Bladder inflammation - what can help me?
As urinary tract infections are much less common in men, we have focussed on the female bladder in this article. The shorter urethra in women makes it easier for germs to travel the few centimetres into the bladder, where they can then cause inflammation (cystitis). The symptoms can be associated with severe pain. The bacteria should be treated promptly to avoid the risk of spreading.
Find out here what treatment can relieve your symptoms and whether home remedies can be effective as an alternative to antibiotics!
What is cystitis?
The most common type of urinary tract infection is cystitis. Studies have shown that 40 - 60 per cent of women will develop a bladder infection at least once during their lifetime [1]. Bacteria such as enterococci and Escherichia coli ascend into the bladder via the ureter. Symptoms include a burning sensation when urinating and a frequent urge to urinate, and in more severe cases, blood in the urine and fever. It is important to treat these symptoms in order to prevent the infection from spreading. It is advisable to drink plenty of fluids to flush out bacteria via the urine [2]. Even uncomplicated cystitis with only mild symptoms should be treated to prevent the inflammatory disease from spreading.
Why do you get cystitis?
The most common cause of a urinary tract infection is intestinal bacteria. They can enter the urethra through smear infections or during sexual intercourse and quickly spread to the bladder. Under normal conditions, the human body has ways of defending itself against invading germs. Urine flows from the kidneys towards the bladder and from there out of the body to flush out intruders. This one-way flow normally prevents infection [3]. Due to a weakened immune system or other illnesses, the body's defences may be impaired, increasing the risk of the infection spreading. In this case, doctors usually treat the disease with antibiotics.
Pregnancy is also associated with a higher incidence of this infection. Scientists believe that hormonal changes and a shift in the position of the urinary tract during pregnancy can favour a urinary tract infection [3].
If a bladder infection occurs a few hours after sexual intercourse, it is known as honeymoon cystitis. This can be easily prevented by not forgetting to urinate after the act and cleaning the genital tract [4].
What consequences can acute cystitis have if it is not treated?
In acute cystitis, the germs can spread further and travel from the bladder to the kidneys. In this case, a kidney infection can develop, which can lead to severe pain and other serious health problems [1] [3]. Kidney inflammation should be taken seriously! Have it treated urgently, otherwise it can lead to septicaemia, which is life-threatening. Symptoms of sepsis include fever, chills, rapid breathing and heart rate, skin rash and confusion [5].
Which doctor should you see if you suspect you have a bladder infection?
If you experience any of these symptoms, be sure to seek medical advice from your gynaecologist! The white blood cell count and the examination for bacteria in the urine will give the doctor an indication of what treatment is needed [6]. If the symptoms are more severe, the surrounding organs should also be examined by ultrasound [7]. In most cases, an antibiotic can quickly fight the bacteria.
Your doctor can also help you with interstitial cystitis (chronic inflammation of the bladder wall without evidence of bacteria) or frequent cystitis.
What kills bacteria in the bladder?
In acute cystitis, conventional medicine advises drinking plenty of fluids and treatment with medication such as antibiotics. Which medication is effective in acute cases and how long it should be taken for is decided by the doctor depending on the severity of the infection [4]. The medication usually takes effect very quickly and the pain is often relieved the very next day.
Can you treat cystitis yourself?
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, you should consult a doctor. In the event that a doctor is not available, you can quickly initiate initial treatment of the symptoms with simple home remedies to combat the pain when urinating.
You should drink plenty of fluids as a first measure! Diuretic teas and water are a good way to flush out germs. A hot water bottle can relax the cramped muscles in your abdomen.
Which home remedies help with cystitis instead of antibiotics?
There is no one-size-fits-all miracle cure for cystitis. If you do not favour treatment with antibiotics as medication, also in view of possible antibiotic resistance, some home remedies can also have an effect. Many sufferers report good experiences with cranberry juice and the simple sugar D-mannose.
At the first signs and as a first treatment measure, the simplest home remedy is to drink plenty of fluids! Water or tea with a diuretic effect, such as bladder tea or a decoction of nettle leaves, can prevent the bacteria from travelling further up the urinary tract. Drink at least 2 to 3 litres a day. Avoid cold feet and place a hot water bottle on your lower abdomen. This remedy can reduce cramps and pain to some extent.
The home remedy D-mannose coats the bacteria so that they are flushed out during urination and cannot adhere to the bladder wall and multiply. This simple sugar is taken dissolved in water. In low doses over several weeks, D-mannose can also be used preventively [8] [9].
How can I prevent cystitis?
It is often not that complicated to avoid cystitis. Pay attention to intimate hygiene by using soaps with a neutral pH value, drink plenty of fluids, empty your bladder regularly and avoid cold if you are susceptible. Make sure you urinate after sexual intercourse to flush out any germs. When going to the toilet, make sure you wipe yourself from front to back to prevent bacteria from passing from the anal area. A balanced diet with vitamin C, an extra glass or two of water, sufficient exercise and sleep and avoiding stress generally help to strengthen the immune system.
Preventive treatment with home remedies such as cranberry preparations [7] [10] can also be a good remedy for recurring cystitis. Cranberry extract has a high tannin concentration, which is thought to prevent the build-up of bacterial cell walls and bacterial colonisation. However, scientists suspect that cranberry is not effective in the case of an existing bladder infection [10]. However, there are currently no conclusive studies on this.
On behalf of the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG), a scientific team led by "Gesundheit Österreich GmbH" in Vienna came to the conclusion that the preventive use of cranberry preparations may be useful in women with uncomplicated recurrent cystitis. In comparison with placebo treatment, several randomised controlled trials showed that the infection did not recur or recurred later [11].
With regard to the home remedy D-mannose, various studies have shown that the intervals between recurring bladder infections have been significantly extended [12]. This simple sugar not only reduced the frequency of recurring urinary tract infections, but also improved the quality of life of those affected! It is also worth noting that D-mannose has no side effects, does not burden the intestinal flora and is also a good home remedy during pregnancy to prevent bladder infections or to treat them in acute cases [13].
Are you already familiar with our other articles in this context?
Alternative treatment for bladder infections
Sources:
[1] https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/definition-facts
[2] https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults
[3] https://www.niddk.nih. gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-infection-pyelonephritis/definition-facts
[4] https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/treatment
[5] https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-infection-pyelonephritis/symptoms-causes
[6] https://www. niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/diagnosis
[7] https://www.alta-klinik.de/urologie/blasenentzuendung/
[8] https://pubmed. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23633128/
[9] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35313893/
[10] https://www. niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/eating-diet-nutrition
[11] https://www.iqwig.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilungen-detailseite_63296. html
[12] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32972899/
[13] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00345-013-1091-6
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