Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) - How to Get Rid of Them
More Tips for Getting Rid of a Urinary Tract Infection
1. Don’t hold it. If you need to urinate, do so as soon as possible. Holding it encourages the growth of bacteria.
2. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol and caffeine both irritate your bladder. Irritation is not going to help you or make you feel better when you have a UTI.
3. Wear cotton underwear. Cotton doesn’t hold in moisture (which encourages the growth of bacteria) like other fabrics can.
4. Wipe from front to back. After urinating, wipe from front to back to avoid redistributing bacteria to your urethra.
5. Urinate before and after sex. Urinating before and after sex flushes bacteria out of your urinary tract, reducing the likelihood you will get a UTI. If you already have one, this is even more important.
6. Reduce pain with over-the-counter medications. If you are having pain from a UTI, you should definitely see your doctor. However, if you are already being treated for a UTI and just need some temporary pain relief, take an over-the-counter urinary pain relief medication, such as Cystex for Urinary Pain or AZO Cranberry. Beware, though- these medications can turn your urine bright orange or other colors. That side effect is harmless, but it can be quite alarming if you weren’t expecting it.
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Where Can I Learn More?​
If you are worried that you have a UTI infection, check out these medical articles for more information:
WebMD Article on Urinary Tract Infections