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 mucosa.I will first review the signs and symptoms of cystitis in women, then traditional and medical treatments at home.

Girls are much more likely to suffer from cystitis than men.The anatomy of the female genitourinary system is to blame.Girls have a wider and shorter urinary canal, through which it is much easier for infectious agents to pass.Cystitis usually appears in women between the ages of twenty and forty.

In 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 must be treated.

The first symptoms of cystitis

  • Frequent need.The desire to look into the bathroom appears at fifteen minute intervals.
  • Urination is painful, accompanied by pain and burning.These sensations intensify towards the end of urine production.
  • Pain in the pubic area.The pain occurs independently or when going to the toilet.
  • Urine loses its transparency and acquires an unpleasant, pungent odor.Sometimes it contains purulent clots and blood.
  • After visiting the toilet, there is a feeling that the bladder is not completely emptied.

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

Causes of cystitis in women

Women are more likely to contract the disease due to the particular structure of the urethra.In the case of infectious cystitis, the cause is Escherichia coli.Often the causative agents of the disease are streptococci, chlamydia, enterococci or fungi.

Keep in mind that there are other causes of cystitis that have nothing to do with bacteria.More about them below.

  1. Infections.Constipation, advanced gynecological diseases and lack of hygiene allow the infection to easily penetrate the bladder, causing the formation of cystitis.
  2. Hypothermia of the body.Sometimes it is enough to sit on a cool surface for a few minutes for the symptoms of 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 walls of the bladder.
  4. Wrong diet.Fatty, spicy and salty foods can cause cystitis.
  5. Chronic inflammatory diseases.Cystitis can also occur due to tooth decay, when the infection with blood reaches the bladder.
  6. Incorrect urination pattern.Girls should go to the toilet as often as possible, trying not to hold urine.Otherwise, it is much easier for the infection to enter the bladder.
  7. Sexual intercourse.During sexual intercourse, the exit of the urination channel is subjected to prolonged friction.Typically, symptoms of the disease appear several hours after intimate intercourse.
  8. Other reasons.The list of factors causing cystitis includes: promiscuity, chronic depression, weakened immunity, diabetes, menopause and impaired metabolism.

Interstitial cystitis exists, a serious chronic disease that occurs when the immune system does not work properly.With this disease, the infection affects the mucosa and muscles of the bladder.

Treatment of cystitis at home

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

Cystitis must be treated promptly by a doctor, otherwise unpleasant consequences may occur:

  • Exacerbation of cystitis, appearance of acute symptoms.
  • Infectious kidney damage.
  • Damage to the mucosa and muscular wall of the bladder.
  • Irreversible changes in the bladder.
  • The appearance of hematuria: blood is found in the urine.This is due to kidney damage and inflammatory processes occurring in the bladder.

By starting timely and correct treatment of cystitis, the complications listed above can be avoided.Correct therapy boils down to comprehensive treatment with drugs prescribed by the attending physician and prevention.

Medical supplies

Acute cystitis refers to isolated cases of the disease that are not advanced in nature.For quick treatment, medications, folk recipes and preventive measures are used.

The first phase is preparatory

Stick to bed rest, increase the amount of fluids you drink, give up alcohol completely and change your diet.

The second phase is the antibacterial treatment

  1. Antibacterial drugs prescribed by your doctor.Short-term but highly effective courses of taking pills are at the peak of popularity.To enhance the effect, herbal infusions are recommended.
  2. If necessary, antifungal drugs are combined with antibiotics.Only the doctor prescribes them.
  3. If there is an active development of infectious processes, the gynecologist may choose a different strategy involving the use of a new generation of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

The third phase: completion of treatment

The final stage involves treatment with thermal procedures.In addition to wearing warm clothes and drinking hot drinks, it is recommended to take hot sitz baths with the addition of chamomile or St. John's wort.

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

Folk remedies

The signal to start treating cystitis with folk remedies is mild symptoms that indicate the development of the disease.It is possible to cope with a mild form of cystitis on its own, but if the woman does not feel severe pain and has blood in the urine.Otherwise you should definitely consult a doctor.After the examination, the doctor will prescribe medicine.

  • Chamomile baths.They have an anti-inflammatory effect and eliminate the symptoms that appear.To prepare a bath, you need to brew chamomile, leave for two hours, strain and pour into the bath.Take a chamomile bath for half an hour.
  • cranberry juice.Mild symptoms of cystitis will help suppress a few cups of natural cranberry juice.Store-bought juice is not suitable because it does not contain microelements to fight disease-causing microorganisms.If you can't find fresh cranberries, buy cranberry extract from the pharmacy, which is indicated for the treatment of cystitis.
  • Herbal infusions.Pharmacies sell ready-made herbal infusions, but you can prepare them yourself.For the decoction, eucalyptus, St. John's wort, mint, chamomile, horsetail and flaxseed are suitable.The listed herbs are characterized by an antimicrobial effect and relieve inflammation.
  • Temporary refusal of intimacy.If you suffer from cystitis you should avoid sexual intercourse because the bacteria can be transmitted to your partner.If the body is prone to chronic cystitis or there is a possibility of borrowing bacteria from a lover, it is necessary to urinate immediately after intimacy.
  • Douching.The 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 boiled water, add a few cloves and chopped garlic.

Cystitis must be treated comprehensively, otherwise the disease will take a chronic form, characterized by frequent relapses.If the disease appears 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, you most likely suffered from cystitis.To alleviate the condition, take pills, use folk remedies and follow a diet.If you give up food that irritates the inflamed bladder during the illness, you will speed up 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. During the day, eat three full meals and a couple of snacks.The urinary system works most actively at the beginning of the day, so the combined share of breakfast and lunch should account for 75% of your daily dietary intake.
  2. The diet of a woman suffering from cystitis should consist of light natural products.
  3. Drink plenty of fluids to flush the urinary system.Water, fruit juice, fruit and berry compote, herbal infusion, weak tea will do.It is allowed to drink natural juices, with the exception of tomato.
  4. Introduce diuretic foods into your diet: carrots, zucchini, watermelons, spinach, cucumbers.If 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 not to eat if you have cystitis

It doesn't hurt to avoid store-bought products with preservatives, colors 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 beneficial effect on the inflamed organ.

Drinks

  • Strong tea
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Coffee

Dishes

  • Acid
  • Fried
  • Fat
  • Acute
  • Pickles
  • Broths based on mushrooms, fish, meat

Sauces

  • Ketchup
  • Mayonnaise
  • Spicy sauces

Vegetables and fruit

  • Tomatoes
  • Garlic
  • Sour berries
  • Cauliflower
  • Onion
  • Radish

After complete victory over acute cystitis, a woman can gradually return to her original diet.Chronic cystitis requires a strict diet for a long time, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid exacerbation of the disease.

Treatment of cystitis during pregnancy

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

During pregnancy, the disease should be treated under the guidance of a doctor.At the same time, there are some things a woman can take care of on her own.It's about nutrition.Drink more water, exclude carbonated drinks, smoked foods, spicy delicacies, coffee, chocolate, sugar, pastries, citrus fruits.

Medicines

The use of drugs during pregnancy has some features.The choice of drugs is limited due to side effects.It is also influenced by the length of pregnancy.Therapy is carried out under the constant supervision of doctors.

  • 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 the treatment.
  • Instillations are widely used during pregnancy.The instillation technique involves infusing the medicine into the bladder.The main advantage of this method is that less drug enters the bloodstream, reducing the likelihood of side effects.

Traditional methods of treatment

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

  • Cranberry juice.Research results have shown that cranberry juice is excellent in treating diseases by inhibiting the growth of bacteria and increasing the concentration of hippuric acid in the body.You just need to drink fresh juice made with your own hands.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 one liter of dry root herbal tea per day.
  • Bearberry.An infusion made from bearberry berries has a diuretic effect and is an excellent antiseptic.If the plant is used simultaneously with bear ears, the effect will be enhanced.

In conclusion I would add that if not treated, cystitis becomes chronic.

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