Symptoms of Cystitis: What are they?
Commonly caused by a lower urinary tract infection (UTI), cystitis is an infection or inflammation of the bladder.
Usually affecting onlythe bladder, the symptoms of cystitis can escalate from minimal, i.e. lower UTI, to considerably uncomfortable, and even painful, i.e.upper UTI, where it reaches the ureters or kidneys, and is much more serious.
Approximately4 out of 5 women will suffer from cystitis at some point in their life.
Symptoms of Cystitis
The most common symptoms of cystitis are:
- Burning or stinging sensations when you pass urine.
- A frequent urge to urinate.
- Feeling that you can’t fully empty your bladder.
The more serious symptoms are:
- Blood in urine,
- Abdominal pain or backache.
- Fever, temperature and weakness.
How to prevent it?
If you suffer reoccurring bouts of cystitis you could consider the following in order to try and prevent it before it happens:
Hygiene
Poor toilet hygiene, such as wiping from front to back, could lead to cystitis. In many cases, some women also overcompensate and wash their nether regions too often, causing more harm than good.
Over-cleaning ‘down there’ may alter the normal balance of protective mucus, which may allow bacteria to thrive. Washing gently, once a day is sufficient.
Drink
To flush out your bladder frequently; drink plenty of water – or in the least try to avoid caffeine and fizzy drinks. Healthy, hydrated urine is the colour of straw, anything darker means you need to drink more fluids.
Underwear
Where you can, wear cotton underwear and change daily, also avoid tight-fitting trousers and tights. Warm, moist, airless conditions, specifically those around your genitals, are a breeding ground for bad bacteria.
Treatments
On the basisthat you are not experiencing frequent, recurringof cystitis or any of the aforementioned ‘serious’ symptoms, then there are treatments you could try yourself.
– Painkillers
- o Paracetamol or Ibuprofen; these can help reduce the discomfort.
– Water
- o It is recommended that drinking around 6-8 glasses of water a day is not only generally good for your health, but can also help ‘flush’ the infection out of your system.
– Sexual Intercourse
– It has been considered that intercourse can make cystitis worse, so avoid it until your symptoms have gone.
If you are suffering recurrently, please see your doctor for advice.
Conclusion
Cystitis is a manageable condition if treated early; be aware of the symptoms of cystitis and remember to drink lots of water to help avoid any breakouts. If your condition progresses, speak with a GP or pharmacist.
About the Author: Maria Bantellis is a health writer on conditions covering topics such as the Symptoms of Cystitis
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