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Getting sick while you are traveling or on vacation can de-rail an experience that was planned to be exciting and fun. Nobody plans to visit the doctor while vacationing in Las Vegas. Many people pack general painkillers in their luggage; but what happens if you have something more serious than a headache while traveling? If you’ve found that you’re in this situation, this article will give you the answers you’re looking for including:
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) are a common illness that affect women more often than men. This type of infection is caused by bacteria in the urinary system (urethra, ureters, bladder, kidneys). The most proactive thing you can do, if you are traveling and think you might be coming down with a UTI, is to pay attention to any symptoms.
Some of the common symptoms of a UTI include:
This step is very important! At the first sign of any of the above symptoms, stop immediately at the next exit and grab some supplies to get you on your way to feeling better.
The best thing you can do for immediate care is to re-hydrate your body to help flush out the urinary system. Grab a 6 pack of bottled water, drink, pee, and repeat. Holding your urine in your bladder for too long can encourage the bacteria to multiply. Flushing water through your system helps to both rehydrate your body and flush bacteria out.
There are several over-the-counter medications geared toward helping with UTI’s. Some are strictly for pain management and others claim to help dissipate or prevent UTI’s. At a minimum, pick up some pain killers geared toward relieving urinary tract infection discomfort; you’ll want to have this on-hand in case your pain becomes worse. Usually, these medications are kept in the aisle with the menstrual care items.
Once you have taken the first steps toward healing your UTI, you may want to call in to your Virtual OBGYN to get an appointment on the books to make sure the infection is gone and get a prescription if necessary.
Traditionally, seeing your doctor while you were out of town was out of the question or limited only to emergency room visits. Today, if you are lucky, your brick and mortar physician might call-in a prescription for you; but more than likely they will require you to go into a facility for an evaluation. This adds delay and frustration to getting care and getting back on the road.
The best way to get quick medical attention for your UTI, whether traveling or not, is to see your virtual OBGYN here at My Virtual Physician. You can always schedule a proactive appointment if you feel the UTI symptoms coming on. When it comes to treating a urinary tract infection, it is better to be prepared for the worst rather than to wait and see what happens.
Getting a UTI while traveling to Las Vegas or another dream vacation destination doesn’t have to ruin your trip! A little bit of quick action can get you feeling better so you can fully enjoy your trip. Are you suffering and in need of immediate treatment for a UTI? Click to book your appointment here!
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Stefanie:
Welcome, everyone! Thank you for joining us today.
My name is Stefanie and I'm part of the team here at MyVirtualPhysician. We are a direct to consumer, multi-specialty, telemedicine provider operating in multiple states.
Welcome to Talk Tuesday. We are continuing our weekly educational series, talking with our expert physicians, exploring some common healthcare concerns, and hopefully answering some questions you may have.
Today our physician expert is Dr. Salome Masghati, a practicing gynecologist and minimally invasive surgeon who is one of our telemedicine providers. We are talking about a complaint our doctors commonly see or treat, and that is URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS or UTIs.
Dr. Masghati, thank you for joining us today.
Stefanie:
So let’s cut to the chase Dr. Masghati, can cranberries cure a UTI?
Dr. Salome Masghati:
Many people believe that cranberries or cranberry juice can treat a UTI, and the answer is it's complicated.
There have been many studies on cranberries as a UTI treatment, and research has shown that an active ingredient in cranberries called “proanthocyanidins,” or PCAs for short, is effective in preventing E. Coli bacteria, the most common cause of UTI infections, from attaching to the bladder wall lining and colonizing or creating an infection.
So PCAs or cranberries may help prevent a urinary tract infection but once there is already an infection, that treatment may not be effective.
A cup of cranberry juice may only contain a small amount of this active ingredient with a lot of sugar! Cranberry tablets or pills may be another option for prevention.
Stefanie:
So if someone wants to try cranberry juice for prevention of a UTI, how much should you drink?
Dr. Masghati:
A recent article in Pharmacy Today recommends at least 36 mg of PAC daily.
For the prevention of UTIs, 300–500 mL of cranberry juice cocktail (26% cranberry juice) daily and 400–800 mg cranberry extract twice daily.
Or 36–72 mg of cranberry PAC equivalents per day, found in about 360–720 mg of cranberry extract, has been shown to be effective.2
The research shows some evidence that cranberry products may reduce the incidence of UTIs but the most effective amount and concentration of PACs that must be consumed and how long they should be taken are unknown.
Stefanie:
So cranberry juice and cranberry extract tablets together may help prevent infections but what about someone who already has a UTI?
Dr. Masghati:
Truly if someone has an infection, either their body will be able to fight off the infection, or they may need an antibiotic medication to kill the bacteria that is causing the infection.
Stefanie:
That’s interesting, so you say in some cases a UTI can go away on its own because the body is able to fight off the infection?
Dr. Masghati:
Yes, in some cases. Approximately 25-42% of the time these uncomplicated UTIs may resolve without any medical treatment.
Stefanie:
Ok, so when would it be time for someone to see a doctor about their UTI?
Dr. Masghati:
Untreated infections can spread and become serious. You should talk to your doctor as soon as you suspect a UTI.
Also for signs such as fever, chills, flank pain, or abdominal pain with nausea or vomiting. These can be signs of a serious infection.
Stefanie:
For someone who is going to make an appointment but has not yet, is there anything that they can do to manage the UTI?
Dr. Masghati:
There are some things you can do for relief, or even after you have seen your doctor while you are waiting for an antibiotic to work.
It is important to stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water flushes out the bladder.
When going to the bathroom it is important to try to empty the bladder completely. Some adults with UTI have a frequent urge to urinate or sensation of pressure in the low abdomen which can make it feel as though you need to urinate. Going to the bathroom frequently to empty the bladder can help.
If there is pain in the low abdomen a heating pad may provide some relief.
Over the counter pain relievers such as Motrin or Tylenol can also be taken to help with discomfort.
Stefanie:
Dr. Masghati you have shared some great information today. I appreciate you joining us for Talk Tuesday and helping us understand more about UTIs and cranberry juice. For everyone else joining us as well, this has been Talk Tuesday with MyVirtualPhysician. If you would like to connect with one of our board certified OB/GYNs, or for more information you can check out our website at www.myvirtualphysician.com. We look forward to seeing you again and we hope you have a great week.
A urinary tract infection can be painful and bothersome. Perhaps you’ve heard that drinking cranberry juice is a simple effective cure to treat the infection without the hassle of seeing a doctor. Is this the case?
Many people believe that cranberries, or cranberry juice, can cure a urinary tract infection (UTI). However, the truth is that while cranberries may help prevent recurrent infections, they are not an effective cure for a bladder infection.
If you’re wondering why this is so, and what you can do if you do have an infection, read on.
There have been many studies on the effects of cranberries in urinary tract infections. Research has shown that an active ingredient in cranberries called “proanthocyanidins,” or PCAs for short, can affect bacterial growth.
The most common bacterial cause of urinary tract infections is an organism called Escherichia Coli or E. Coli. This bacteria usually lives in the intestines of healthy humans and animals and most are not harmful, however some strains can cause infection.
PCAs found in cranberries can prevent E. Coli from attaching to the bladder wall lining. In other words, they can help prevent infection.
While PCAs found in cranberries can help prevent infection, it is important to note that a cup of cranberry juice may only contain a small amount of this active ingredient. Moreover, cranberry juice cocktail drinks are loaded with sugar. Cranberry tablets or pills may be a healthier option for prevention.
For UTI prevention, a recent article in Pharmacy Today recommended two options:
The research shows some evidence that cranberry products may reduce the incidence of UTIs but the most effective amount and concentration of PACs that must be consumed and how long they should be taken are unknown.
Urinary tract infections are common, affecting approximately 50% of adult women during their lifetime.
In some cases, simple urinary tract infections go away on their own. One study found that approximately 25-42% of uncomplicated UTIs resolve without any medical treatment. However, in other cases, the body’s immune system is not able to kill and eliminate harmful bacteria on its own. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics for infections that require treatment.
There are some things you can do for relief, or even after you have seen your doctor while you are waiting for an antibiotic to work.
It is important to stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water flushes out the bladder. When going to the bathroom it is important to try to empty the bladder completely. UTIs can cause frequent urges to urinate or pressure in the low abdomen. Going to the bathroom frequently to empty the bladder can help.
Heating pads may provide some relief of low abdomen discomfort. And over-the-counter pain relievers such as Motrin or Tylenol can also be taken to help with discomfort.
Untreated infections could spread and become serious. Talk to your doctor as soon as you suspect a UTI. These can be signs of a serious infection:
If you need treatment for a UTI or want to talk about your symptoms with one of our board-certified physicians, click below to schedule an appointment. My Virtual Physician treats conditions including urinary tract infections, other urinary problems, sexually transmitted infections, and more. If you have any suggestions for additional topics you want to read about, let us know! Don’t forget to follow us on social media.
