A urinary tract infection is an infection in any part of the urinary tract. This could include the bladder, kidneys or the urethra. These infections can be extremely painful and can recur if they aren’t completely eradicated. Burning urination and back pain are the most common symptoms of a urinary tract infection. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse says prevention is the key to keeping urinary tract infections at bay. Drink plenty of water daily and avoid sodas in order to avoid urinary tract infections.
Water
The only way to completely rid the body of a serious urinary tract infection is to see a doctor and get a prescription for antibiotics. If there is a mild urinary tract infection, however, drinking a lot of water can help. The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking six to eight glasses of water daily to flush out the kidneys and dilute the urine. Don't drink more than a gallon of water in a day. Sodium levels of the body can drop, and death can result.
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is one of the most common home remedies for a urinary tract infection. It's theorized that the natural sugar in the cranberry juice helps eliminate bacteria that are in the urinary tract. Medline Plus suggests drinking plenty of cranberry juice or taking cranberry pills regularly to prevent urinary tract infections. It also says this should be avoided if kidney stones are possible.
Heating Pad
Using a heating pad during a urinary tract infection does nothing to actually get rid of the infection, but it helps relieve the symptoms. Place the heating pad on the stomach under the belly button for a bladder infection or on the back for a kidney infection. The heat can alleviate the pain until the infection can be taken care of.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is wonderful in neutralizing acid, and there is an excess of acid in the urine during a urinary tract infection. Acid causes the burning sensation, as well as the cloudy urine. Mix 1/2 tsp. baking soda in 1 cup water and drink it throughout the day to ease the burning sensation. When you combine the baking soda remedy with drinking plenty of water, the urinary tract infection is alleviated in a day or two.
