Cystitis & UTI

Cystitis is a common type of UTI that predominantly affects women.

It occurs when the bladder becomes inflamed, typically caused by a bladder infection.

They’re usually more of a nuisance than a sign that something serious is going on, with mild cases often getting better on their own within a few days.

If it doesn’t go away on its own and your symptoms worsen, you should speak to your doctor as it could be a sign of a kidney infection.

A UTI itself isn’t dangerous, and most of the time it can be resolved without treatment.

However, the main danger of a UTI is that the infection may spread from the bladder to the kidneys, which can be serious if not treated.

Women are more likely to develop a UTI because they have a shorter urethra than men, so bacteria has more of a chance to get into the bladder or kidney.

The most common reason why you might get a UTI is when the bacteria from poo enters the urinary tract.

Other reasons are sex, pregnancy, if you have a catheter inserted, kidney stones, dehydration, a weakened immune system and not keeping the genital area clean and dry.

Cranberry juice or cranberry supplements are popular natural remedies to treat and prevent a UTI - but are they effective?

Cranberries contain phenolic acids and flavonoids, which may prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract, reduce inflammation and monitor gut bacteria, all of which may be useful if you’re suffering from a UTI.

Cranberry juice will not, however, clear up your infection, so it’s always best to speak to your doctor so they can prescribe antibiotics if necessary.