Cystitis: symptoms, causes and remedies

When it arrives it makes itself felt: we are talking about cystitis, aninflammation affecting the bladder and that does not go unnoticed. It can be caused by different factors that determine its occasionality or continuity. In any case, it is good to treat it immediately following an adequate therapy, in order to prevent it from recurring shortly after.

With the help by Dr. Elisabetta Colonese, surgeon, specialized in gynecology and obstetrics, couple infertility therapy, let’s see how to recognize cystitis and what to do to prevent it.

What is that

“Cystitis is a ‘inflammation of the bladder. It can be bacterial (the most frequent) or inflammatory. The latter are caused by the use of irritants, by aincorrect intimate hygiene or medication. Cystitis can be:

• acute and therefore transient, benign and occasional;
• hemorrhagic. In this case it has an infectious origin and involves the bladder in a more important way because it reaches the capillaries of the submucosa of the bladder, so much so that it will be possible to notice some blood in the urine;
• recurrent, i.e. it recurs several times during the year and requires specific therapies.

The goal is prevent the woman from having any type of cystitis, especially the recurring one, ”explains the doctor.

Symptoms

«Cystitis can be easily recognized through the onset of symptoms Which:

• burning and pain on urination (dysuria and stranguria or discomfort and pain);
• tendency to Pee many times (even a little and is called pollakiuria);
• presence, at times, of blood in the urine (hematuria).

The urine also exhibits a dull color and an intense smell, in some cases a fever may also occur. Also, in conjunction with the development of cystitis, it could be felt suprapubic pain and / or a sense of perineal weight [ndr. l’area circonda la vagina, la vulva e l’ano]»Continues Dr. Colonese.

In the presence of these signs, especially if they are recurrent and persistent, it is always good talk to your gynecologist trust that will evaluate the most suitable therapy.

Causes

“In the case of bacterial cystitis, the cause is due toaction of germs that populate the last part of the intestine. In fact, the most frequent is Escherichia coli, followed by Proteus and Klebsiella. These microorganisms manage to reach the bladder for example from the outside, that is, through the urethra [ndr. il canale che collega la vescica all’esterno] and this is because a woman’s urethra is much shorter than that found in a man’s penis. The distance between the outlet of the urethra and the bladder is therefore minimal, therefore from the outside these germs can pass more easily for anatomical reasons.

These bacteria can also reach the bladder in another way: they can in fact pass through propagation from neighboring organs such as the intestine or blood. Non-bacterial cystitis can be as inflammatory as the interstitial cystitis. It is a chronic inflammation of the bladder that has multifactorial causes. Cystitis can be caused by radiation therapy or chemicals, or even drugs. ‘

Then there are also the trauma cystitis especially when you have dryness. For example, in women who use oral contraceptives and with vaginal dryness, it can happen that during sexual intercourse the tissue breaks a little, with resulting in inflammation and a tendency for germs to proliferate. Same thing in the menopausal women who may have vaginal dryness problems. This is in fact an additional cause of inflammatory cystitis if dryness is not treated.

Remedies

“The diagnosis depends on the cause which triggered cystitis. Before embarking on a antibiotic therapy a urinalysis with an antibiogram urine culture should be performed exclude the presence of bacteria which may underlie cystitis. Otherwise, if cystitis is treated with random antibiotics, it may remain latent and arise later. Along with therapy, it is important aim at prevention, that is, adopting a series of behaviors, first of all having a healthy intestine, which help prevent the development of cystitis ”, explains the doctor.

How to prevent it

«If it is true that for closeness and for intestinal dysbiosis, you can get sick both the vagina (vaginosis) and the bladder (cystitis), it is essential that the intestine is in shape and that it has a good microbiota. This means that the bacteria present in the intestine must be in balance with each other. In this sense, it is essential to follow a healthy diet and hydrate yourself daily enough, so drink about 1 and a half liters / 2 liters of water. In addition, it is preferable to avoid the consumption of alcohol, spirits, coffee, carbonated soft drinks and quit smoking.

In general, better prefer a balanced diet rich in proteins, especially vegetables and fish, with steam cooking. In addition, I recommend eat lots of vegetables and fruits, limit proteins of animal origin, therefore dairy products and cured meats. If you have a tendency to have cystitis all the time, I recommend chronic therapies that is, to be repeated from month to month with Red fruits and lactic ferments. There are different solutions in sachets and tablets, to be taken from one to two doses a day for 10 days a month and are used to prevent cystitis and its recurrence ».

The intestine is one of the most important parts of our body and is closely related to our brain. His well-being in fact affects mood, immune defenses, as well as bladder health. To make sure that the bacteria, naturally present within the gut, are in balance with each other, we need to keep as much of one as possible balanced lifestyle. This translates into bringing to the table allied foods of the intestine and playing sports.

Good habits

“Some good habits I’m:

• wash from front to back (and not the other way around), because the anal germs could be mechanically transported from the anus to the urethra favoring the passage of the germs from the outside;
• use specific products, avoiding those that are aggressive or that cause dryness or inflammation;
• dab and do not rub with a towel to be changed at each wash and without leaving it exposed, because the action of the drain could create the diffusion of micro droplets that can deposit anywhere, including the bidet towel;
• underwear should be comfortable, preferably made of cotton and breathable, without chemical dyes that can be released with the first sweat;
• limit theuse of panty liners;
• be careful during menstruation change the tampon very often;
• do not hold your pee and don’t push while doing it;
• do not use tight clothing;
• avoid sexual intercourse if you have cystitis.

Another tip is to pee immediately after intercourse, so as to let those small germs that can have climbed up the urethra mechanically slip away ”, concludes the expert.

In conclusion, therefore, cystitis can be very frequent and be caused by several factors. To prevent it from happening or coming back, it’s best to play ahead and counter it with good daily habits.

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