How To Help a UTI at Home
How To Help a UTI at Home
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common acute health problems, affecting 6-8 million Americans each year. If you or your loved one regularly experience UTIs, knowing what to do when the first symptoms appear can reduce uncomfortable side effects and prevent potentially severe complications.
Below we explain how to help a UTI using home remedies with just a few simple steps.
What You’ll Need:
For UTI treatment at home, you’ll need the following:
8 oz. water bottle OR a large drinking glass
Cranberry juice
Cranberry extract or supplements
Vitamin C supplements OR foods rich in vitamin C (e.g., berries, citrus, and leafy greens)
Probiotics
Barrier cream or paste (if you use incontinence products)
OTC pain management medication, like AZO Urinary Pain Relief Tablets
Steps to Help a UTI at Home
Step 1: Visit Your Doctor
If you or your loved one develop symptoms of a UTI, such as pain or burning sensations during urination, bloody urine, or the urge to urinate frequently, seeking medical care is essential.
“Even though most mild urinary tract infections can be treated with natural remedies, more serious infections may require antibiotics,” said Dr. Nisarg Patel, MBBS, MS, a gynecologist and obstetrician with ClinicSpots. “It’s never advisable to wait and try to treat an infection yourself. Without intervention, UTIs can spread and cause other health problems.”
Step 2: Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your general health. Water lubricates and cushions your joints, regulates your temperature, and promotes healthy digestion.
“It’s also one of the most important things you can do when it comes to avoiding UTIs,” Dr. Patel said. “Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins and bacteria from your urinary system. Also, drinking fluids helps dilute your urine, making it harder for bacteria to grow and cause an infection.”
Step 3: Take Supplemental Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms (e.g., bacteria and yeast) that live inside your body. They help keep you healthy and play an important role in various bodily functions, like digestion.
Good and bad bacteria exist in your body at all times. But if you get sick or develop an infection, the amount of bad bacteria increases. Supplemental probiotics are vitamins or nutritional beverages that help fight bad bacteria and restore your body to balance
“Probiotics may be beneficial in preventing UTIs by maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in our gut,” Dr. Patel said. “However, it’s important to speak with your doctor or healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen, to make sure they are right for you.”
Step 4: Drink Cranberry Juice or Take Cranberry Supplements
Most Americans don’t think about cranberries outside the Thanksgiving season. But these tart fruits are packed with nutritional benefits, especially when it comes to urinary tract health.
“Eating cranberries, drinking cranberry juice, or taking cranberry supplements is thought to reduce the risk of infection,” Dr. Patel said.
“Cranberries contain compounds called proanthocyanidins, which have been shown to prevent certain types of bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. This makes it harder for them to build up and cause an infection.”
Step 5: Include Vitamin C in Your Diet
Eating foods rich in vitamin C can affect the acidity of your urine. Some researchers believe that acidity is enough to help prevent UTIs.
Even if it can’t prevent UTIs, eating a diet rich in vitamin C makes sense. Vitamin C supports your immune system and plays a vital role in the body’s adaptive immune response.
Step 6: Practice Good Toilet Hygiene
You can reduce the risk of UTIs by practicing good toilet hygiene, especially if you or your loved one use incontinence products.
“After using the toilet or an incontinence product, always wipe front-to-back and avoid using scented sprays or wipes around your genital area,” Dr. Patel said.
Step 7: Be Smart About Sex
Regular UTIs can significantly impact your sex life, but a few small changes can help keep infections at bay.
“When it comes to sex, always urinate after sexual intercourse to help flush out any bacteria that entered the urinary tract,” Dr. Patel said. “Also, it’s important to practice safe sex and use a condom. Barrier protection protects both you and your partner from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can lead to UTIs.”
Step 8: Change Incontinence Products Regularly
If you or your loved one wears incontinence products, change them after each void. Wearing soiled absorbent underwear for any amount of time allows harmful bacteria to breed, increasing the risk of infection.
Caregiver Tip
Applying a barrier cream or barrier paste to your or your loved one’s skin reduces irritation and prevents harmful bacteria from making contact with the genitals and perineum.
Have Questions About UTIs?
Our friendly Care Specialists regularly help people find the products they need to manage UTIs and other incontinence-related issues at home. Our incontinence and toileting section has everything you need to support your loved one’s urinary health, including incontinence products, cranberry supplements, and educational articles.
If you need assistance, call (800) 696-CARE or send an email to support@carewell.com.
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Read More >Chad Birt is a freelance medical writer who resides in Astoria, Oregon. When he isn't behind a keyboard, you can find him hiking, camping, or birdwatching with his wife Ella and their two dogs, Diane and Thoreau.
Chad Birt is a freelance medical writer who resides in Astoria, Oregon. When he isn't behind a keyboard, you can find him hiking, camping, or birdwatching with his wife Ella and their two dogs, Diane and Thoreau.