Urinary Tract Infections

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URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

You need to go to the bathroom. Again. When you go, hardly any urine trickles out. And when it does, it burns. Within half an hour you get the urge again, so you go again-with the same results. So it goes with a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Antibacterial Strategies

Fix yourself a baking soda cocktail

At the first sign of symptoms, mix half a teaspoon of baking soda in an eight-ounce glass of water and drink it.

Drink water, on the hour

Drink one glass of water every hour for eight hours. Hydration is the best thing that you can do for a UTI.

Carry a bike bottle with you

It's handy, it's easy to carry and it reminds women to drink water throughout the day.

Reach for cranberry juice

According to a study in the journal of the American Medical Association, cranberry juice can prevent bacteria from sticking to cells that line the urinary tract.

Nix other offenders

Whether you have a simple irritation or an infected urinary tract, the last thing that you need are known bladder irritants. The most notorious bladder irritants are citrus, tomatoes, aged cheeses, chocolate, spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.

Avoid artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeterners are among the worst offenders. So if you have UTI, avoid them.

Apply soothing heat

To ease the pain sometimes associated with urinary tract problems, place a heating pad on your lower abdominal area.

Wear skirts, loose pants and knee highs

If you have an infection, wearing tight undergarments and jeans forces the bacteria that normally line your vaginal area up into your urine tube. If you have an irritation, constrictive clothing can cause pain and discomfort, because it presses against the already inflamed urethral opening.

Toss out douches and sprays

Feminine hygiene aprays may irritate the urinary tract.