How to Prevent a UTI

A UTI, or urinary tract infection, is a painful and uncomfortable infection of the urinary tract. It can effect the bladder or the kidneys, and is caused when bacteria make their way into the urinary tract. While it is more common in women, men can get a UTI as well. A UTI is not an STD, and even non-sexually active people can contract one. Learn how to recognize and prevent UTI's.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Know the symptoms of a UTI. These include a burning sensation when you urinate, feeling that you need to pee when you don't, and may include blood in your urine.

2. Drink cranberry juice. This is the easiest way to prevent a UTI. Cranberry juice helps wash out the bacteria. Make sure it is 100% cranberry juice and not a blend.

3. Eat a healthy diet that is low on alcohol and caffeine. These cause irritation to the bladder and will irritate an infection. They cannot cause one, however.

4. Exercise and keep your body in shape. A healthy lifestyle builds the immune system and helps fight an infection.

5. Wash before and after sexual intercourse and have your partner do the same.

6. Use the restroom no later than ten minutes after having sexual intercourse. This will flush any bacteria pushed inside by sex out of your system.

7. Go to the restroom when you need to. Holding it in gives bacteria more time to create an infection.

8. Stay dehydrated by drinking plenty of water a day. Using the restroom will flush out bacteria, and staying dehydrated lowers the risk of infection.

9. Contact your doctor if you think you have a UTI. Antibiotics will be needed to treat it.

10. Go to the emergency room if you have blood in your urine, pain in your stomach or back, nausea, fever, or diarrhea. These are all symptoms of a serious infection, appendicitis, or a kidney infection. They can spread rapidly, and can be a life or death situation if untreated.

Tips & Warnings

• You may have no symptoms of a UTI. People with frequent UTI's may not experience any symptoms after their first infection.
• Cranberry juice cannot cure a UTI, only prevent it. See your doctor if you have the symptoms of a UTI.

Resources

• Web MD: Urinary Tract Infections

[katj]

on 11/17/2009 Agreed, cranberry helps prevent uti but not treat. Probiotics are also key--have been used in Europe for years and just now getting accepted in the U.S. Need a high colony count on those.
Source: www.xthera.com