urinary tract infection Archives - Page 2 of 2

Conditions, Cystitis, Interstitial Cystitis, Overactive Bladder

Intracellular Bacteria: The Hidden Cause of Bladder Problems

ByLayla | On April 16,17 | 17 Comments

There is new(ish) evidence emerging that recurrent UTIs, also known as chronic cystitis, are not always caused by a reinfection with a new pathogen but rather can be a relapse of the same pathogen.

It turns out that pathogenic bacteria have the ability to invade the cells of the bladder and live there in a dormant sleep-like state.

This is called an ‘intracellular bacterial community’.

In this state, the bacteria remain undetected by standard urine testing and unaffected by antibiotic treatment. They also remain undetected by our own immune system.

Now and again they can leave the cells, causing a relapse of the urinary tract infection.

Conditions, Cystitis, Interstitial Cystitis

Can Antibiotics Cause Interstitial Cystitis and Chronic UTIs?

ByLayla | On April 03,17 | 25 Comments

For anyone who has read my own story, you may remember that repeated courses of antibiotics for chronic UTIs kicked off my interstitial cystitis a few years ago. Can antibiotics cause interstitial cystitis and chronic UTIs? For me, they have definitely played a big role.

This question has been at the back of my mind for a while and today I would like to take a look at some of the scientific evidence to answer this question.

Conditions, Cystitis, Interstitial Cystitis, Overactive Bladder, Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Dysbiosis: The Underlying Factor Of Bladder Conditions

ByLayla | On February 13,17 | 3 Comments

In last week’s post I talked about the urinary microbiota – the bacterial communities that have recently been discovered to be present in the urinary tract.

We know now that microbes that live in and on our bodies play a crucial role in health and illness. There are friendly and pathogenic microbes (bacteria, fungi etc.) plus opportunistic microbes that can become pathogenic when left unchecked.

When the delicate balance of good vs bad microbes is disturbed we become prone to an array of health conditions and infections. This is called a ‘dysbiosis’.

Conditions, Cystitis

Cranberry Juice for Urinary Tract Infections: What does the Evidence Say?

ByLayla | On September 04,16 | 1 Comment

Cranberry juice has long been considered to be one of the main natural remedies for bladder health. Can cranberry juice prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs)?

When I first started having chronic infections I gulped down litres of the stuff. My GP told me to ‘Just drink some cranberry juice’ when I first started experiencing symptoms of interstitial cystitis after she just couldn’t find anything wrong with me!

At no point in time did the cranberry juice prevent my recurrent infections or helped me to clear my symptoms.

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Cystitis, Protocols

The Cystitis Diet Protocol

ByLayla | On August 10,16 | 0 Comment

The Cystitis Diet Protocol

A body with a healthy immune system can fight off infectious organisms, including those causing cystitis. A healthy microflora is also supportive.

To keep the immune system working efficiently, our bodies need nutrients.

Therefore, it is wise to consume a diet high in fresh, nutrient-dense foods and low in nutrient-poor, calorie rich foods that deplete nutrients and weaken the immune system.

Conditions, Cystitis

What is Cystitis (bladder infection, UTI)

ByLayla | On August 09,16 | 2 Comments

What is Cystitis?

Cystitis is the medical term for a condition also known as ‘urinary tract infection’ (UTI) or simply bladder infection. Cystitis is a very common problem, especially among women: it is estimated that over half the women in Britain will suffer from it at some point in their lifetime [1].

Cystitis is one of the most common causes for attending medical consultations and its prevalence is thought to increase with age. An estimated 10-15% of women aged over 60 years have frequent bouts of cystitis [2]. Men and children can also be affected by cystitis but this is less common.