All About CYSTITIS, BLADDER and URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS (UTIs)
With the prevalence of urinary tract and bladder infections (UTI’s and cystitis) many people are looking for natural treatments, cures and remedies for cystitis and urinary tract infections to assist with alleviating pain and healing the problem as quickly and effectively as possible.
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is a viral or bacterial infection that occurs in the bladder, kidneys, urethers or urethra. Cystitis is the inflammation of the urinary bladder and urinary tract infections occur anywhere along the urinary tract from the urethra to the kidneys. It is most common in women as they are more prone to contracting infection due to their short urethra.
Treating cystitis involves enhancing the flow of urine to achieve proper hydration, promoting a pH in which growth of the bacteria is inhibited, boosting the immune system and promoting antimicrobial activity.
It can sometimes be related to sexual activity (hence the condition being sometimes known as ‘honeymoon cystitis’) however, cystitis, bladder infections and UTI’s occur quite commonly in men and children, sometimes as a result of anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract.
Bladder infections can be caused by congenital obstruction, kidney stones, injury to the urinary tract, or chronic inflammation by bacteria.
From outside of the body, bacterial can also travel to the kidneys from another part of the body through the blood stream. Once in the urinary tract, the bacterial multiplies and spreads, which disrupts normal function and causes inflammation and swelling. If allowed to go untreated, bladder infections can lead to chronic ‘pyelonephritis’; a condition in which the kidneys become increasingly damaged by repeated infections.
Cystitis can also occur as urinary incontinence and in women who are pregnant, those who take the contraceptive pill or who have ill-fitting diaphragms.
Diabetics are also prone to suffer with bladder infections and cystitis.
The most common bacteria involved with contracting cystitis and UTI’s are those from the bowel, so personal hygiene and wiping from front to back is important. Cystitis is due to bacteria that reproduces rapidly in the warmth of urine. It then enters the bladder by coming up from the urethra from outside of the body.
A slackness or looseness of the muscle ring that controls the release of urine from the bladder may allow bacteria to enter the bladder. This can occur during childbirth or prolapsed of the womb, and may eventually cause incontinence of a laugh or cough.
What you eat can have a direct result on how bad the symptoms will be, how you’ll feel and how long your flares (or increased symptomatic days) will be. There are some foods that are more acidic than others and these should be decreased in the diet to naturally treat and cure cystitis and bladder infections. Other foods are more alkaline and can decrease the acid in your urine.
Some cystitis symptoms can be alleviated with dietary modifications. This can be useful for anyone with cystitis, whether it is a single episode of infection or a recurrent or chronic infection. Avoiding certain foods, and adding others to the diet, can help ease pain and other symptoms, and hasten healing.
Dietary modifications to help ease cystitis symptoms should not take the place of professional medical advice. Always see a doctor and follow his or her recommendations. Also knowing what foods are what will help you have more good days and less flare days.
If you don’t treat a UTI, it can lead to serious chronic or acute kidney problems.
There are natural treatments, cures and remedies for cystitis and urinary tract infections that are readily and easily available … often from your own pantry at home.
SYMPTOMS of CYSTITIS and BLADDER INFECTION
Many women are familiar with that nasty, acute burning sensation when urinating, with the urge to urinate frequently (often every half hour or less), an urgency to urinate, urination during the night and tenderness and discomfort in the bladder and pelvic regions as well as a dragging ache in the lower back and/or abdomen.
The urine itself may be cloudy and dark with an unpleasant odour, and sometimes there may be fever and rigors (uncontrollable shivers), particularly if the infection has travelled to the kidneys. (These symptoms of fever and rigors can occur in children who may not have any bladder symptoms and very few constitutional symptoms.)
Older women may also have no symptoms other than weakness, falls, confusion and/or fever.
Occasionally blood may be present in the urine.
It is recommended that the urine be tested for infection, which is most likely the case if the urine is smelly, cloudy or blood stained.
There are many natural cures, treatments and remedies for cystitis and bladder infections such as the use of Essential oils and Aromatherapy, Crystals and Gemstones, Food and Diet, Biochemic Cell Salts and Herbs.
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