urinary tract infections Archives

The Importance of Vitamin C for Chronic Bladder Problems (And How To Take It)

ByLayla | On June 03,18 | 8 Comments

Vitamin C is probably the most well-known and studied vitamin. I’ve come to believe that it may also be one of the most important ones for people suffering from chronic bladder problems, which I’d like to explain in today’s post.

If you have interstitial cystitis (IC), you may have been told to stay clear of vitamin C supplements – a.k.a Ascorbic Acid. Why? Because as the name suggests, it is rather acidic and could therefore be rather uncomfortable when getting in contact with inflamed tissue. But fear not, I will explain how you can take it without the burn!

Conditions, Cystitis, Interstitial Cystitis

The Bladder-Gut Connection

ByLayla | On April 29,18 | 15 Comments

Hippocrates already said over 2000 years ago that ‘all disease begins in the gut’. Today, we’re understanding more and more how right he was.

For me personally, gut issues preceded the onset of chronic cystitis and interstitial cystitis. When my gut was at its worst, so was my bladder. I have no doubt that, similarly to many other conditions, the gut is implicated in bladder problems.

Conditions, Cystitis

UTI First Aid: Flushing and Alkalizing, does it make sense?

ByLayla | On September 04,17 | 7 Comments

Pharmacies usually sell ‘cystitis relief’ products designed to serve as a first aid for urinary tract infections. These preparations are designed to alkalize the urine.

Moreover, flushing through increased fluid intake is usually recommended.

I have previously recommended doing this as it is the common advice for cystitis relief before taking antibiotics.

Some people may well have success with this approach but is it scientifically validated?

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

Fungal Infections in the Urinary Tract

ByLayla | On August 21,17 | 12 Comments

When speaking about urinary tract infections, we usually speak about bacterial infections. Fungi (a.k.a yeasts or mold) are different organisms from bacteria and they can cause infections such as thrush in some parts of the body. Fungal infections in the vagina for example are a well-known condition. But can there also be fungal infections in the urinary tract?

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

Contraception and Bladder Health

ByLayla | On July 10,17 | 3 Comments

Last week I had a look at how hormones affect the urinary tract. Changes in the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone and even the ‘male’ hormone testosterone appear to affect urinary tract symptoms.

Oral contraception affects hormone levels in the body and may therefore also affect urinary tract symptoms.

Other contraception may not affect hormones but may have an impact on the urinary tract in other ways.

Today I would like to take a look at what we know about different forms of contraception and bladder health.

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

The Role of Hormones in Bladder Health

ByLayla | On July 03,17 | 14 Comments

Today I’d like to take a closer look at the role of hormones on bladder health. Hormones have been known for a while to play a role in lower urinary tract symptoms such as UTIs, interstitial cystitis and stress incontinence. Hormones may be the reason why women generally seem to be more prone to bladder problems than men and also why some symptoms may get worse at certain times of the month.

Conditions, Cystitis

Eating Chicken Could Give You Urinary Tract Infections

ByLayla | On June 04,17 | 0 Comment

Most of us are aware of the dangers of food poisoning, especially from raw meat. But what if other infections in the body could also be transmitted via food? Well’ research shows that this is unfortunately often the case [1]. Conventionally raised chicken meat could harbor pathogenic E. Coli, the most prevalent bacteria to cause urinary tract infections.

From the meat, these pathogens could pass over to humans and cause infections.

Conditions, Cystitis

Why a history of UTIs leaves us more prone to future infections

ByLayla | On May 28,17 | 0 Comment

A prior history of urinary tract infections is considered to be a significant risk factor for developing new infections in the future. But why does a history of UTIs leave us more prone to future infections?

New research shows that pathogenic E. Coli can leave an imprint on the bladder lining, making it easier for future infections to take hold.

Conditions, Cystitis

The Vaginal Bacterium That Can Trigger UTIs

ByLayla | On May 07,17 | 8 Comments

Researchers have identified a common vaginal bacterium that may trigger UTIs.

This could explain why recurring episodes of UTIs are often triggered by sexual intercourse.

The bacterium called Gardnerella vaginalis may not only be responsible for triggering UTIs, it may also be a contributor to more serious kidney infections.

Cystitis, Protocols

Natural Antibiotics for the Urinary Tract

ByLayla | On April 30,17 | 6 Comments

Today I am going to look at different natural antibiotics for the urinary tract.

A lot of herbal antimicrobials have a much longer track record of safety compared to modern antibiotic drugs.

They often have less side effects and may exert additional beneficial effects on top of their antimicrobial action, such as reducing inflammation and hindering bacterial adhesion.