Bladder Infection Home Remedies
What is a Bladder Infection?
A bladder infection, also known as cystitis or a urinary tract infection (UTI), occurs when bacteria enter your bladder and travel up your urethra. This results in the bladder becoming inflamed, leading to uncomfortable symptoms such as a burning sensation when you pee, an urgent need to pee more often, and a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen.
What Causes Bladder Infections?
The most common cause of bladder infections is the E. coli bacteria. These bacteria are usually found in your intestines but they can travel up the urethra and into your bladder. Other causes of bladder infections include a buildup of bacteria in the urinary tract, a weakened immune system, and sexual activity.
What are the Symptoms of Bladder Infections?
The most common symptoms of bladder infections are a burning sensation when you urinate, an urgent need to urinate more often, and a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen. You may also experience pain in your lower back, blood in your urine, and cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
How Can You Treat a Bladder Infection?
The most common treatment for bladder infections is antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe the right antibiotic for your specific infection. It's important to take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed and to drink plenty of fluids while taking them. This helps to flush out the infection.
Home Remedies for Bladder Infections
In addition to antibiotics, there are several home remedies that can help to reduce the symptoms of bladder infections. These include drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding coffee, tea, and alcohol, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. You can also try drinking cranberry juice or taking probiotics to help prevent future bladder infections.
Drinking Plenty of Fluids
Drinking plenty of fluids is one of the easiest and most effective home remedies for bladder infections. Water helps to flush out the bacteria that are causing the infection, as well as helping to reduce the burning sensation when you pee. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.
Avoiding Coffee, Tea, and Alcohol
Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks can irritate your bladder and make your symptoms worse. Alcohol can also cause dehydration and make your symptoms worse, so it’s best to avoid it until your infection has cleared up. You can still drink other fluids such as water, cranberry juice, and herbal teas.
Taking Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help to reduce the pain and discomfort associated with bladder infections. Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the label and to talk to your doctor before taking any medication.
Drinking Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice has been shown to help prevent bladder infections. It can also help to reduce the symptoms of existing infections by flushing out the bacteria and helping to reduce inflammation. Aim to drink at least 8 ounces of cranberry juice per day.
Taking Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help to restore the balance of bacteria in your gut and reduce the risk of bladder infections. You can take probiotic supplements or eat probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, and miso. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.