How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are also known as UTIs, cystitis and bladder infections. They most commonly occur in women, and there are steps you can take to help prevent them, especially if you are prone to them.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cranberry Juice
• Acidophilus
• Bioflavonoid Complex
• Toilet Paper
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin C

1. Drink at least eight glasses of water per day.

2. Add cranberry juice to your diet. Try to drink a glass every day. If you don't like cranberry juice, try another acidic juice such as orange or grapefruit. The juice will help keep your urine acidic.

3. Wear cotton underwear and panty hose with a cotton crotch. Cotton allows air to pass in and out and keeps the crotch area drier, making it a less-inviting place for bacteria to flourish.

4. Wipe from front to back (if you are female), reducing the likelihood that bacteria will spread from your anus into your urinary tract.

5. Use white, unscented toilet paper. Dyes and perfumes can cause inflammation and urinary symptoms in some people.

6. Urinate before and after sexual intercourse.

7. Avoid bubble baths, bath oils and powders. These can irritate the area and increase the likelihood of infection.

8. Decrease or eliminate vaginal douching. Avoid vaginal deodorants and perfumed feminine hygiene products, which may contribute to urinary problems.

9. Take 1,000 to 2,000 mg of vitamin C with bioflavonoids daily. Vitamin C helps acidify the urine, preventing the growth of bacteria.

10. Use acidophilus, especially if you are on antibiotics, according to package directions. Acidophilus helps restore normal bacterial growth.

11. Eat celery, parsley and watermelon. They are natural diuretics, which help flush out your system.

12. Use sanitary pads instead of tampons if you are prone to urinary tract infections.

Tips & Warnings

• If you still get recurring infections despite taking preventive measures, discuss the matter with a health-care provider.
• Contact a physician or other health-care professional before engaging in any activity related to health or diet. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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[CystexTeam]

on 4/30/2008 I just wanted to let everyone know that Cystex®, the over-the-counter urinary pain reliever, just revamped its Web site with useful and practical information about the treatment and prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you currently have a UTI or seem to experience recurrent episodes, check out www.cystex.com for up-to-date information about this condition, possible causes, common misconceptions about UTIs and even a “public restroom finder” to find a clean, usable restroom in your city. The Web site also has a blog called the “Cystex® Ladies Room” authored by top urologists to help answer readers’ personal questions. Now here’s an excellent health resource for UTI sufferers…

[ahhtchoo]

on 12/23/2007 Best thing I've read so far: http://www.helium.com/tm/710795/misery-urinary-tract-infection

[Sparklegirl01]

on 10/25/2006 The active ingredient in cranberry juice is a simple sugar refered to as D-Mannose. It coats the cillia of the bacteria that cause UTI's so they can't grip on to the walls of your bladder. It comes in capsule form and can be found at most food co-ops/healthfood stores. It's more effective than drinking cranberry juice because it's concentrated and there's only about 5 calories in 2 capsules.
Because it's a sugar, you can't really overdose on it and you can take it everyday.
I also use goldenseal as an antibacterial and this works literally in just a few hours. It should only be used in small doses and for only up to 1 week.

on 8/8/2006 I've had 2 UTIs in the past 5 months. The first one I went to the doctor and got antibiotics, then I felt like I had another one about 2 months later and decided to give cranberry juice a shot. Honestly, I didn't it would help, but it did. At the first symptoms of a UTI, get about a gallon of cranberry juice and drink the whole thing within a day and you will start to feel better. I'm so glad it worked for me, I don't have health insurance and it cost me about $90 for a doctor visit and the meds with my first one.

on 1/23/2006 I also used to take Cystex and lots of water and cranberry juice. Just three days ago I was released from the hospital with a kidney infection because I did not get antibiotics for my UTI. I was hospitalized for four days (through Christmas day) and I was miserable. I felt like I was going to die. Please do not make this mistake and get help as soon as you realize you have a UTI problem. Believe me, it is not worth all you will experience if you do not take care of it. I am now on antibiotics and have been told by the doctors at the hospital that I will most likely feel badly for weeks to come.