Real sugar—and artificial versions such as Splenda—can worsen the symptoms of overactive bladder for some people, Dr. Winkler says. Even honey can cause problems. If you find that sweeteners give you bladder trouble, try to cut them out of your diet, or use as little as possible.
Try Chamomile and Peppermint Teas
Chamomile's anti-inflammatory properties are known to help the symptoms of urinary tract infections. It can also be helpful for improving bladder infections, with experts often recommending adding it to bath water for soaking.
Treatment
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), to relieve pain.
- Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or imipramine (Tofranil), to help relax your bladder and block pain.
Remedies for Bladder Infections
- Drink more water. When caring for a bladder infection, it's critical to drink lots of fluids to help flush the bacteria out of your bladder. ...
- Drink at least one cup of cranberry juice daily. ...
- Apply a heating pad or warm pack. ...
- Take over-the-counter pain medications.
The antibiotic action of lemon juice and honey was compared with standard antibiotic formulas used for UTIs. The results? Azithromycin, Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid and Honey had lower antibacterial activity.
Bladder irritants
Certain acidic fruits — oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes — and fruit juices. Spicy foods. Tomato-based products. Carbonated drinks. Chocolate.
Sometimes, problems in the urinary tract cause bladder irritation. A urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause short-term (temporary) discomfort and urgency. People with chronic problems like interstitial cystitis (IC) can experience ongoing bladder pain. IC is an inflammation (swelling) in the wall of the bladder.
Bladder infections can lead to inflammation of the bladder (cystitis). Symptoms include pain and burning with urination, increased frequency of urination and sometimes abdominal pain. The inflammation usually improves after a course of antibiotics.
And it usually takes weeks or months to calm the symptoms. The first stage of treatment is to try to avoid triggers and try lifestyle changes that may help ease symptoms. Retrain your bladder to hold more urine. For example, if you feel the need to pee every 30 minutes, try to stretch it out to 45 minutes.
Drink fluids to dilute your urine. This will lessen the pain you feel when urinating. You may take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen) and acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol) for pain control. Sitz baths can help with the burning associated with chemical irritant urethritis.
Lifestyle factors that may result in frequent urination: Drinking too much water/fluid. Diuretics – foods/beverages that relieve water retention such as alcohol, tea, coffee, soda, parsley, ginger, etc. Spicy, salty, or acidic foods that irritate the bladder.
Vitamin C. Many patients report that vitamin C causes bladder flares when they take supplements. There are studies that found vitamin C supplements can trigger the “need to go” in women.
As with coffee, caffeine in tea can increase bladder activity and result in exacerbated symptoms, including higher urgency and frequency of urination. It also irritates the bladder. A substance that causes irritation to the bladder is known as a “diuretic”.
These include stress, changes in diet, allergies, and taking certain drugs, among other things. Treatment options for interstitial cystitis include distending (stretching) the bladder, taking oral medication, physical therapy, and using electrical nerve stimulation to alleviate pain, but there is no known cure.
Interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a chronic bladder health issue. It is a feeling of pain and pressure in the bladder area. Along with this pain are lower urinary tract symptoms which have lasted for more than 6 weeks, without having an infection or other clear causes.
More often than not, OAB is a chronic condition; it can get better, but it may not ever go away completely. To start with, doctors often recommend exercises such as Kegels to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and give you more control over your urine flow.
Coffee, soda, alcohol, tomatoes, hot and spicy foods, chocolate, caffeinated beverages, citrus juices and drinks, MSG, and high-acid foods can trigger IC symptoms or make them worse.
Eat Yogurt
But not nearly as many people are aware that probiotics in yogurt could help their urinary systems, too. In fact, yogurt can help fight urinary tract infections, which could also help prevent the development of more serious urinary problems, including bladder cancer.
Believe it or not, but turmeric may help by relieving the inflammatory response of the bladder. A substance called NF kappa-B is one of the primary triggers for bladder inflammation and turmeric stops the body from making it.
Studies have found that low vitamin D levels are linked to overactive bladder. Overactive bladder is characterized by frequent urination, incontinence, nocturia (the need to urinate more than twice per night) and sudden, intense urges to urinate.
Curcumin: Curcumin, one of the most potent bioactive compounds in turmeric, is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. New studies show that curcumin can help treat the inflammation that leads to interstitial cystitis and its symptoms.
WHAT STUDIES SAY: According to a study conducted about the foods and drinks that are most and least likely to irritate the bladder, green tea is one of the beverages that have the potential to irritate your bladder.
The bladder is a master at self-repair. When damaged by infection or injury, the organ can mend itself quickly, calling upon specialized cells in its lining to repair tissue and restore a barrier against harmful materials concentrated in urine.