The signs of a urinary tract infection -- or UTI -- can be painful and interfere with your normal activities until your antibiotics begin to kick in. In addition to medication, cranberry juice is recommended by the University of Michigan Health System to help reduce symptoms and fight off infection. One type of cranberry juice you may consider drinking is Ocean Spray's unsweetened cranberry juice blend.
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections can affect any portion of your urinary system. This includes your bladder, ureters, kidneys and urethra. A majority of UTIs occur in the lower portion of your urinary system, which includes your bladder and urethra. A number of risk factors can increase your chances of developing a UTI. These factors include pregnancy, diabetes, having a prior UTI, being female, being sexually active, having multiple sex partners and holding your urine for an extended period of time. UTIs are rarely a serious condition when treated.
Symptoms
A number of different symptoms can indicate the presence of a UTI. You may experience some or all of the symptoms of a UTI. Symptoms can include burning or pain during urination, the frequent need to urinate, voiding small amounts of urine at a time, cloudy urine, blood-colored urine or urine that smells foul. You may also experience abdominal pain, pelvic pain or rectal pain. Nausea, chills and vomiting may also occur with a UTI.
Treatment
Urinary tract infections will not clear up on their own. You will need to see a doctor to receive treatment for a UTI. If left untreated, a UTI can spread to your kidneys and become a more serious condition. A medical history, brief physical exam and collection of your urine will diagnose a UTI. If this condition is confirmed, you will be placed on an antibiotic to clear up your infection. Your doctor may also recommend over-the-counter pain medications as necessary and drinking plenty of fluids.
Fluids
Staying hydrated is important in your recovery from a UTI. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends the consumption of six to eight glasses of water per day while you have a urinary tract infection. Water -- and other liquids -- can help to dilute your urine. Diluted urine is less painful to pass. Drinking plenty of fluids can also help to naturally flush bacteria from your urinary system by means of urination -- which is a natural way to flush out your bladder and kidneys.
Cranberries
While not a substitute for medical treatment, Ocean Spray's unsweetened cranberry juice blend -- along with other cranberry juices and concentrates -- can be beneficial when you have a urinary tract infection. The University of Michigan Health System recommends drinking 4 to 10 oz. of cranberry juice daily or consuming 400 mg of powdered cranberry concentrate per day. Ocean Spray's unsweetened cranberry juice blend contains vitamin C, which can help to boost your immune system and fight off infection. Cranberries are also a powerful antioxidant that prevent bacteria from sticking to the lining of your bladder.
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