As a woman, you may feel stomach aches as part of your menstrual cycle. But if the stomach ache is accompanied by a burning sensation when urinating, you may be suffering from bladder infection instead of the usual menstrual cramp.
The most common kind of urinary tract infection or UTI is cystitis. Cystitis happens when your bladder becomes inflamed. There are many reasons why this can happen. If you experience inflammation because of UTI, that means harmful bacteria found its way to your bladder causing it to swell. Other uncommon causes include:
- Strong soaps or hygiene products like spermicides, bubble baths, or body wash which can cause severe irritation;
- Surgery or catheter wounds that may scar or damage the bladder;
- Chemotherapy medications;
- Radiation treatment in the pelvic area
Your first line of defence if you are ill is to know the ailment that you are experiencing. Watch out for the following signs and symptoms of cystitis:
- Feeling a burning sensation or pain every time you urinate;
- Always wanting to pee;
- Having low fever;
- Exhaustion;
- Pressure or painful sensation in your lower abdomen;
- Feeling pain when engaging in sexual intercourse;
- Belly cramps or back cramps;
- Dark or cloudy urine; and,
- Smelly urine;
The best remedy for cystitis is consulting a doctor and completing an anti-bacterial course of treatment. However, you can also try the following natural home remedies along with your doctor’s medication. If you have recurring cystitis or UTI episodes, you can even continue doing this after your treatment to promote a healthy urinary system. Here are eight home remedies that you can try to treat cystitis in women:
1. Drink even more water than usual.
Besides taking your antibiotic medicine, drinking water, and healthy fluids are the best thing you can do. And the good news is, you would not spend hundreds of dollars on this. Hydration will help you wash out bacteria in your bladder and urethra. The recommended water intake is around eight to ten glasses a day. Make it at least ten to twelve glasses a day (or more) if you have cystitis or recurring urinary tract infection
2. Avoid high-sodium food.
High sodium food makes the kidneys work double time. As much as possible, avoid salty dishes or snacks. Other foods can be bladder irritants. Coffee, spicy food, alcohol, soda or carbonated beverages, and chemical sweeteners can be bad for your bladder. If you suspect that you have bladder inflammation, avoid these foods if possible.
3. Eat probiotic-rich food.
If you are taking antibiotics, the treatment might kill some of the good bacteria in your gut. Snacks of food rich in probiotics are rich in friendly microorganisms that help repopulate the lost good bacteria in your body to balance the flora in your gut and other parts of your body. If you are undergoing treatment for cystitis, it’s good to get a daily dose of yogurt or probiotic drink. You can also take probiotic supplement capsules if you want optimum benefits and a balanced intake of good bacteria. Besides that, these kinds of foods are also known to help boost the immune system and assist in smooth digestive function.
4. Have a regular Vitamin C intake.
Vitamin C is a good supplement if you want to strengthen your immune system. Besides taking supplements, you can also eat vitamin-rich food. But did you know that it is also helpful in naturally preventing cystitis? Taking generous amounts of Vitamin C can make your urine acidic. Acidic urine can prevent the proliferation of bacteria in your urinary system. However, if you have cystitis or UTI right now, it’s best to avoid citrusy and acidic foods that are rich in vitamin C. Instead try eating guava, papaya, or broccoli.
5. Make your cranberry juice. Or drink unsweetened cranberry juice.
Another natural treatment for bladder inflammation is drinking cranberry juice. For the healthiest results, try making your cranberry juice so you can make sure that it is not pumped with a lot of sugar, which is bad if you are suffering from cystitis. If you do not have time for this, you can also find unsweetened cranberry juice drinks in the market.
6. Avoid holding back your pee.
If you empty your bladder, you are also releasing bacteria that cause your inflammation. Holding back your urine will cause bacteria build-up and can make you more susceptible to UTI or cystitis. It can worsen your bladder inflammation if you are currently suffering from it. In some rare cases, holding back your pee can push it back to the kidneys, which will result in further complications.
7. Report to a doctor as soon as possible.
This is not a home remedy, but as was said earlier, it is the best thing that you can do to treat your inflamed bladder. Once you are experiencing the symptoms, don’t hesitate to visit a walk in clinic Edmonton so that you can talk to a doctor. If you want to consult a physician fast without leaving your home, you can also dial online clinics that can refer you to different online doctors in Canada.
Take time to try these home remedies to help you get rid of bladder inflammation but don’t hesitate to contact a doctor today.