Is there any pain worse than the pain of cystitis? This is a rhetorical question because there are things out there that can be more painful but, at that moment, it’s the worst pain in the world! UTIs like cystitis are infections, so you must do what you can to prevent them from happening from the off. The stronger your immune system is the better it can fight an infection like cystitis, and if anything you need a healthy dose of fear that comes with having cystitis in the first place.
There are so many ways that you can prevent the misery of the infection that is cystitis, and it has a very high reinfection rate if you are not careful. Did you know that within six months of the first attack of cystitis 25% of women get a second attack? This is not OK – nobody needs to feel like they are urinating razor blades!
Combatting Cystitis
With many different infections, itching is a common symptom but a UTI usually don’t cause itching so if that’s what you’re experiencing, seeing a sexual health doctor may be the best thing you do. Instead, you have an intense urge to urinate, but those very frequent trips you take to the bathroom do not usually result in very much. There is a spreading pain in your lower belly that you can expect, and a burning sensation when you do manage to urinate. It’s not pleasant, and it’s not fun, but those are the symptoms you should keep an eye out for. Nipping cystitis in the bud is important and here are some of the ways you should combat cystitis, shared by a contributor.
- As much as possible you need to stay as clean as you can. It’s not just the way that you wash or you wipe, but you need to wash your hands when you go to the toilet and before you eat. E. coli bacteria causes up to 95% of cystitis infections, and this is bacteria that is often found in feces. While it won’t harm you inside the bowel if it gets into other places that can cause a lot of trouble.
- Wipe right. We’re not just talking about washing your windows here, we are talking about infections that can make a lasting difference. If you want to avoid cystitis completely then you need to make sure that you are wiping the right way. You want to wipe from front to back and while it may not feel natural for you to do that, wiping correctly can make a big difference to you and it can make you feel better if you know that you are avoiding cystitis in the first place.
- Stay away from harsh soaps. Bacteria is sometimes good for you but often bad for you. We have millions of friendly microbes on our bodies, on our skin, outside the urethra and on our legs. Intimate products and harsh soaps or water that is too hot can kill off the good bacteria and this is the stuff that you need to help to fight those cystitis infections. Avoiding harsh soaps will mean that you are showering with more natural products and that will help you to avoid putting anything into your urethra that shouldn’t be there. This is an exit for urine not an entrance for bacteria.
- Always use the bathroom. If you need, you should go. Holding in your urine is never good for your urethra or bladder, and when we urinate the body is flushing out the waste. When you hold this in, you are holding on to waste products and bacteria that you really don’t want inside your body. Make sure that you empty out your bladder completely so you’re not holding anything back.
- Relax. One of the worst things that you can do is push while you wee. You may think it’s faster and will get you back to your desk at work quickly but squeezing out urine is going to activate the pelvic floor muscles and stop the bladder from emptying properly. One of the best things you can do is to have a step under your feet whilst you’re on the toilet. Elevating your knees in line with your pelvis can help your bladder to completely relax and let urine flow the way it’s always supposed to.
- Always pee after sex. Did you know that cystitis is also known as honeymoon cystitis? Couples in love and partners who are very active in the bedroom with energetic and frequent sessions need to be aware of cystitis as well as other sexually transmitted diseases. The tissue around the urethra is delicate and when it’s inflamed it becomes more prone to infection. Bacteria can get moved around the wrong direction and peeing immediately after sex will help to flush any bacteria that could be running around your system without you knowing.
- Buy natural cotton underwear. Underwear made with natural fabrics are breathable and they can help you to keep cycle and stay fresh and. When you are wearing underwear with nylon, polyester or other synthetic fabrics, you are not allowing your urethra to breathe! They can then become sweaty and moist environments promote cystitis causing bacteria that you could be avoiding.
- Hydrate. Did you know that dehydration can cause your urine to become too concentrated? If your urine is darker than just a pale straw yellow, then you are not drinking enough water and that’s a problem. Two concentrated, and the urine will have much more bacteria than usual. This will increase your chance of developing cystitis and make for a very uncomfortable afternoon at the office.
Cystitis may be one of those annoying urinary tract infections, but it is one that is avoidable. Stocking up on cranberry juice and making sure that you are drinking at least a liter of water a day can help you to stay on top of an infection. Now that you understand just how to look after your body a little bit more from us hopefully, you’ll be able to avoid these infections and stay feeling good in the long term.