Before Jumping On Antibiotics, Do These

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a health condition that affects millions of people yearly, both males and females. According to statistics, a whopping 150 million people in the whole world suffer from this infection every year. Of these 150 million people, studies have shown that females make up a little over half of the number.

This is so because naturally, males have a longer urethra that passes urine outside their bladder than females do. As a result of the short length of the urethra and the closeness of the urethra to the bladder, females have a higher chance of contracting urinary tract infections.

Bacteria cause the infection, but in very few cases, it is caused by fungi. It comes with severe pain but can be treated in most cases with antibiotics. However, studies have shown that some natural and home remedies can effectively manage, treat, and even prevent urinary tract infections.

Thus, before considering going to over-the-counter medications, you should try these natural methods for treating your urinary tract infections at home. It is important to consult your doctor first about the natural remedies you want to apply to treat your urinary tract infections before fully using them. This will help prevent cases of overdose and complications.

Symptoms of UTI

Some of the symptoms associated with urinary tract infection include; Painful pelvis.

• Constant urination
• The feeling of a full bladder even after urination
• Dark colored urine
• More pain when passing urine
• Urine with a strong odor
• Blood in urine

Risk Factors of UTI

Although bacteria cause urinary tract infections with or without any of the factors listed below, people exposed to these risk factors have a higher chance of contracting urinary tract infections. The following are risk factors for UTI (urinary tract infections);

• Urethra manipulation
• Diabetes
• Sexually active people
• Kidney diseases
• Excessive usage of catheters
• Excessive use of antibiotics
• People who overuse spermicides
• Poor diet
• Poor hygiene
• Stress
• Sometimes, menopause

Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infections

Drink Plenty Water

Water is a natural beverage that prevents, treats, and effectively maintains a huge number of health conditions. It is known for its effective ability to flush out toxins from the body without any side effects. In the case of urinary tract infections, staying hydrated is a good first step toward eliminating the infection.

In addition, water also helps flush out the toxins that may have lodged in the urinary tract. While drinking enough water to treat urinary tract infections, you must also stay away from caffeinated and alcoholic drinks for maximum results. The recommended eight glasses of water are enough to keep you far away from urinary tract infections.

Apply Heat

Since urinary tract infection comes with a lot of pain in the pelvic area, one of the best ways to soothe this pain is by applying heat to the pelvic area. Pour hot water into a hot water bottle, wrap the bottle in a light cloth and place the pad on your pelvic area. While using the hot water bottle, ensure that it does not come in contact with your skin for long to prevent burning.

In addition, heating pads can also be effective for applying heat to soothe urinary tract infection pain. Keep applying heat to that area for about 15 minutes non-stop. Taking baths or soaking your body in warm water for about 20 minutes is also a good way of relieving the pain associated with urinary tract infections.

Urinate More Frequently

One of the reasons why you may have contracted the infection in the first place maybe that you were holding urine for so long before passing it. Thus, it causes the bacteria in your urine to lodge in your bladder and urinary tract.

Now that you have contracted the infection, if you continue the habit of holding your urine for long without passing it, it may worsen your condition because more bacteria will be introduced to your already infected urinary tract. Thus, while applying natural and home remedies to treat your urinary tract infections, you should cultivate the habit of not holding your urine longer than you should. In other words, you should pass urine as soon as you feel the urge to.

Eat More Garlic

Garlic has proven over the years to be more than just a kitchen spice and a food flavoring agent. It is an effective home and natural remedy for different health conditions ranging from flu to managing severe health conditions like lung infections. For urinary tract infections, studies have shown that garlic is packed with natural properties that effectively prevent the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections.

In cases of already contracted infections, it breaks the chain of their progression, stops the infection from spreading, and treats the infection from the root. You can chew garlic raw twice daily to treat urinary tract infections. You can also add garlic cloves to your diet daily to prevent and treat urinary tract infections. Garlic is effective at preventing the infection from happening, preventing it from spreading if it happens at all, and preventing it from recurring after it must have been treated.

Drink Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice is a natural juice that effectively treats different bacterial infections. Most people drink it whenever they have injuries. This is because it is packed with antioxidants and antibacterial properties that help in the speedy healing of wounds and the protection of the wounds from infections.

For urinary tract infections, drinking two cranberry juice two times per day can help improve urinary tract infections. In addition, cranberry juice is packed with anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the pain and inflammation associated with urinary tract infections.

Consume More Vitamin C and Vitamin C-Rich Foods

According to the read, vitamin C increases the production of uric acid in the body. This is an acid that inhibits the growth of the bacteria that causes infection in the urinary tract. Thus, consuming vitamin C or eating enough vitamin C-rich foods can help inhibit the growth of the bacteria that can trigger urinary tract infections.

However, as much as you need vitamin C to treat your urinary tract infections, you should use it with caution, as consuming too much vitamin C or vitamin C-rich foods can irritate your bladder and urinary tract. You can drink citrus juices or take vitamin C supplements to treat urinary tract infections at home. However, be cautious not to overuse them to avoid irritation and a worsened condition.

Take More Probiotics

Studies have shown that probiotics are an effective treatment for antibacterial infections. This is because they balance out the level of healthy bacteria in the body. Consuming foods rich in probiotics can help increase the number of healthy bacteria in the body. These bacteria then fight against the unhealthy bacteria that may be causing infection in the body, especially in the gut and urinary tract.

You can consume probiotics as a supplement or in foods that pass through fermentation. Some of these foods include; kombucha, kimchi kefir, and probiotic yogurts like Greek yogurt. Apart from treating urinary tract infections, probiotics also prove other parts of the health, like supplying the body with improved immune system function and boosting the digestive tract.

Maintain Good Hygiene

Maintaining good hygiene even with an infection will help speed up the healing process. Ensure that all your underwear is properly sun-dried whenever you wash them. Also, do not wear the same underwear all day. Try to change your underwear at least once a day. In addition, maintain healthy menstrual hygiene. Ensure that you change your sanitary towels as often as possible to prevent the infection from worsening. Finally, do not wash your vagina with soap. Wash it gently with only clean water, and dry it with a clean towel.

While maintaining good hygiene, you can follow one or more home remedies for urinary tract infections to treat your health condition.

Conclusion

Urinary tract infection is a common infection that can happen to anybody, male or female. However, the chances are higher in females. Since it is a common infection, it is best to prevent it. If you already have it, you can adopt any of the home remedies listed above to treat it. Endure that before doing this, you speak with your doctor first.