What is a Bladder Infection?
A bladder infection, also known as a urinary tract infection, is a condition in which the sufferer’s urinary system—the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and the urethra—is visited by detrimental organisms such as bacteria. These infections typically start in the bladder, but if unattended to, may spread to other parts of the system. Bladder infections are second only to respiratory infections for the number of infections that take place in the United States each year, and women are more commonly afflicted than men by this condition. Symptoms of a bladder infection include a frequent need to urinate, a burning sensation when urinating, and cloudy or red urine.
How can I treat a Bladder Infection?
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that bladder infections are a function of either a deficient spleen and kidney network or an accumulation of damp heat in the body. Common remedies for treating bladder infections include drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water per day, taking 5,000 mg of vitamin C, and drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry extract. Urological studies that have been published indicate that cranberry juice and cranberry extract tablets significantly improve bladder infections, though the tablets were more effective than the juice.
What should I avoid in my lifestyle for a Bladder Infection?
The damp heat that accumulates in one’s body and leads to bladder infections is often the result of the consumption of hot and spicy foods, fatty foods, or alcohol. Avoiding these substances, along with stress and immunity-suppressing drugs can often reduce the risk of chronic bladder infections.
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