Itching, burning, and stinging – oh the discomfort! Aurinary tract infection (UTI) can be debilitating for those who have to deal with one. These infections can impact any part of your urinary system. That means your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra can be impacted. Though they can be more widespread, UTIs most commonly impact the bladder and urethra.
Women have a higher chance of contracting a UTI than their male counterparts. This can happen for several reasons, including a shorter urethra and its placement within the anatomy. Though UTIs are painful, there are ways to lessen the blow of the symptoms if you get one. Keep reading to learn how to relieve UTI symptoms.
1. Seek Treatment
The quickest way to reduce your symptoms of a UTI is to seek treatment. An antibiotic can help clear the infection and stop it from spreading. This is important for a couple of reasons. First, you’ll feel better sooner, and second, leaving an infection untreated could cause more severe health issues. Even though it could clear up on its own, it could also spread to the rest of your urinary tract.
Seeking UTI treatment at home can get you feeling better faster, if you don’t have time to get a doctor’s appointment. Reach out and get a consultation with a medical provider online and you can have your medicine delivered to your home. You can skip the discomfort of long lines at the in-person doctor’s office this way. As a bonus, you don’t have to go through the process of going to the pharmacy and waiting there too.
2. Drink Up
Your fluid intake is important, so drink plenty of water to stay hydrated when you’re not feeling well. Staying hydrated helps in both prevention and treatment of UTIs. Upping fluid consumption causes you to have to go to the bathroom more, which flushes out your bladder and the infection. Cranberry juice can help with UTI treatment and prevention, as it helps lessen bacteria sticking to your bladder walls.
Adding vitamin C supplements can also help for a similar reason by acidifying your urine. Kombucha is another beverage that can bring relief due to its fermented properties. When picking out juice, watch the sugar content. Stay away from liquids with a lot of sugar as well as alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated drinks because they increase irritation.
3. Avoid Food Irritants
What you drink matters for lessening the blow for UTI symptoms. That makes sense because liquid flushes through your system. But the type of foods you eat can also have a big impact on your urinary tract. Acidic fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, oranges, and lemons can aggravate your condition. Spicy foods and those high in sugar also can leave you hurting.
While there are foods to avoid, some options can be helpful. Eating berries, like cranberries and blueberries can prevent bacteria from attaching to the bladder. Foods high in probiotics, like Greek yogurt, or fermented foods, like kimchi or sauerkraut, are also good. They can supply more good bacteria to fight the bad. Salmon or fish oil supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can be good for inflammation.
4. Practice Proper Hygiene
As bad bacteria can be the route of a UTI, it’s beneficial to practice good hygiene. Regular bathing and practicing clean, safe sex can help with prevention of infection. Cleaning yourself after sexual activity is important too. If you have a UTI, these habits can also be helpful to avoid further irritating your system. Less is more with hygiene around your urethra, though, so skip the overly scented soaps or douches.
They can disturb the natural good pH levels and bacteria present. Baths are another no-go if you’re trying to avoid irritating a UTI. Bubbles can irritate your urethra and bacteria thrive in hot, moist places like a bath. Choose a shower instead. After your shower, gently towel dry with a fresh towel. Be sure to put on loose fitting cotton underwear, as they breathe and don’t cause irritation like other tight-fitting materials.
5. Relax and Stay Home
Nothing beats the comforts of home, especially if you don’t feel well. It’s pretty uncomfortable to have pain, itching, burning, and a constant need to urinate when you’re out in public. Take care of yourself and stay home and close to your personal toilet. You can control your toilet paper during this time as well; forget that restaurant one-ply! While at home, you can use a hot pad and enjoy a glass of your chilled cranberry juice. Anti-inflammatory medicines and pain relievers like Tylenol can help with pain relief as well.
AUTI can be debilitating for those who are suffering with one, and it’s really unfortunate when it hurts to urinate. If you’re dealing with a UTI, you don’t have to suffer through it and wish it would go away. Seek treatment and look for relief. Take action so you feel better soon and avoid ending up with a more severe infection. Once you lessen your symptoms and feel better, you can use many of these tips to prevent UTIs in the future.