What Therapies Does Dr Weil Recommend For Bladder Infections
While antibiotics are necessary for treatment of bladder infection symptoms, the following measures can help prevent and treat bladder infections:
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting pants. Also, wear cotton-crotch underwear and pantyhose.
- Use mild detergents when washing undergarments.
- Dont hold your urine. Be sure to urinate frequently and when you have the urge.
- Drink the right fluids. Increase your intake of fluids so that you urinate more frequently. Lots of plain water is best. It is also important to avoid alcohol and coffee.
- Good hygiene before and after sex. Keep the genital and anal areas clean, and urinate before and after intercourse to cleanse the urethra of bacteria. Always wipe front to back after a bowel movement.
- Try an estrogen vaginal cream. This may be best for post-menopausal women, who have lower levels of estrogen.
- Drink unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate diluted with water. As an alternative, take powdered cranberry extract in capsules. Cranberries and cranberry juice contain a tannin that helps prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls. Research findings have been contradictory but many of my patients have experienced benefit.
- Avoid feminine hygiene sprays, powders or douches. These can irritate the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body.
Colgan R, Williams M. Diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated cystitis. Am Fam Phys 2011 84:771-776.
You Wipe From Back To Front
Wiping from back to front can transport E. coli, the bacteria thats behind most UTIs, from the rectal region to the urethra. Moral of the story: Always wipe from front to back. Al-Badr A, et al. . Recurrent urinary tract infections management in women: A review.
If You Suffer From A Uti Should You Avoid Using A Hot Tub
As hot tubs are high-risk factors for catching a UTI, one should definitely avoid using a spa, whirlpool or hot tub if they already have an existing UTI. This may cause your already existing infection to aggravate and cause more serious issues. You could also risk infecting others by spreading your bacteria into the hot tub as well.
Even if you don’t have a UTI you should be very careful and be sure to only use hot tubs that are properly decontaminated and checked regularly.
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Can Overactive Bladder Be Controlled
Overactive bladder therapy can be challenging to manage. However, many people are very satisfied with the treatment they receive and they often see a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. Your doctor will guide you to the best steps to begin with and give you options for any additional treatments you may need over time.
You Dont Pee After Sex
The threat of getting a UTI shouldnt stop you from getting it on. But that doesnt mean resigning yourself to the afterburn.
One simple way to cut your risk: Head to the potty after youve finished your romp. Youll possibly flush out the bacteria that may have made their way into your urinary tract. Urinary Tract Infection. .
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Struggling To Cook Healthy We’ll Help You Prep
In one study, women with overactive bladders reported it hindered function, frequency, and satisfaction in the bedrooma triple whammy. And that can take a toll on a romantic relationship. Theres a mental health component, too. It predisposes people to depression because if someone is constantly wet, they dont want to leave the house. So people stay home and avoid activities, they stick to the same routines like the grocery store because they know where the bathroom is, says Kitchens. In my opinion, the only thing worse is stool leakage.
Turns out, some of your favorite guilty pleasures could be exacerbating the issue. In other words, what you eat and drink impacts your bladder in more ways than just filling it up. And, in fact, your habits now can impact your incontinenceor lack thereoflater in life.
Here, the five food and drinks to avoid if you have an overactive bladder.
Caffeine And Bladder Problems: Advice
The new study findings lend weight to advice many doctors already give, Arya says.
”For the woman with problems, it should ideally be zero caffeine,” she says. But she’s realistic, knowing ”you have to be able to get through the day.” So she tells these women, “Have a cup, one small cup, but make it as small as you can, definitely less than 8 ounces.”
For women without bladder problems? “Up to two cups a day is generally fine. No bigger than 12 ounces, and the second cup should preferably be decaf.”
“If you review all the caffeine literature, it seems like, in the U.S., up to two cups of coffee a day is considered moderate.” Whatâs more difficult, she says, is defining a cup.
Years ago, she tells WebMD, researchers considered 5 ounces to be a ”standard” cup. “That’s your grandma’s china cup,” she says.
These days, many researchers view an 8-ounce cup standard, she says. But coffee sold at outlets is often served in a much bigger cup.
At Starbucks, for instance, a short is 8 ounces but a tall is 12, a grande is 16, and a venti, 20 ounces.
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Youre Using Certain Methods Of Birth Control
When it comes to UTI prevention, not all birth control methods are created equal. Luckily, only one method is associated with UTIs: a diaphragm.
Because of where the diaphragm sits, it puts pressure on the urethra, which might lead to an increased risk, says Minkin. The good news? There are plenty of other great birth control options.
Youve Got A Cold The Flu Or Allergies
You may be tempted to curse your seasonal sneezes, a cold, or the dreaded flu for making your life even more miserable with a UTI, but these ailments arent the cause. The meds you take to manage symptoms could be.
Though theyre the bomb at keeping your runny or stuffy nose in check, antihistamines and decongestants might make you go less by causing urinary retention. And see No. 6 that may lead to a UTI.
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What Is The Outlook For People Sensitive To Bladder Irritation
If foods irritate your bladder, you may worry about finding enough to eat. SOME people with IC are able to eat and drink these foods:
- Alcohol or wines .
- Almonds.
- Coffee or highly roasted.
- Extracts .
- Nuts almonds, cashews and peanuts.
- Onions .
- Sun tea .
- Tomatoes .
- Zest of orange or limes.
- Other foods not listed.
Can Uti’s Be Caused By Hot Tubs Or Whirlpools
Your “you time” to unwind and relax can get you in trouble if your hot tub or Jacuzzi is unhygienic or dirty. You can easily catch Pseudomonas aeruginosa a bacterium most commonly found in hot tubs or whirlpools whichis the main cause of UTIs and hot tub rash.
A study conducted with three UTI patients, found that,all three of the patients were perfectly healthy before contracting Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a hot tub, spa or whirlpool they used. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the main cause of their UTI.
The results showed that hot tubs, spa or whirlpools are a high-risk factor for UTIs linked with Pseudomonas.
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Your Hot Tub May Make You More Susceptible To Urinary Tract Infections
A dip in your hot tub is the perfect way to escape the stress of our daily lives. It is one of the best ways to relax your mind and soothe your body. Unfortunately, if your thermal bath is not well maintained, you may be exposing yourself to unwanted bacteria and infection. Let’s see.
Desiree Abecassis
When To Talk With A Healthcare Professional
Any time you have a question about your urinary health, its okay to talk to a healthcare professional. Its especially important to address symptoms of a urinary tract infection early because an infection in your bladder can spread to your ureters and kidneys.
An untreated UTI can also lead to urosepsis, an infection thats spread to other body systems and which can cause organ failure and death. Around 25 percent of sepsis cases begin in the urinary tract.
Its also a good idea to talk to a trusted healthcare professional if you think stress is affecting your health. Lowering stress isnt just good for your urinary system its good for your mind and the rest of your body systems, too.
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How Can I Manage Bladder Irritation
You can manage discomfort by avoiding foods you have identified as bladder irritants. But removing foods from your diet doesnt mean you can never have them again. You might be able to enjoy them in moderation . Drinking plenty of water will help reduce pain from any bladder-irritating foods you might ingest, in moderation or accidentally.
Carbonation And Bladder Irritation
If you’re prone to bladder infections, avoid soda during flare-ups. The carbonation in soda can irritate your bladder, causing discomfort or increased urinary urgency. The Cleveland Clinic recommends avoiding soda and other carbonated beverages until your symptoms improve. At that time, slowly reintroduce soda or other carbonated beverages, based on your tolerance. You can also replace soda with nonirritating beverages such as cranberry juice, which happens to be beneficial for the urinary tract.
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Coffee And Candida : Do It Right
Drinking coffee when you have candida or yeast infections however, may be different from drinking coffee at Starbucks. Here are a few important guidelines you should consider:
- Coffee doesnt agree with all people. If you notice that drinking coffee makes you jittery or cause other discomforts, reduce the amount, replace the coffee type or stop drinking coffee. According to research, some people may have a negative reaction to coffee and do not feel or get the benefits from it.
- The quality of the coffee matters. Prefer organic low-acid coffee. These are always mentioned on the label. Drinking high acidic or low quality coffee can actually damage your gut!
- Mold & Mycotoxins Free. Specifically tested and guaranteed by the manufacturer. We are still researching and testing for ideal sources.
- Drink Black Coffee. Do not add milk, cream or other dairy derived ingredients to your coffee. Is is best not add anything but water to your coffee.
- Use coffee strategically. Drink the minimum amount of coffee you need. Drinking large amount of coffee or several times a day may cause your body to get used to the coffee. This is where you get less benefits, become dependent on coffee, and may also experience side effects.
- Avoid dehydration. Increase your water consumption throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
Tip: If you like to add cream or sugar with your coffee, here are a few healthy alternatives:
What Causes Overactive Bladder
An overactive bladder can be caused by several things, or even a combination of causes. Some possible causes can include:
- Weak pelvic muscles: Pregnancy and childbirth can cause your pelvic muscles to stretch and weaken. This can cause the bladder to sag out of its normal position. All of these factors can cause leakage.
- Nerve damage: Sometimes signals are sent to the brain and bladder to empty at the wrong time. Trauma and diseases can cause this to happen. These can include:
- Pelvic or back surgery.
- Stroke.
Often, there may be no specific explanation for why this is occurring.
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How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed
The common presentation of stone is by flank pain associated with burning in urine, blood in urine, nausea or vomiting. Silent kidney stones can happen. They cause no symptoms and are often found on routine investigations.
Can stones be really silent? May be. More often we fail to recognize the trouble caused by the stone. If suppose you get back ache tomorrow, will you really think of stone as a cause of pain? We do not investigate the daily niggles and then think that the stone was silent.
When a person has blood in their urine or sudden abdominal or side pain, tests may be ordered.An ultrasound or a CT scan can clearly diagnose a stone.These imaging tests tell you doctor how big the stone is and where it is located.A CT scan is a single most important test that will give all the necessary information. It is used in emergency because it can make a quick and exact diagnosis.
A urinalysis is also done to learn whether or not you have a kidney infection.If your kidney stone is in a difficult location, other imaging tests may be used.
Can Certain Food Or Drinks Irritate Your Bladder And Cause Burning When You Urinate
Burning when you urinate can range from annoying to truly painful. The medical term for burning on urination is dysuria. Although dysuria is a symptom rather than a disease, it is not something you should ignore, as several potentially serious conditions could cause dysuria.There are a number of causes for urinary burning ranging from infections to what and how much you eat or drink.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
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Beware Green Bean Coffee Extract Can Cause Bladder Irritation & Pain
Many of you may have heard about the current Green Bean Coffee Extract craze sweeping the internet. Dr. Oz dedicated an episode of his show to discuss popular weight loss trends including a promising study which showed that Green Bean Coffee Extract may help. He launched the Green Coffee Bean Project to conduct some research and encouraged his viewers to try it. Read more about at: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/greene-bean-project
Unfortunately, atleast two IC patients havent had a good experience. ICN Member DJ wrote us earlier this month after experiencing a severe flare while trying the extract. A visit to the urgent care center resulted in a clear urine culture thus ruling out a bladder infection. Shortly afterwards, her urologist confirmed that the green coffee bean had irritated her bladder and told her that she was the second patient she was treating for the same reaction to GCBE.
GCBE capsules contain high levels of chlorogenic acid which is normally neutralized during the roasting process. Its this acid which they believe helps promote weight thus these supplements contain very large amounts of this acid. But, for our tender bladders, it can also result in irritation. Clearly, if just a cup of coffee can irritate the bladder can you imagine just how devastating taking a coffee extract which contains higher than normal levels of acid would be?
Have you tried it?? Please share your experience here!
Jill O.
What Are Kidney Stones Made Of
Kidney stones come in many different types and colors. How you treat them and stop new ones from forming depends on the type of stone you have.
Calcium stones are the most common type.There are two types of calcium stones: calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate.Calcium oxalate is more common.Some people have too much calcium in their urine, raising their risk.Even with normal amounts of calcium in the urine, calcium stones may form for other reasons.
Uric acid is a waste product that comes from chemical changes in the body. Uric acid crystals do not dissolve well in acidic urine. Instead it will form a uric acid stone.
Having acidic urine may come from:
- Being overweight
- A diet that is high in animal protein and low in fruits and vegetables
Struvite stones are common type of stone in Indian population. These stones are related to chronic urinary tract infections . Some bacteria make the urine less acidic and more basic or alkaline. Magnesium ammonium phosphate stones form in alkaline urine. These stones are often large, with branches, and they often grow very fast.
People who get chronic UTIs, such as those with long-term tubes in their kidneys or bladders, or people with poor bladder emptying due to neurologic disorders are at the highest risk for developing these stones. These can also happen in persons with uncontrolled diabetes.
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Can Coffee Cause A Urinary Tract Infection
Chances are, you are a coffee drinker.
You know how I know that? Around 83% of adults in the United States drink coffee. And together we all drink somewhere around 587 million cups every single day. Thats around 3 cups per person.
We all know that coffee can come will some real perks like heightened energy and focus. And we all know it can come with some downsides like the jitters and headaches.
But can coffee be harmful? Could that morning drink actually cause infections?
You may have heard the rumor that our beloved cup of Joe is responsible for causing urinary tract infections. Those painful, burning, uncomfortable infections that send us to the doctor begging for antibiotics!
Discover in just 7 short questions why you may be experiencing painful UTI’s and uncover how to return to your normal life. Take The Urinary Quiz Now!
Could coffee really be to blame? Im here to clue you in.