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When summer arrives and the swimming pools are crowded, infections tend to appear. That’s when cranberry comes to mind.
Avoiding this annoying urinary tract infection, whose breeding ground is usually the heat, humidity, the swimming pool and the sea, is essential. Therefore, it is very interesting to know the measures to try to avoid, as far as possible, this frequent affection that causes so much discomfort and pain, mainly to women.
What is cystitis? A common problem
Cystitis is the medical term for bladder inflammation, most often caused by a bacterial or urinary tract infection.
If you are a woman and have ever suffered from it, you know what we are talking about. The annoying symptoms of cystitis, which usually come in the form of a constant urge to urinate, can cause pain and make it impossible to carry out daily activities as long as they persist.
There is an added drawback with cystitis, as it can become a chronic problem with the potential for health problems to worsen if the urinary tract infection moves from the bladder to the kidneys.
It is such a common problem that it is estimated that around 20% of women have had to visit their doctor as a result of the discomfort or pain caused by cystitis at least once during the year.
There’s good news! Did you know that there are natural food supplements designed to promote good urinary tract health by tackling the bacteria that cause cystitis? And none of them are better than cranberries. This way, you won’t have to suffer from it.
Their symptoms warn us! And they are unmistakable
The symptoms of cystitis often leave little room for doubt. Take note of the main ones!!
- A constant need to urinate
- Small amounts of urine and no relief of the need to urinate
- Burning sensation and pain when urinating, caused by bacteria and infection
- Blood and strong odour in urine
- Pelvic discomfort starting from the urinary bladder
- Lower abdominal pressure
How many types are there?
You may think that cystitis is “just one”. Well, nothing could be further from the truth, as there are several types of cystitis. We describe them briefly:
- Bacteriuria: detected by the presence of urinary tract infection bacteria through urinalysis.
- Lower urinary tract infections: cystitis is located in the bladder, while urethritis occurs in the urethra. In men, the infection usually occurs in the prostate, called prostatitis, or in the ducts responsible for the production and excretion of semen, other than urine, called orchiepididymitis.
- Upper urinary tract: the severity is greater. An example is acute pyelonephritis, an infection that affects the kidneys, after passing through the urinary bladder.
- Uncomplicated: basic cystitis or pyelonephritis, which in most cases occurs in the bladder. They present with the symptoms described above and are usually accompanied by pain when urinating.
- Complicated urinary tract infections: there are other pathologies, including metabolic disorders, immunosuppression or the appearance of unusual pathogens. They affect people of all ages: children, pregnant women and also men. They need to be combated with medication.
- Recurrent: these are problems that recur in the urine and are caused by the same or another micro-organism in the urinary bladder. Their symptoms do not easily resolve during or after treatment.
- Chronic urinary tract infection: when the infection becomes chronic, the problem becomes very serious. Its symptoms do not disappear despite treatment and can lead to other diseases.
How to prevent it? A hint: cranberries
Cranberry is indicated as a treatment for the symptoms of cystitis or bacterial infections. For this reason, taking cranberry is a great way to enjoy a delicious food while taking care of your urinary tract health.
But why is cranberry effective against cystitis? Because of its antibacterial power, which comes from its high concentration of vitamin C and antioxidants, its anti-adhesive effect and its richness in polyphenols and flavonoids, which also contribute to cardiovascular health.
A compendium of healthy virtues that have turned cranberries into the main natural remedy to prevent urinary tract infections (cystitis) and its annoying pain.
In any case, as with any other food supplement, it is recommended that you carefully read the information provided by cranberry food supplements, and consult a specialist if you have any doubts or symptoms of major ailments.
Cranberry’s properties, ideal for combating cystitis
The results of various studies shed light on the issue. Proanthocyanidins, a type of flavonoid contained in cranberry, prevent bacteria especially Escherichia coli, which causes cystitis, from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract of the bladder, thus preventing infection.
Based on these studies, it is estimated that daily consumption of cranberry extract reduces the incidence of clinical urinary tract infection and its symptoms. If you are a woman with a recent history of cystitis, cranberry is the best natural treatment against infection.
For cystitis, take cranberries!
Bibliographic sources:
- Sihra N, Goodman A, Zakri R, Sahai A, Malde S. Nonantibiotic prevention and management of recurrent urinary tract infection. Nat Rev Urol. 2018 Dec;15(12):750-776. doi: 10.1038/s41585-018-0106-x.
- Mantzorou M, Giaginis C. Cranberry consumption against urinary tract infections: Clinical state-of-the-art and future perspectives. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2018 Dec 5. doi: 10.2174/1389201020666181206104129.
