6 HOME REMEDIES FOR UTI
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an extremely common and painful human disease. In the United States only, urine tract infections account for nearly 7 million clinical visits, 1 million emergency department visits, and one hundred thousand hospitalizations every year.
The cost of these infections is significant both in terms of time lost at work and the cost of medical care and about 1.6 billion US dollar yearly. Even Hippocrates, who is considered as the father of medicine, wrote about a disease that appears to be a type of urinary tract infection and wrote that the illness could last for a year before it resolved or eventually worsen to involve the kidneys.
Since urinary tract infection is related to the urinary system, it is very important to treat it at the right time; otherwise, it can also lead to a serious disease like prostate cancer or kidney damage.
It is possible that most people do not have complete knowledge of urinary tract infections and for this reason; they may not be able to treat it properly. So, through this article, we try to give information and home remedies about this disease, so that people can get information about it and they can get it treated at the right time.
What is Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
The human urinary system comprises a pair of kidneys, a pair of the ureter, the bladder, and the urethra that perform the basic functions of the body like filtering your blood, urine formation, and blood pressure regulation. Infection of any part of the urinary system is known as a urinary tract infection or UTI.
Most infections occur in the lower part of the tract, such as the bladder and urethra, which are usually caused by bacteria, and called lower urinary tract infection.
Urinary tract infections are called by different names based on the place of occurrence. For example:
- Infection in the urinary bladder is called cystitis.
- Infection in the urethra is called urethritis
- An infection in the kidney is called pyelonephritis.
- Infections at ureters are very rare.
What Are The Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infection?
Urinary tract infection, like any other disease, has its own symptoms, which indicate its onset. Thus, if a person pays special attention to these symptoms, then he can prevent it in time. If a person sees these 5 symptoms, then he should be careful because these are signs of urinary tract infection-
1. Frequent Urination-This is a major symptom of urinary tract infection, in which a person needs to urinate frequently. The urge to urinate is even when the bladder is empty. Usually, it is not taken seriously, but it is not right to do so as it may be a sign of a urinary tract infection.
2. Burning Sensation While Urinating-If a person has a burning sensation while micturition. This can be felt before or after urinating, though it is mainly noticed when urinating. You should inform the doctor immediately.
3. Changes In The Quality Of Urine -Urine can appear cloudy or strong smelling. Many times it has also been observed that some people get blood or puss visible in urine when urinary tract infection occurs. In such a situation, it may be prudent to seek medical help.
4. Lower Abdominal Pain-You can have low back pain or flank pain. Infections in the bladder and urethra can also happen to a person who has lower abdominal pain or discomfort.
5. Pelvic Pain In Women- If a woman has pelvic pain, it can be a symptom of urinary tract infection. Women after menopause are more prone to UTI. Therefore; the woman should test for urine infection.
These symptoms may be accompanied by the general feeling of being unwell, such as being tired, having a fever, develop nausea and vomiting.
What Are The Causes Of Urine Tract Infection?
Often UTIs are caused by bacteria that infect the urinary tract. The bacteria E. coli is the single most commonly involved bacteria in a UTI and there is a specific strain of this bacteria that is responsible for almost all UTI is and that is uropathogenic E coli.
Other bacteria that cause infections in the human urinary tract include staphylococcus, klebsiella pneumoniae, and candida. the bacteria enter the bladder via the urethra after gaining entry into the bladder E coli are able to attach to the bladder wall and form a biofilm that resists the body’s immune response.
However, infections can also occur through the blood. Bacterial infection of the urinary tract can happen for numerous reasons, which are as follows-
Sexual Intercourse – One of the most important causes of urinary tract infections in females is through intercourse. This happens if sexual intercourse is more frequent, intense, and with multiple or new partners.
Immobility for Long Period -Prolonged bed rest or reduced mobility after surgery one of the cause of urine accumulation and bacterial infection.
Kidney Stones -Urine infection can also happen to a person who is suffering from kidney stones. For this reason, such people should pay special attention to their kidneys and complete treatment.
Woman Getting Pregnant – Pregnant women are more prone to develop urinary tract infections than their other counterparts due to structural changes in the body during pregnancy.
UTI during pregnancy can be dangerous for both mother and fetus and one should contact the doctor in case of any problem.
Weakness Of Immunity – The chances of urethral infection is more even when the immunity of any disease is weak.
Use Of Urinary Catheters -Other common causes of urinary tract infections include urinary catheterization, which may make it easier for bacteria to get into your bladder
Diabetes -Patients with uncontrolled diabetes may make it more likely for you to get a UTI.
Enlarged Prostate -Occur in people with an enlarged prostate that obstructs or blockages the urinary tract obstructions.
Birth Defects -Abnormally developed urinary organs since birth may cause an obstruction in the urinary tract. Birth defects of the urinary tract and kidney may cause UTI.
Contraceptives -Certain contraceptive methods like, diaphragm for birth control, and women who are using spermicidal agents are more prone to UTI.
UTI and Women
Urinary tract infections occur four times more frequently in females than males. Over 50percent of all women population will develop UTI once in her life with a 20 to 30 percent chance to develop recurrent UTI.
Women have bladder infections more often than men because women have a shorter urethra and are closer to the anus, causing easy entry of bacteria from outside into the bladder.
Further, after menopause, a decline in circulating estrogen causes changes in the year track that can make you more vulnerable to infections. Although UTIs are rare in men, but the risk of UTI in men increases with age, especially above the age of 50.
Diagnose of Urinary Tract Infection
To diagnose that you have UTI the first test you should do is a urine analysis, which is a simple and basic test for checking the presence of urinary nitride, white blood cells are also known as leukocyte or leukocyte esterase.
Microscopy of urine is the next step that looks for the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells, or bacteria in your urine. If your urine culture is positive, it shows a bacterial colony count of greater than equal to 10 raised to the power 3 Colony Forming Units per ml of typical urinary tract organ.
How Can Urinary Tract Infections Be Treated At Home?
This question matters to everyone who is suffering from urinary tract infections. During this time, he has to face a lot of problems and he is always looking for a way through which he can get rid of them.
General Physician may prescribe antibiotics to speed up the recovery of the bladder infection and prevent complications like an infection of the ureter, kidney, pelvis, etc., and to prevent viral infections. However, everyone should try natural methods first before jumping on the medicines. If a person is suffering from a Urine infection, then they can get rid of this problem by adopting these six methods of treatment:-
1. Drinking Water:
One of the simplest home remedies for UTI is to drink plenty of water. Drinking plenty of water would help flush the bacteria out of the urinary tract and out of the body. The recommendation for an individual is to drink 6-8 glasses of water in a day.
However, it is essential that medical advice is sought when deciding the amount to drink per day. Drinking too much can be dangerous, particularly with pre-existing kidney diseases.
2. Urinate When Necessary:
Do not resist the urge to urinate, but go to the bathroom as soon as you feel it. It can be tempting to avoid urinating with a UTI. This is because a U T I can cause a person to want to urinate more frequently than usual, even if there is no urine to release.
However, urination can help to expel the bacteria that are causing the infection. Along with drinking more fluids, these can easily symptoms and quicken recovery.
It has been found that women do not urinate from time to time as they are not able to find the right place for this, due to which there is more problem of urine infection in them than men are.
Therefore, all people (both men and women) should urinate after an interval (maybe once in 2 hours) so that they can stay healthy. Always make sure to completely empty the bladder when urinating.
3. Cranberry Juice:
Cranberries help to prevent urinary tract infections. Cranberry extract does not treat UTIs but can help to lessen the risk of UTI recurrence. One research found that women suffering from recurrent UTIs took cranberry extract over 12 months had a 35 percent reduction in the rate of infection.
Some researchers have a theory that some component within the cranberries makes it harder for the infection-causing bacteria to get a good grip on walls and helps to prevent urinary tract infections.
Cranberry extract contains salicylic acid and anthocyanins that are effective pain-reviving and anti-inflammatory effects that help to ease the symptoms of UTI.
Cranberry extract is also a component of many urinary tract infection medications. They worked very well for mild to moderate urinary tract infections.
4. Clothing:
Loose-fitting clothing and cotton underwear can prevent moisture from making the infection worse. It is essential to keep the area around the urethra dry. Tight clothing can encourage moisture to develop. Keeping the pubic area clean and dry is important to prevent the growth of bacteria.
5. Diet for UTI:
Increasing Vitamin C intake can help prevent the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract. Citrus fruits are sources of Vitamin C. Vitamin C can inhibit the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract since it makes urine more acidic. Although it is usually advised that Vitamin C intake be increased via a varied diet, supplements may be recommended.
Certain food aggravates the symptoms. These include foods that are hot and spicy. Avoid alcohol, fizzy, and caffeinated drink as that can irritate the bladder. High fiber foods may help to quicken recovery. Getting a range of essential nutrients is also important to allow the body to heal itself.
6. Heat:
Some home remedies for UTIs can help to ease symptoms, such as pain and discomfort, though these may not aid recovery. For example, applying a heating pad to the bladder or pubic area can help how to relieve pain and discomfort temporarily. Heat should not be applied directly to the skin and should not be too hot. Heat should only be applied for a short period to avoid skin burns.
Preventing a UTI
Preventing UTIs is not always possible, that there are steps that can be taken to help minimize the risk of them occurring.
All people should take special care of their genital organs because it can lead to many of the same serious diseases. After using the bedroom, wiping from front to back after urinating can prevent bacteria from entering the urinary tract. Keep the genital area clean.
One of the most important causes of urinary tract infections in females is through intercourse. For some women, a bladder infection recurs less frequently when they urinate after having sex. Urinating after sexual activity can also help to expel bacteria that made her way to the urinary tract. Doing this is soon as possible after sexual activity is usually recommended.
Use of shower is preferred for taking a bath instead of using of pool or pond. Avoid the use of oil.
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR?
If symptoms of the UTI are severe or persist for more than one week without improvement, then it is essential to see a doctor. Severe symptoms and they are long-lasting can indicate that the UTI is chronic. In many cases where the UTI is mild or acute, it may pass in just 2 to 3 days with home remedy treatments. Nevertheless, when an infection does occur it is essential to seek medical attention, as soon as possible.
This can prevent complications from occurring. In addition to the advice, your doctor provides you with home remedies for UTIs can be adequate to ease symptoms in some cases. Home remedies for UTI may be used to ease symptoms and support recovery in combination with prescribed treatment options.
Home remedies are not necessarily more effective than prescribed treatment and drugs. Any pre-existing conditions or medication should be taken into consideration before relying on home remedies for UTIs. Some herbal remedies or changes to the diet can interact with existing conditions or medication in a way that could adversely affect health.
They may also make symptoms of a UTI worse. Usually, home remedies for UTIs can be administered safely. However, it is always recommended that they be discussed with your doctor first. Home remedies are not a replacement for professional medical treatment.
Thus we hope that reading this article will be helpful for you because we have tried to give the necessary information about urinary tract infection in it.
