Cystitis: how to avoid bladder infections
The word cystitis is one of those words that makes you cringe because everyone knows how painful, uncomfortable and unpleasant having a bladder infection is. It’s not something to feel ashamed about as cystitis doesn’t discriminate – anyone can get a bladder infection, even a really fit and healthy person. Bacteria growing in the bladder or urethra is what causes bladder infections. The urethra is the tube that takes urine out of your body. Although anyone can get a bladder infection, they’re more common in women than men.
Common symptoms include:
- Burning pain on urination
- Frequent need to urinate, whether the bladder is full or not
- Incontinence
- Lower abdominal pain
How to avoid cystitis:
While the best way to avoid bladder infections include a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle adjustments, here are some things you should be doing now.
Drink More Water: Increase the amount of water you drink to prevent an infection, but also when you’ve have bladder infection. Fluids perform two jobs: they empty bacteria out of your bladder, and dilute your urine. As urine is made of waste products and acids from your body, concentrated, dark urine is more acidic and is sometimes more painful to pass when you have a bladder infection. Diluted urine is lighter in colour and usually doesn’t burn as much.
Frequent Urination: While there are a number of reasons bacteria can grow in your bladder, “holding it,” or not going to the bathroom when you need to, can increase the risk of bacteria growth. One of the best remedies and preventive tools for bladder infections is to urinate frequently.
Take Cranberry: One of the most well-known herbal remedies for cystitis, cranberry works by increasing the acidity of urine to inhibit the ability of bacteria to adhere to the bladder or urethra, so it’s more easily washed out. You can take supplements of cranberry as well as drinking it in a juice form. Some people also love cranberry tea.
Dress Appropriately: Opting for clothing that lets your skin breathe can help keep the bacteria in your urinary tract at bay. Cotton underwear and loose pants or skirts promote air circulation and reduce the chances of bacteria growth.
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