Continuing on the topic of SCI Awareness month, I wanted to post about UTIs. Urinary tract infections (UTI) are painful, frustrating, and fairly common. Prevention is key when dealing with UTIs. Many groups of people are affected by these infections, particularly women and especially those that use catheters. Throughout my life I’ve dealt with my fair share of UTI’s. And they are not fun. So what can you do to help prevent them? Keep reading and find out!
**These tips are for prevention only and not to be used as treatment if you have an active infection** If left untreated, urinary tract infections can worsen and result in infections within the kidneys or in severe cases, sepsis.
Cranberry
Cranberries are often mentioned when discussing prevention of UTIs. This is likely because they contain compounds called proanthocyanidins (PACs). Some research shows an association between cranberry intake and fewer UTIs. These PACs help inhibit E. coli from forming a biofilm and sticking to the cells within the bladder. Research goes back and forth on whether or not cranberries have a definite association with UTI prevention, but consuming cranberries carries minimal risk to the average person. Consider including 100% cranberry juice (not cranberry juice cocktail) and dried cranberries into your meals. I like to mix cranberry juice with sparkling water and a squeeze of lime for a refreshing drink!
Hydration
Staying well hydrated plays a huge role in prevention of UTIs. I will always say water is the best. Other drinks like coffee, alcohol and sugar sweetened beverages can irritate your bladder or cause dehydration. A quick rule of thumb is to look at your urine color (gross, but true!). Aim for a clear or pale yellow. If your urine is darker, it’s time to get in the habit of drinking more water! I try to never leave the house without a water bottle. Also, eating foods with a high water content like watermelon and cucumbers is helpful.
Probiotics
Standard treatment for UTIs often include taking antibiotics. These are meant to wipe out bacteria causing your UTI, but they are not selective and can also kill the good bacteria in your system. It is so important to eat foods with probiotics to help replenish the good bacteria. Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, kombucha all contain probiotics. Deciding whether or not probiotics are for you depends on a lot of factors. Before starting any supplements, or changing your diet it’s important to discuss this with a medical professional who is familiar with you and your situation. Keep in mind you should not take antibiotics with probiotics, it is best to separate them by at least 2 hours!
General hygiene
Overall cleanliness plays a role in the development of many infections, with UTIs being no different. This is very important for individuals that rely on the use of catheters. For those with indwelling catheters, always keep an area around the catheter clean. All catheter users, be sure to wash your hands before touching your catheter. And to those manual wheelchair users, just think about how close your hands come into contact with whatever you just rolled through on the sidewalk. So please, wash your hands!
These are some of things that play a role in the prevention of urinary tract infections. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts sometimes UTI’s just happen. If you think you have an infection, always see a medical professional. Things will only get worse if left untreated!