Ideas to Prevent UTIs from Women's Day Magazine

Photo: © Comstock

Preventing a common condition

By Woman's Day Staff Posted July 08, 2008 from Woman's Day

What does it feel like?
Most people with a urinary tract infection (UTI, a.k.a. cystitis) will feel an urgent need to "go" (even if only a few drops of urine come out), pain or burning when urinating, and back pain or a dull pelvic ache.
What causes it?
A UTI occurs when bacteria gets into the urinary tract and then the bladder. UTIs affect more women than men. Being pregnant or using a diaphragm that doesn’t fit well may increase your risk. Dehydration is also a culprit: "Urinating regularly flushes out bacteria, and if you’re not drinking enough, you won’t go to the bathroom enough," says Jennifer Ashton, M.D., an ob-gyn at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood, New Jersey.
How do I treat it?
If you have symptoms for more than 24 hours, call your ob-gyn or primary care physician. She’ll test a urine sample, and if you do in fact have a UTI, she’ll prescribe an oral antibiotic. You may feel better after a few days, but make sure you finish the round of pills or the UTI could return and be more difficult to treat. Don’t worry if your urine turns some wacky hue like purple or bright orange; it’s a common side effect of the meds. To ease discomfort while you’re waiting for the antibiotics to kick in, your doc may also recommend an OTC pain reliever like AZO, Uristat or Cystex.
How can I prevent it?

Don’t hold it in! Waiting too long to go can stretch the bladder and damage its lining, making it more vulnerable to bacteria, says Larrian Gillespie, M.D., author of You Don’t Have to Live with Cystitis.
Drink cranberry juice. A recent Rutgers University study found that drinking 16 ounces daily prevented 80 percent of all bacteria from sticking to urinary tract walls.
Urinate after sex. Intercourse can push bacteria into the urinary tract; emptying your bladder before and after sex helps flush it out.
Get more vitamin C. Eating foods that are rich in vitamin C (such as oranges and strawberries) may acidify the urine, which helps prevent the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract.
For more information Visit the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org or the American Urological Association at urologyhealth.org

Did you know?
UTIs account for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year and are considered the second most common infection.

Eating blueberries can help prevent UTIs by stopping bacteria from attaching to urinary tract tissues.
above article found at http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Health/Conditions-Diseases/Checkup-UTI.html


References in this blog are meant for information only and if you have a condition of concern, please consult with your trusted health care provider.