Only someone who’s experienced a urinary tract infection can tell you just how stubborn it can get. If you’re unlucky enough to be dealing with a UTI every so often, you might be looking for effective remedies. Luckily, there are ways to make you feel better almost instantly. To find out how to get rid of a UTI in 24 hours, stick around.
What Is a UTI?
A UTI is a urinary tract infection that can affect your bladder (cystitis) or your kidneys (pyelonephritis). It occurs when bacteria from your skin or rectum enter the urethra and infect your urinary tract.
Typically, UTIs affect more women than men, especially when there are changes in their vaginal flora or hormones. But it can also happen to men with an enlarged prostate or to children practicing poor hygiene.
The most typical symptom of a bladder infection is frequent urination. People with this issue often report having the constant need to urinate, despite their bladder already being empty.
Most of the time, you’ll also be able to notice a burning sensation while urinating, or even blood. Less frequently, this can turn into a feeling of pressure in the groin or the lower abdomen.
Kidney infection, on the other hand, is rarer but also more severe. It can make you vomit or feel nauseous, and you might even notice pain in your lower back. And like any other, this infection can also give you a fever.
How to Get Rid of a UTI in 24 Hours: 4 Ways
1. Practice Good Personal Hygiene
More often than not, poor hygiene will be the one to blame for your condition. The truth is, you won’t be able to get a UTI from not showering regularly or being in contact with someone who doesn’t.
Still, sitting on a dirty toilet seat right after someone who happens to have this problem will increase your chances of getting a UTI yourself. For that reason, you should always have antibacterial wipes around to clean any surface you sit on directly.
Remember to avoid spermicides and bubble baths, too. You should also always empty your bladder after sex to flush the germs that may have entered your urinary tract. More importantly, pay attention to how you wipe — it should always be from front to back and not the other way around.
2. Drink Water
We get it — drinking more water might be the last thing you need when you have a UTI. Even without it, the constant feeling of your bladder being full might already be unnerving enough. Still, you should know that water will help you treat your infection. As it goes, drinking enough liquid is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of such bacteria.
For example, E. Coli already lives inside your intestines and helps you digest the food you’ve eaten. At the same time, some strains of this bacteria can cause a bladder infection.
When this happens, drinking more water and liquid will help you dilute urine. It will also make you urinate more frequently, causing you to flush this bacteria from your urinary tract.
3. Eat Garlic
Like Count Dracula, some bacteria also have a fear of garlic. As it turns out, this plant can prove quite effective for fighting off the symptoms of a UTI. More importantly, this method of treating an infection seems to work even when all others fail you. For example, garlic can help you treat even antimicrobial-resistant UTIs.
Yes — certain bacteria may not respond to antibiotics. When this happens, it’s good to know you always have a backup. With that in mind, remember to keep a clove of garlic close at hand at all times. Increasing your overall garlic consumption will make you feel better almost instantly.
4. Take Vitamin C
Another thing you might find effective is increasing your vitamin intake. Vitamin C, B, and A can improve the functioning of your immune system.
For that reason, taking in enough vitamins will keep you from developing more severe symptoms when faced with an infection. That way, your immune response will be stronger, and you’ll easily fight off any disease.
But thanks to its high acidity, vitamin C can also help you get rid of unwanted bacteria. Vitamin C acidifies your urine, kills the bacteria, and stops it from spreading. For that reason, remember to take in enough of this vitamin — either through food or supplements.
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