If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), then you know how awful it can be. This infection can make it difficult to go about your day-to-day activities due to the pain and discomfort that it causes. If you have recently gotten infected with UTI, follow these five steps to help speed up the healing process:
Seek medical attention
The first thing you should do is seek medical attention. A UTI can be a sign of something more serious, so it’s best to get checked out by a doctor. They will likely prescribe antibiotics to help clear up the infection. Usually, UTIs clear up within a week or two of starting treatment.
A good place to start is to type in “gynecologist near me” into your preferred internet search engine.
Drink plenty of fluids
Water is essential for flushing out the bacteria that are causing your UTI. It essentially helps by diluting your urine and making you urinate more frequently, which helps to clear out the infection.
Try to drink at least eight glasses per day. If you find it difficult to drink enough water, consider adding slices of lemon or cucumber to your drink to make it more refreshing. Continue drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day, even if you’re not feeling thirsty.
In addition to water, you can drink cranberry juice as well. Cranberry juice has been shown to help fight off UTIs due to the presence of proanthocyanidins – a type of antioxidant that helps to prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract walls.
Replace baths with showers
Baths can be relaxing, but they can also allow bacteria to spread to other parts of your body. Showers are a better option as they help to keep the area around your urinary tract clean. If you do take a bath, make sure that you wash thoroughly afterward and avoid sitting in the water for too long.
Also, avoid using scented soaps and other personal hygiene products as they can irritate the area and further aggravate your UTI. Use fragrance-free soap instead.
Eat the right foods
Certain foods can help to speed up the healing process. Foods that are high in antioxidants, such as berries and leafy greens, can help to fight off the bacteria causing your UTI. Additionally, foods that are high in probiotics (like yogurt and kefir) can help to restore the balance of good bacteria in your gut. This is important as an imbalance of gut flora can lead to the development of UTIs.
Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine as they can both irritate the bladder and make it more difficult to heal. Finally, make sure that you are getting enough zinc in your diet. Zinc is a mineral that has been shown to help fight off urinary tract infections. Good sources of zinc include oysters, beef, lamb, and pumpkin seeds.
Take plenty of rest and follow up with your doctor
UTIs can be quite fatiguing, so it’s important to take the time to rest. Get plenty of sleep and try to relax as much as possible. This will help your body to heal faster by allowing your immune system to focus on the infection. Moreover, resting can help to alleviate any pain or discomfort that you may be experiencing.
If you feel up to it, light exercise can also be beneficial. But make sure to avoid any strenuous activities until the infection has cleared up. You wouldn’t want to be dehydrated and aggravate your UTI even further.
Once you have started treatment for your UTI, make sure to follow up with your doctor. They will likely want to check in on your progress and may adjust your treatment plan as needed. Make sure to take all of the antibiotics that have been prescribed and to drink plenty of fluids.
If you notice any improvement in your symptoms, be sure to let your doctor know. This can help them to better gauge the effectiveness of the treatment plan.
UTIs can be quite frustrating to deal with, but following these five steps can help you speed up the healing process and make you feel more comfortable while you’re dealing with your infection. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to speak with your doctor. They will be able to provide additional advice and support during this time, especially if your UTI is recurring.
