What is a urinary tract infection?
As the name implies, it is inflammation of the urinary tract caused by a bacterial infection. E. Coli is the most common bacteria involved with UTIs, but other bacterial agents have been known to cause a urinary tract infection.
Urinary tract infection symptoms can be painful and annoying, which will often lead the sufferer to seek help from urinary tract infection remedies.
How do you get a Urinary Tract Infection?
Generally, these kinds of infections are caused by bacteria from outside the body getting a foothold in the urinary tract. Poor hygiene and sexual intercourse are among the leading ways that these bacteria get in.
Irritants such as catheters can increase the chances of getting a UTI by wearing away at the protective layers of tissue in the urinary tract itself.
Does the infection ever come from the urine itself?
Seldom. Urine is a solution designed to remove chemicals and impurities from our bodies. To protect the body, it contains a series of powerful antibiotic substances, including ammonia, which gives it it's characteristic odor. Under normal conditions, urine is nearly sterile.
What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
- Pain or discomfort when urinating.
- Frequent urination or difficulty in urinating.
- Cloudy urine, caused by pus.
- Slight pink cast to the urine, caused by blood.
When should I seek medical help?
Even though most urinary tract infections will clear up themselves in time, it is never a bad idea to seek medical attention when you suspect an infection.
However, if the above symptoms are accompanied by high fever, nausea, dizziness, abdominal and or back pain, seek medical help immediately. The infection may have migrated to the kidneys and could, at this point, be life threatening.
Can I use regular antibiotics as urinary tract infection remedies?
It is never recommended to use prescription medicines for any treatment other than what they were prescribed for. This is even more so true in the case of urinary tract infection remedies. The extreme and unusual chemical conditions in the urinary tract actually neutralize the active ingredients in many standard antibiotics, rendering them ineffective and even useless as urinary tract infection remedies.
What can I do to prevent a urinary tract infection?
Proper hygiene is at the top of the list, especially for females, who are more prone to urinary tract infections than men.
Keep the affected area clean. Urination soon after sex is also recommended.
Are there any urinary tract infection remedies available without a prescription?
Home based or over the counter urinary tract infection remedies include:
Drink lots of water. This will help flush the system and reduce the bacteria level to the point that your immune system can handle it.
Avoid sugar, which will help to feed the bacteria.
Unsweetened cranberry juice is a proven urinary tract infection remedy. Chemicals in the juice help prevent the bacteria from finding a purchase on the urinary tract walls.
Orange juice and other acidic fruit juices help by increasing the acid content of the urine, which will further inhibit bacterial growth.
Source: EzineArticles
