Friday, March 22, 2024

Cranberry Juice For Overactive Bladder

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Cranberry Juice Fights Urinary Tract Infections Quickly

Dried cranberry powder shows promise in overactive bladder

Study Shows Cranberry Juice Works Against Bacteria Within 8 Hours

Previous studies have suggested that the active compounds in cranberry juice are not destroyed by the digestive system after people drink them, but instead work to fight against bacteria, including E. coli. This latest study, presented at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, affirms that and provides evidence of the medicinal value of cranberries.

The new research suggests that the beneficial substances in cranberry juice could reach the urinary tract and prevent bacterial adhesion within eight hours.

Researchers from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts grew strains of E. coli in urine collected from healthy people before and after they drank cranberry juice cocktail.

Do Some Detective Work

Coffee, chocolate, soda, Thai food, oranges, and wine are potential bladder irritants. If youre consuming multiple kinds of foods and drinks daily that irritate your bladder, it might be difficult to know whats contributing to your issues. You may need to stop consuming all potentially irritating foods and beverages for a time to see if your symptoms improve. And then add these foods and beverages back into your diet one at a time to see if they trigger symptoms.

  • Interstitial Cystitis Association: Least and Most Bothersome Foods.
  • The Johns Hopkins Center for Pelvic Health: Bladder Irritants.
  • Amano Artisan Chocolate: How Much Caffeine is in Chocolate?
  • AUA Foundation: Loss of Bladder Control.
  • Cleveland Clinic: Bladder Irritating Foods,Overactive Bladder.
  • Columbia Health: Go Ask Alice.
  • Cystitis & Overactive Bladder Foundation: OAB Diet.
  • Duke Health: Water, Water Everywhere.
  • FEMA Ready.gov: Managing Water.

Also Check: Can A Prolapsed Bladder Cause Nausea

How To Make Homemade Cranberry Juice For Uti Relief

Do you struggle with urinary tract infections ? If so, youve probably been curious about drinking cranberry juice to ease your pain. And you are on the right track!

For those who are unfamiliar with UTIs, they are infections that can significantly impact the urinary system, namely the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. If left untreated, urinary tract-related infections can quickly spread to the liver and create even more health problems.

According to an article published by the National Kidney Foundation, if a urinary tract infection makes its way to the kidneys, it can lead to pyelonephritis. Those who develop pyelonephritis may experience swelling of the kidneys. Further, the condition can lead to permanent kidney damage and may even be life-threatening. It is also worth pointing out that UTIs can affect both men and women. Though, the condition is far more common among women.

Dont Miss: How To Empty Your Bladder With A Uti

Also Check: Icd 10 Code For Urothelial Carcinoma Of Bladder

How You Can Treat Cystitis Yourself

If you have been having mild symptoms for less than 3 days or you have had cystitis before and do not feel you need to see a GP, you may want to treat your symptoms at home or ask a pharmacist for advice.

Until youre feeling better, it may help to:

  • wipe from front to back when you go to the toilet
  • gently wash around your genitals with a skin-sensitive soap

Some people believe that cranberry drinks and products that reduce the acidity of their urine will help.

But theres a lack of evidence to suggest theyre effective.

Also Check: Ways To Control Your Bladder

Cranberry Juice For Urinary Tract Infections It Really Can Help

Natural Remedies For Overactive Bladder  Healthy Living

Cranberry Antioxidant Punch Maggie Starbard/NPRhide caption

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Native Americans and Pilgrims were onto something when they turned to cranberries as an infection fighter. American settlers believed the bitter food could stave off scurvy. But theres more than just Vitamin C in this indigenous berry.

A new meta-analysis finds drinking cranberry juice on a regular basis may help prevent urinary tract infections in women. The study, published in The Archives of Internal Medicine, concluded that regular cranberry-juice drinkers were 38 percent less likely than non-cranberry-juice-drinkers to develop UTIs.

The authors conclude that women with recurrent infections and those consuming cranberry products more than twice a day tended to get the most protection. The amounts of cranberry given in the trials varied, and more research is needed to figure out exactly how much cranberry youd need to consume, the paper says. .

Also, the cranberry supplements were not as good as the real thing. We are surprised, author Chien-Chang Lee of the National Taiwan University Hospital tells The Salt that cranberry-containing capsules or supplements were less effective than cranberry juice in reducing the risk.

And how does it work? Previous studies have found that cranberries contain compounds that seem to inhibit bacteria from setting-up-shop and infecting the lining of the urinary tract.

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Reduce Your Sugar Intake

Sugar has a tendency to cause increased growth in bacteria within the body, which can lead to infections of the urinary tract and bladder. Unfortunately, substitution isnt even an option, since artificial sweeteners are believed to be just as bad. If youre struggling with an overactive bladder and urinary incontinence issues, try cutting out sweets and see if you notice any improvement.

Fill Up On Fruits And Veggies

You want to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables because they contain the vitamins and minerals you need for good health. And when youre healthy, your urinary system can function at its best, Griebling says. Also, fresh fruits and vegetables are generally high in fiber yet low in calories, which helps you to maintain a healthy weight important for your bladder health and your overall health. Again, you might need to avoid acidic fruits like oranges and tomatoes.

Also Check: Is Bladder Leakage Common After Hysterectomy

Eat Your Fruits And Veggies

Fresh fruits and vegetables contain many of the vitamins and minerals that are essential for overall good health, and when youre healthy, your urinary systemincluding your bladderwill function at its best. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is also helpful for maintaining a healthy weight, which experts believe is equally important for bladder health.

When To See A Doctor About A Uti

Cranberry Juice May Not Prevent Urinary Tract Infections, Experts Say

If you are experiencing more than one symptom of a UTI or suspect you have a UTI, it is important to seek treatment from a doctor. For severe UTIs, antibiotics are the most effective treatment.

Repeat or frequent UTIs may indicate an underlying issue such as uterine prolapse, bladder obstruction, or kidney stones.

Also Check: How Do I Get Rid Of A Bladder Infection

Diet Tips To Help Manage An Overactive Bladder

Living with an overactive bladder doesnt have to hold you back. With the right strategy, which includes knowing which foods and drinks to add or remove from your diet, you can manage your symptoms and enjoy a completely normal, active life. In fact, you may even feel better than before with the added energy boost you get from our healthy recommendations!

Urologists and other experts recommend keeping a bladder diary to track your symptoms and altering your diet with the following tips to help keep you in control and reduce the chances of an accident.

Azo Products For Urinary Health And Pelvic Muscle Strength

Fortunately, AZO offers a range of products to help manage urinary health and support pelvic floor and bladder muscle strength.

AZO Cranberry® Gummies are a fun way to get all the benefits of a daily serving of cranberries without as much sugar and the bloating of drinking cranberry juice all the time.*6 Made with clinically proven Pacran®, a super-concentrated, whole-fruit cranberry powder, they make your daily serving of cranberries a treat.

And AZO Bladder Control® with Go-Less® helps maintain the strength of the muscles of your bladder and pelvic floor.*7 So you can go ahead and keep an eye on the turkey. Or the stuffing. Or the mashed potatoes. Or the green beans. Or the yams. Or the gravy. Or the punch.

And as for that one relative, wellif scientists find something for that, well be sure to let you know

1https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/pelvic-floor

Helps inhibit the progression of infection until you see a health care professional. AZO is not intended to replace medical care.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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Also Check: What To Drink To Help Bladder Infection

Recommended Reading: Sleep Number Bed Bladder Replacement

Dont Suffer With Bladder Problems Norman Urology Can Help

Even when you eat the right foods, bladder problems can occur. Whether youre suffering from incontinence or a suspected urinary tract infection, or just want more advice to keep your bladder healthy, Norman Urology has the answers and the most current treatments. And you can count on superior, specialized care from experienced, compassionate professionals.

Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment. We cant wait to meet you!

What Can I Take Over

Are you concerned about your bladder health? See my bladder health tips ...

The drug oxybutynin may be used to treat OAB. It is available over-the-counter in patch form, which delivers 3.9 mg of oxybutynin daily through your skin. However, the over-the-counter patch is only available to women. Men may take oxybutynin in patch or oral form, but they need a prescription for it.

Recommended Reading: What Kind Of Doctor Treats Bladder Problems

Uti Causes And Symptoms

A UTI, or urinary tract infection, is caused by organisms that are too small to be seen without a microscope, including fungi, viruses and bacteria. Despite the bodys many natural defenses, certain bacteria have the ability to attach themselves to the lining of the urinary tract and inhabit the urethra, bladder and kidneys. The majority of UTI cases are caused by E. colibacterium that can live in the bowel and vaginal cavities, around the urethral opening, and in the urinary tract.

Other significant pathogens that can cause UTIs include Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Klebsiella pneumonia. In diabetic patients, Klebsiella and group B streptococcus infections are more common. Pseudomonas infections are more common in chronically catheterized patients.

Urinary tract infections are extremely common, especially among sexually active women ages 18 to 24. Although a UTI isnt typically complicated or life-threatening, it does cause pain and suffering and negatively impacts ones quality of life.

Generally, symptoms of a UTI in adults may include:

  • pain when urinating
  • a burning sensation in the bladder or urethra when urinating
  • a strong, frequent urge to urinate, but only passing small amounts
  • muscle aches
  • urine that appears red or bright pink
  • strong-smelling urine
  • people with suppressed immune systems
  • people with diabetes

Precautions Regarding UTIs and Home Remedies for UTI

Final Thoughts on Home Remedies for UTI

Clinical Relevance Prostatic Carcinoma

Prostatic carcinoma represents the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, especially in countries with high sociodemographic index. The malignant cells commonly originate from the peripheral zone, although carcinomas may arise from the central and transition zones too. It is still debatable that the latter tumors may present with lower malignant potential.

However the proximity of the peripheral zone to the neurovascular bundle that surrounds the prostate may facilitate spread along perineural and lymphatic pathways, thus increasing the metastatic potential of these tumors. Malignant cells may invade adjacent structures and/ or lymphatic and blood vessel routes to give distant metastases. Prostate carcinoma also commonly spreads via the Batson venous plexus to the vertebral bodies and cause skeletal metastases.

A DRE may reveal a hard, irregular prostate gland. In most cases the serum PSA values will be increased. However, due to the peripherally-advancing tumor, symptoms may be minimal, as obstruction occurs usually at late stages. One should also keep in mind that the high incidence of prostate carcinoma is found in elderly men, who may already have symptoms due to BPH.

Fig 4 Prostate cancer has the potential to invade nearby structures.

For prostate problems, limit water intake before going to bed at night. This will keep you from waking up at night to urinate repeatedly.

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Wipe From Front To Back

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases , UTIs can develop when bacteria from the rectum or feces gain access to the urethra. This small channel allows urine to flow out of the body.

Once bacteria are in the urethra, they can travel up into other urinary tract organs, where they can lead to infections.

The Facts About Cranberries And Utis

“Does Cranberry Juice Really Cause Urinary Tract Infections? with Dr. Melanie Crites-Bachert

More than 20 national and international studies were examined, including randomized controlled research trials, considered the gold standard for evaluating effectiveness of a treatment. These studies evaluated the role cranberries play in preventing or treating a urinary tract infection among a variety of populations, including children, adults, men, women, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions.

As of 2020, the current research shows cranberry products provide very little or no benefit in the prevention or treatment of a UTI when compared to a placebo.

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Causes And Risk Factors

Aging

OAB occurs in both men and women. Its possible to have overactive bladder at any point in your life. But, its especially common in older adults. The prevalence of OAB in people younger than 50 years of age is less than 10 percent. After the age of 60, the prevalence increases to 20 to 30 percent.

The following are some of the other most common underlying causes and risk factors associated with OAB symptoms:

Nerve Damage

A healthy, normal functioning bladder holds urine until it gets full and is prompted to empty by nerve signals. However, when nerve damage occurs in the body, the muscles surrounding the urethra can be too loose. This undesirable looseness can cause someone to become incontinent. What can cause nerve damage that can then lead to bladder leakage? Some possibilities include:

  • Back or pelvis surgery

Weak pelvic muscles

When a man or womans pelvic floor muscles are weak, bladder control issues can happen. The pelvic floor muscles are like a sling that holds up the uterus and bladder. For women, a pregnancy and childbirth can often lead to a stretching and weakening of the vital pelvic floor muscles. When pelvic floor muscles are compromised for this reason or another, the bladder can then sag out of place. The opening of the urethra also stretches and urine easily leaks out.

Menopause

Extra weight or obesity

Diuretic medications

Improving Your Bladder Health & Avoiding An Irritated Bladder

While there is no direct cure for incontinence, updating your daily diet to include just some of these tips will drastically help to improve your bladder health. In addition, weight loss, one of the best ways to positively affect your incontinence, may also be an added benefit to the food swaps listed above.

Read Also: What Are The Best Pads For Bladder Leakage

Cranberry Juice Is Confusing

If youve strolled through the juice aisle of your local grocery store, you understand. There are so many cranberry juice varieties, and if youre on a mission to help support urinary tract health, it can be difficult to choose the best option. Youll see the shelves sprinkled with terms like 100% juice, cranberry juice cocktail, and unsweetened cranberry juice. What does it all mean?

Lets break it down.

100% juice cranberry: Youve probably heard the advice to always choose 100% fruit juice typically, thats a pretty good rule of thumb. So, when you spot a bottle of cranberry juice labeled100% juice, it seems like the perfect option. But labels are sneaky. Most of the time, this type of cranberry juice is mixed with other juices like apple, grape, and pear to make it sweeter and more palatable. It is indeed 100% juice, just not 100% cranberry juice. Make sure you double-check the label and the ingredients list if youre looking for a product that contains only cranberry juice.

Cranberry juice cocktail: This variety is the most well-known cranberry juice and the type most people end up putting in their grocery cart. Cranberries are the only fruit in this juice, but since other fruit juices arent added as a sweetener, sugar or high-fructose corn syrup is added instead. Most cranberry juice cocktails are only 27% cranberry juice the rest is typically water and sugar.

Also Check: Why Do I Get Bladder Infections So Easily

Is Cranberry Juice Good For Interstitial Cystitis & What About Bananas & Hummus

Can cranberry help with UTIs?

Acidic products like cranberry juice worsen the lining and cause more irritation in patients with Interstitial cystitis struggling with irritated bladder.1

The interstitial cystitis network suggests avoiding drinking cranberry juice since the symptoms worse as the bladder is inflamed.2

Banana can make an ideal choice for IC patients since they have extremely low acidic properties.3,4

Unfortunately, there is no cure for interstitial cystitis and there is no well-defined treatment or therapy that can help these patients recover from their symptoms. Medical studies show that there are patients who battle with IC struggles from late teens with no complete recovery.

The usual course of treatment is antibiotics until the patients develop sensitivity to the same kind of medications. This is a serious discomfort in IC patients since they tend to develop depression and anxiety at a very young age.

Also Check: Can You Treat A Bladder Infection Without Antibiotics

Recommended Reading: When Is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

Whats A Cpac And Why Is It Helpful

I know I mentioned this above, but in case youve scrolled down without reading, heres the info again:

PACs are a class of polyphenols .

The PACs found in cranberries help prevent the adhesion of certain harmful bacteria, including E. coli .

Supplements can deliver a higher dose of cPACs, compared to juice.

As soon as I suspected my UTI, I was taking 2 cranberry supplements a day throughout the infection and for two weeks post just for good measure.

This is the one I use :

Also Check: Can Too Much Sugar Cause A Bladder Infection

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