passed along the needle to nerves of the spine that control bladder function.
Its a fairly simple procedure, done in the office, says Ross Rames, MD, associate professor of urology at the Medical University of South Carolina. Rames works with the universitys Bladder and Pelvic Health Center. Often, well see improvement within the first couple of weeks after the patient starts PTNS treatments. With PTNS, youll need a series of 12 treatments, scheduled about a week apart. You may need more than one treatment to keep seeing results.
You May Like: Myasthenia Gravis And Urinary Incontinence
What Happens When A Uti Goes Untreated
Thanks to early diagnosis and proper treatment, the vast majority of lower urinary tract infections result in no complications. However, if left untreated, a UTI can have serious ramifications notes the Mayo Clinic, including:
- Recurrent UTIs
- Premature birth and low birth weight
- Kidney damage, which can occur is an untreated UTI spreads from the bladder to the kidneys.
By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Recommended Reading: Cystex Plus Urinary Pain Relief
Over The Counter Remedies For Urinary Tract Infections
By | Submitted On December 07, 2010
Sometimes a bladder infection is mild enough to be treated by over the counter remedies. Other times you need to see a doctor but one isn’t immediately available so you want to try some over the counter remedies to try and block the symptoms until you get definitive treatment. Here are some home remedies and over the counter treatments you can find to help your bladder infection improve.
You can take pyridium at any point in a urinary tract infection. It comes as Uristat® or Azo. Such medications contain an anesthetic that blocks the pain of urination. It numbs the inside of the bladder and urethra so that the frequency, burning pain and pain in the bladder are nearly completely resolved. This used to be a prescription medication but is now available at your local pharmacy.
You can take tablets of vitamin C along with water and Acidophilus. The combination seems to get the bacteria off the wall the bladder and the bacteria are shoved out of the bladder during elimination.
You need to drink a lot of water in order for it to really flush out the bladder. For instance, it is recommended that you drink at least half your body weight in pounds in ounces of fluid. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you should drink up to 100 ounces of water per day. As for the vitamin C, it is recommended that you take 1000 milligrams of vitamin C three times daily. The acidophilus takes the bad bacteria and replaces it with good bacteria in the colon.
Homeopathic Uti Over The Counter Treatment
Homeopathy treats the whole patient, not a symptom or group of symptoms. If you ask a homeopath, they prefer to prescribe remedies based on individual patient assessment, not just isolated symptoms. Therefore, a homeopathic doctor would prefer to prescribe you a remedy uniquely addressing your individual health needs.
Purchasing an off-the-shelf remedy is considered to be less effective than taking one recommended specifically for you.
However, there are several widely-recognized homeopathic UTI OTC remedies readily available. Many naturopathic doctors find the following remedies helpful for their patients with UTI symptoms.
Cantharis
Advised for those who experience a constant, strong urge to urinate with a sharp pain right before and after peeing. Other symptoms include a sensation of bladder fullness but only being able to release a few drops of urine when peeing.
Nux vomica
This remedy is advised for those who feel a strong urge to urinate, burning or cramping pain in the bladder area, and an itching sensation while the urine passes.
Other notable symptoms that can be helped include irritability, impatience, and feeling cold. This remedy is great if your symptoms are relieved by hot baths or with a hot bottle applied to your lower abdomen.
Sarsaparilla
This remedy is often useful in cystitis and may help when symptoms are unclear, or if other remedies have not been effective.
Also Check: Exercises To Strengthen Urinary Muscles
What Is The Prognosis For A Urinary Tract Infection
A good prognosis is usual for spontaneously resolved and quickly treated UTIs. Even patients that have rapidly developing symptoms and early pyelonephritis can have a good prognosis if quickly and adequately treated. The prognosis begins to decline if the UTI is not quickly recognized or treated. Elderly and immunosuppressed patients may not have the UTI recognized early their prognosis may range from fair to poor, depending on how much damage is done to the urinary tract or if complications like sepsis occur. Like adults, most adequately treated children will have a good prognosis. Children and adults with recurrent UTIs may develop complications and a worse prognosis recurrent UTIs may be a symptom of an underlying problem with the urinary tract structure. These patients should be referred to a specialist for further evaluation.
Homeopathic Remedies For Uti
1. Aconitum apellus : this remedy is useful when there is a feeling of anxiousness both before and while urinating. It is also good for UTI-burning relief.
2. Belladonna: if there is a frequent feeling of urination along with cramps in the area of the bladder, accompanied by a very small amount of colored urine, this remedy is helpful.
3. Apis mellifica: this remedy can be taken if there is a frequent urge to urinate along with a burning sensation and soreness in the abdominal area.
4. Borax: this remedy is helpful to treat acute cystitis accompanied by pain in the bladder as well as urinary opening.
5. Chimaphila umbellata: if a person has to strain a lot in order to pass the urine, along with a scalding sensation, this remedy works well.
6. Staphysagria: this remedy is quite useful for women if cystitis occurs due to sexual activity. This condition may be accompanied by a feeling of pressure in the bladder even after urinating.
Apart from these, you can try some other homeopathic treatments, like Berberis Vulgaris, cantharis, clematis, lycopodium, equisetum, nux vomica, sepia, and sarsaparilla.
Don’t Miss: How To Stop A Urinary Tract Infection Without Antibiotics
Follow Good Bathroom And Diapering Habits
Some children simply dont urinate often enough. Children should urinate often and when they first feel the need to go. Bacteria can grow and cause an infection when urine stays in the bladder too long. Caregivers should change diapers often for infants and toddlers, and should clean the genital area well. Gentle cleansers that do not irritate the skin are best.
Your child should always wipe from front to back after urinating or having a bowel movement. This step is most important after a bowel movement to keep bacteria from getting into the urethra and bladder.
Also Check: Womens Urinary Incontinence Swimwear
Why Should I Take The Full Dose
![8 Best Over The Counter Uti Treatments](https://www.urinaryhealthtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/8-best-over-the-counter-uti-treatments-bestreviewsguide-scaled.jpeg)
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Know If Urinary Tract Infection
Read Also: Do Urinary Tract Infections Make You Tired
How To Treat Incontinence In Dogs
This question is about the different types of medication that we use and generally speaking, there are two different types. Which is the best one? How do we decide which is the best treatment of incontinence for your dog and which one do I recommend?
Weve got a couple of different medications. One is called Propalin and one is an estrogen supplement.
Now both of these medications work well and are generally considered safe to give, although as with all medications there is the potential for side effects. But in my experience these are really very rare.
How Do I Recognize Symptoms Of Male Uti
Men with urinary tract infection do not usually see visible indications, but when they do, some of these symptoms can occur:
- Painful urination
- Abdominal pain
- Burning sensation when urinating
Severe cases of urinary tract infection can also happen. If you experience fever, nausea, chills, vomiting, or back pain that accompanies the above symptoms, it could indicate a kidney infection. Immediate attention and prompt treatment should be necessary.
Dont Miss: Hills Science Diet Adult Urinary & Hairball Control
You May Like: How Do You Get E Coli In Urinary Tract
What Are Utis And Who Should Care
UTIs are infections of the urinary tract. The urinary tract is the system that creates, collects, and gets rid of urine from your body. When bacteria enter the urinary system and find a place to grow, this is called a UTI.
Your urinary tract begins with your kidneys, which create urine. A pair of tubes called ureters carry urine from your kidneys down into your bladder. Urine is held in your bladder until you are ready to empty it. When you go to the bathroom, urine comes out through your urethra, which is the tube that connects your bladder to the outside.
Infections of the kidney, called pyelonephritis, can be quite serious. Bladder infections, called cystitis, are the most common type of UTI. Usually, when people talk about a UTI, they are talking about a bladder infection.
Change Menstrual Pads Tampons Or Cups Frequently
Low-absorbency pads made of synthetic materials can expose your vulva to bacteria and increase your risk of infection. Using tampons can encourage bacteria to develop faster, so its important to change your tampon regularly. Tampons and menstrual cups may increase your risk of getting or worsening a UTI if its not positioned correctly. If it pushes on your urethra and traps your urine, bacteria can spread to the bladder. Changing the size or shape of a menstrual cup may help prevent recurrent UTIs.
Recommended Reading: Foods Good For Urinary Health
Up Your Vitamin C Intake
Theres some scientific evidence that increasing your vitamin C intake can help your body fight off infections, including those in the urinary tract. Thats because vitamin C can increase urine acidity, giving it antibacterial capabilities.
Inone study, pregnant women who took 100 mg of vitamin C had less than half the risk of developing a UTI than the control group.
If you want to use vitamin C to treat or prevent a UTI, talk to your provider, who can help you decide how much to supplement. Another way to increase vitamin C intake is by eating foods that are rich in the vitamin, like red peppers, kiwi, and citrus fruits.
If you have a current UTI, citrus fruit and juice may irritate your bladder, so be sure to monitor your symptoms if you decide to up your vitamin C intake.
Can You Get Rid Of A Uti Naturally At Home Or Do You Need Antibiotics
Sometimes, you can get rid of a UTI naturally by resting, drinking lots of water, taking dietary supplements, and giving the infection some time to heal. Research from 2017 suggests that somewhere between 25% and 42% of UTIs resolve naturally without the use of antibiotics.
However, there are certain situations where wait and see just isnt an acceptable approach. Untreated UTIs can cause potentially life threatening complications, including .
Also Check: Complete Natural Products Urinary Tract Complete
Different Forms Of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can affect people in various ways, depending on the cause of the problem:
Total incontinence
This is when your bladder cant store any urine, and so constantly leaks.
Urge incontinence
This is the sudden and intense need to pass urine. It can affect those with neurological conditions, such as Parkinsons disease.
Overflow incontinence
Also known as chronic urinary retention, this is when you cant fully empty your bladder, which results in frequent leaking.
Stress incontinence
When the muscles that control urine flow become weak, urine can leak out at times of physical stress, such as when you cough, laugh or lift something heavy.
Mixed incontinence
Read Also: How Does Someone Get A Urinary Tract Infection
Basic Considerations When Buying Medicine For Uti
![Common Myths About Urinary Tract Infections and How to Avoid Getting One](https://www.urinaryhealthtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/common-myths-about-urinary-tract-infections-and-how-to-avoid-getting-one.jpeg)
With so many different types of UTI medicine, it can be easy to make the wrong purchase. To save yourself from a bad buy and a potentially harmful product, make sure you consider these factors to help you land the best over the counter UTI medicine.
- Effects. It pays to keep in mind that a urinary tract infection is a bacteria-caused infection, and that means the best medicine for UTI should be an antibiotic however, because antibiotics for UTI cant be purchased over the counter, its the second best choice to buy a product that promotes urinary tract health to fight off the infection.
Most of the products you will find are much less geared towards healing the infection itself, and are formulated to provide health effects that improve the wellness of the overall system. In doing this, these medicines are able to encourage the body to fight off the infection, thus causing the infection to weaken over time.
- Homeopathic. Because over the counter UTI remedies are more focused on improving health than fighting off the infection directly, many of them come as homeopathic remedies. These options are made from all natural ingredients, and do not cause any toxicity associated with long term use.
For some, however, these products may not provide results at all. This always depends on how the body reacts to the formulation. Because homeopathic remedies do not contain any synthetic, clinically designed ingredients, they may or may not work on some people.
You May Like: Natural Remedies For Urinary Tract Infection