> Health and Disease > Urinary Tract > urinary tract infections (UTIs)

It is a very fortunate woman who has never experienced the anguish of a bladder infection. Up to 20 percent of all women in Canada suffer from this condition at least once a year. Nearly 40 percent of women who have never had a bladder infection will get one within the next decade.

Bladder infections are indeed very common. Also called cystitis or urinary tract infection (UTI), this painful condition is most often associated with E. coli bacteria migrating from the colon. Other less common invading bacteria are Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus.

Factors for Infection

Pregnancy, due to hormonal changes favouring bacterial growth, doubles a women’s risk, and sexual activity increases the chances tenfold. Bacteria tend to thrive in a body that contains a lot of sugar. Diabetics and those with high sugar intakes are thus more likely to get bladder and other infections. Stress and the overuse of antibiotics are two more factors that lead to higher rates of bladder infections. Structural abnormalities in the urinary tract that block the free flow of urine or cause urinary reflux also dramatically boost the infection rate.

Thanks to anatomical differences between men and women (women have a much shorter urethra that is more prone to bacterial invasion), men rarely get bladder infections. In men, they occur only as secondary infections to structural abnormalities, neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, prostate infections, immune system weaknesses or as a consequence of rectal intercourse.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Symptoms often include burning pain on urination, urgency to urinate, urinary frequency, foul-smelling, turbid or dark urine, low abdominal pain and, in some cases, fever. A visit to the average family doctor, emergency room or walk-in clinic usually ends with a urine culture test and a prescription for a seven- to 14-day course of antibiotics. While this mainstream approach is most often satisfactory, it is not necessarily the safest, most cost-effective or disease-preventive approach to the problem. At least 50 per cent of all women who suffer from recurrent bladder infections will develop kidney damage, sometimes leading to kidney failure.

What to Do

First and most importantly, especially for preventing bladder infection, maintain proper hygiene. Wipe from front to back after every use of the toilet to prevent urethral contact with colonic bacteria. If at all possible, shower before and urinate after sex. Urinate when you get the urge instead of holding it, to prevent bacteria from taking a foothold. Avoid any sort of vaginal deodorants because these change the flora and increase susceptibility to infection.

Drink more fluids to increase the bacterial flushing effects of the urine flow. It’s best to use pure spring water (at least half of all your fluid intake), herbal teas and diluted fruit and vegetable juices. For most adults, this means drinking at least two litres of fluids daily. Avoid anything containing caffeine (especially soft drinks and coffee) or alcohol because of their irritating and dehydrating effects on the bladder.

Since bacteria thrive on sugar, avoid all simple sugars (such as in pop and most packaged cereals), refined carbohydrates (white bread and other refined flour products) and full-strength fruit juices. Eating more garlic and onions is a good idea because these vegetables have a strong antibacterial effect.

Next, see if you can add unsweetened cranberry juice, at least half a litre daily divided into four doses. Hippuric acid and other ingredients of cranberry juice prevent bacteria such as E. coli from adhering to the bladder and urethral endothelium (inner lining). Freshly squeezed blueberry juice is an effective alternative to cranberry juice.

Most bladder infections will respond very nicely to these simple measures. Stubborn or recurrent cases may require the use of a combination of nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplements.

Nutritional Supplements

Take the following supplements until you are clear of symptoms for at least one week:

Dr. Zoltan Rona has practised preventive medicine in Toronto for more than 20 years. His published books include The Joy of Health and Return to the Joy of Health available through your health food store or alive Books at 1-800-663-6513.

Source: alive #238, August 2002