Treatment of UTI – Natural Vs Traditional
Before we dive into UTI treatments, let us take a look at some of the basic yet important information about UTI.
What is a UTI?
A UTI is an infection in any part of your urinary system, which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Typically, the infection occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply in the bladder.
Although both, men and women can have a UTI, women are more susceptible to developing it.
Here are some risk factors that increase your risk of developing a UTI:
• Being frequently sexually active.
• Using spermicide for birth control.
• Having undergone a recent bladder or kidney infection.
• Living with diabetes.
Of course, one can get a UTI even if none of these things apply to you.
No matter the reason, with an effective UTI treatment, you can rest assured that the infection will clear up quickly.
• Urgency to urinate
• Burning sensation while urinating
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• Passing cloudy urine
• Blood in your pee
• Pain in your lower abdomen
Are some common symptoms of a UTI. If left unchecked, UTIs can progress into worse symptoms, like high fever (above 99.9°F), kidney pain, vomiting, or nausea. These symptoms indicate that the infection in your bladder may have spread to your kidneys. In light of possible exacerbations, it is important that you consult with your doctor at the earliest so you can get started on your UTI treatments at home.
UTI Treatment
For a urinary tract infection, the best treatment is an antibiotic course. Antibiotics are the most effective at fighting bacterial infection.
Home Remedies
Since, in one way, UTI is a result of an imbalance between the good bacteria and bad bacteria in your body, Probiotics are the natural solution. Probiotics contain live bacteria and yeasts, which help balance the flora of the vagina. Many health professionals recommend probiotics or other UTI medications to help you fight the infection.
Boric acid suppositories also help maintain a healthy vaginal environment and prevent UTIs. They keep your pH balanced inhibiting unhealthy bacteria from growing.
Finally, d-mannose is another natural supplement that contributes to a healthy urinary tract and bladder. D-mannose is a naturally occurring sugar that helps flush out bacteria from the urinary tract. Women take d-mannose supplements right before activities, like sex or travel, where they find themselves more prone to a UTI.
UTI Prevention
You can take a few steps at home to prevent UTIs.
Wipe from front to back after you go to the bathroom. This seemingly simple step keeps unwanted bacteria away from your urethra. Consult with your doctor and begin taking boric acid suppositories. Not only do they fight the infection-causing bacteria, but also they help in treating bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections at home. Many women have also reported the use of boric acid suppositories after sex to help protect against UTIs.
Additional preventive steps include:
• Always urinating after intercourse.
• Not holding urine for too long.
• Wearing clean underwear.
• Regularly changing your pad, tampon, or other menstrual product.
• Staying well hydrated.
Cranberry Juice as a preventive measure.
No, the vodka crans that have popped in your head at the mention of cranberry juice are not preventive. We mean pure cranberry juice, which is actually bitter. Consuming pure cranberry juice help prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract, thereby preventing UTIs.
UTI is an unpleasant distraction (what with all that running to the bathroom every two minutes!) and you are likely to suffer from it if you haven’t already. With the right UTI treatment, though, you can have it all under control, within no time.