Cystitis in women – symptoms, treatment, diet

Pain in a woman with cystitis

Cystitis is a disease that occurs in urology.Cystitis is characterized by extensive inflammation of the bladder lining.First I will examine the signs and symptoms of cystitis in women, then traditional and medical treatments at home.

Girls are significantly more likely to suffer from bladder infections than men.The anatomy of the female urogenital system is to blame for this.Girls have a wider and shorter urinary canal, through which infectious agents can move much more easily.Cystitis usually occurs in women between the ages of twenty and forty.

With acute cystitis in women, the symptoms are characterized by a vivid picture.When the disease becomes chronic, the symptoms are less pronounced and the inflammatory process is less noticeable.Cystitis needs to be treated.

The first symptoms of cystitis

  • Frequent urges.The desire to look into the toilet occurs every fifteen minutes.
  • Urination is painful, accompanied by pain and burning.These sensations increase towards the end of urinary excretion.
  • Pain in the pubic area.The pain becomes noticeable on its own or when going to the toilet.
  • Urine loses its transparency and takes on an unpleasant, pungent odor.Sometimes it contains purulent blood clots and blood.
  • After going to the toilet, there is a feeling that the bladder is not completely emptied.

If a woman's cystitis is severe, general symptoms may occur - chills, weakness, fever, vomiting, nausea.A prolonged course of the disease without treatment can lead to enuresis - urinary incontinence.

Causes of cystitis in women

Due to the special design of the urethra, women are more likely to suffer from the disease.Escherichia coli is the cause of infectious cystitis.Streptococci, chlamydia, enterococci or fungi are often the causative agents of the disease.

Note that there are other causes of bladder infections that have nothing to do with bacteria.More about that below.

  1. Infections.Due to constipation, advanced gynecological diseases and poor hygiene, infections can easily enter the bladder and lead to the formation of a cystitis.
  2. hypothermia of the body.Sometimes just sitting on a cool surface for a few minutes is enough for symptoms of a cystitis to appear.
  3. Sedentary work.If a girl sits at work regularly and for a long time, this can lead to impaired blood circulation in the bladder walls.
  4. Wrong diet.Greasy, spicy and salty foods can cause a bladder infection.
  5. Chronic inflammatory diseases.Bladder infection can even result from tooth decay if the infection reaches the bladder with blood.
  6. Incorrect urination pattern.Girls should go to the toilet as often as possible and try not to hold back their urine.Otherwise, the infection can enter the bladder much more easily.
  7. sexual intercourse.During sexual intercourse, the exit of the urinary canal is exposed to prolonged friction.Typically, symptoms of the disease appear several hours after intimate relationships.
  8. Other reasons.The list of factors causing cystitis includes: promiscuity, chronic depression, weakened immunity, diabetes, menopause and metabolic disorders.

There is interstitial cystitis, a serious chronic disease that occurs when the immune system malfunctions.In this disease, the infection affects the mucous membrane and bladder muscles.

Treating cystitis at home

Girls usually develop cystitis during adolescence.In search of fashion and beauty, they wear short skirts, thin tights and light outerwear even in winter.Over time, cystitis becomes chronic.

A bladder infection must be treated immediately by a doctor, otherwise unpleasant consequences can occur:

  • Worsening of cystitis, appearance of acute symptoms.
  • Infectious kidney damage.
  • Damage to the mucous membrane and muscle wall of the bladder.
  • Irreversible changes in the bladder.
  • The occurrence of hematuria – blood is found in the urine.This is due to kidney damage and inflammatory processes in the bladder.

By starting treatment for cystitis in a timely and correct manner, the complications listed above can be avoided.The right therapy depends on comprehensive treatment with medication prescribed by the treating doctor and prevention.

Medical care

Acute cystitis refers to individual cases of the disease that have not yet progressed far.For quick treatment, medications, folk recipes and preventive measures are used.

The first phase is preparatory

Maintain bed rest, increase fluid intake, avoid alcohol completely and adjust your diet.

The second stage is antibacterial treatment

  1. Antibacterial medications prescribed by the attending physician.Short-term but highly effective pill cures are extremely popular.To enhance the effect, herbal teas are recommended.
  2. Antifungal drugs are combined with antibiotics if necessary.Only a doctor prescribes them.
  3. With an active development of infectious processes, the gynecologist can choose a different strategy, namely the use of a new generation of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

The third stage – completion of treatment

The final step is treatment using thermal processes.In addition to wearing warm clothing and drinking hot drinks, we recommend taking warm sitz baths with the addition of chamomile or St. John's wort.

The drugs listed above are really effective in the fight against cystitis.To speed up recovery, it is recommended to combine them with traditional recipes.We'll talk about them next.

Folk remedies

The signal to start treating cystitis with folk remedies are mild symptoms that indicate the development of the disease.It is possible to cope with a mild form of cystitis on your own, provided, however, that the woman does not experience severe pain and blood in the urine.Otherwise, you should definitely see a doctor.After the examination, the doctor will prescribe medication.

  • Chamomile baths.They have an anti-inflammatory effect and eliminate any symptoms that may occur.To prepare a bath, you need to brew chamomile, let it stand for two hours, strain and pour into the bath.Take a chamomile bath for half an hour.
  • Cranberry juice.Mild symptoms of a bladder infection can be helped by drinking a few cups of natural cranberry juice.Store-bought juice is not suitable because it does not contain microelements to combat pathological microorganisms.If you can't find fresh cranberries, buy cranberry extract for the treatment of cystitis at the pharmacy.
  • herbal teas.Pharmacies sell ready-made herbal teas, but you can also make them yourself.Eucalyptus, St. John's wort, mint, chamomile, horsetail and linseed are suitable for the decoction.The herbs listed are characterized by an antimicrobial effect and relieve inflammation.
  • Temporary denial of intimacy.If you suffer from cystitis, you should avoid sexual relations as the bacteria can be passed on to your partner.If the body is prone to chronic cystitis or there is a possibility of picking up bacteria from a lover, it is necessary to urinate immediately after intimacy.
  • Rinses.This method involves washing the vagina with a liquid mixture.Many women use this folk remedy to combat cystitis and treat thrush.Dissolve 5 drops of tea tree oil in two liters of boiling water, add a few cloves and chopped garlic.

Cystitis must be treated comprehensively, otherwise the disease takes a chronic course, which is characterized by frequent relapses.If the disease occurs frequently, you should definitely contact the clinic.

Diet for cystitis

If you often go to the toilet and a burning sensation appears in the lower abdomen, most likely you have suffered from a bladder infection.To alleviate the condition, take pills, use folk remedies and follow a diet.Avoiding foods that irritate your inflamed bladder during your illness will speed your recovery.

A diet for cystitis has an antiseptic and diuretic effect on a girl's body, which is important for fighting the bacteria that caused the disease.

  1. Eat three full meals and a few snacks throughout the day.The urinary system functions most actively at the beginning of the day, so the combined proportion of breakfast and lunch should account for 75% of the daily food intake.
  2. The diet of a woman with cystitis should consist of light natural products.
  3. Drink plenty of fluids to flush the urinary tract.Water, fruit juice, fruit and berry compote, herbal tea, weak tea are enough.It is allowed to drink natural juices except tomatoes.
  4. Include diuretic foods in your diet – carrots, zucchini, watermelon, spinach, cucumbers.As the condition improves, you can eat homemade yogurt, cottage cheese, fish and lean meat.For cystitis, dietary soups, porridge with water and mashed potatoes are allowed.

What you shouldn't eat if you have a bladder infection

It doesn't hurt to avoid store-bought products with preservatives, dyes and other additives.Chemistry is dangerous even for a healthy person, not to mention a female body weakened by cystitis.Instead of sugar, it is better to use honey, which has a positive effect on the inflamed organ.

Drinks

  • Strong tea
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Coffee

Dishes

  • Sour
  • Fried
  • Fat
  • Acute
  • Cucumbers
  • Broths based on mushrooms, fish, meat

Sauces

  • ketchup
  • mayonnaise
  • Hot sauces

vegetables and fruits

  • Tomatoes
  • Garlic
  • Sour berries
  • Cauliflower
  • Onion
  • radish

After completely defeating acute cystitis, a woman can gradually return to her original diet.Chronic cystitis requires a strict diet for a long period of time, otherwise an exacerbation of the disease cannot be avoided.

Treatment of cystitis during pregnancy

Another factor that increases the risk of cystitis is pregnancy.According to statistics, the disease occurs in 7% of pregnant women.Therefore, treating cystitis during pregnancy in a difficult period brings many additional problems.

During pregnancy, the disease should be treated under medical guidance.At the same time, there are certain things that a woman can take care of herself.It's about nutrition.Drink more water, exclude soda, smoked foods, spicy treats, coffee, chocolate, sugar, pastries and citrus fruits.

Medication

Taking medications during pregnancy has certain peculiarities.The choice of medication is limited due to side effects.It is also influenced by the length of pregnancy.Therapy is carried out under constant medical supervision.

  • Antimicrobial drugs are used to combat the disease.After examining the urine culture, the doctor determines the sensitivity of the bacteria to the drug and adjusts treatment.
  • Instillations are often used during pregnancy.The instillation technique involves infusing the medicine into the bladder.The main advantage of this method is that less medication enters the bloodstream, reducing the likelihood of side effects.

Traditional treatment methods

Particular attention is paid to the use of herbal remedies, whose role in therapy can hardly be overestimated.The use of herbs should be supervised by a doctor.

  • Cranberry juice.Research has shown that cranberry juice is excellent for treating diseases by inhibiting the growth of bacteria and increasing the concentration of hippuric acid in the body.All you have to do is drink fresh, homemade juice.Blueberries and blueberries are also suitable for treatment.
  • Birch leaves and dandelion extract.A wonderful diuretic.
  • Marshmallow root.Prevents the growth of microorganisms and accelerates the cleaning of the affected organ.It is recommended to drink a liter of tea made from dry roots every day.
  • Bearberry.An infusion of bearberry berries has a diuretic effect and is an excellent antiseptic.If the plant is used simultaneously with bear ears, the effect is enhanced.

Finally, I would like to add that cystitis becomes chronic if left untreated.

Preventative measures help prevent cystitis.To do this, it is enough not to get too cold, drink plenty of fluids, sit as little as possible, go to the toilet regularly, treat chronic diseases in a timely manner, use protection during sexual intercourse and pay attention to hygiene.