Recognizing and Managing UTIs

Woman visiting with her motherUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common occurrence. According to the Centers for Disease Control, UTIs account for about 4 million visits to outpatient healthcare facilities each year in the US.*

UTIs result from bacteria that enter and latch onto the urinary tract. 80%–90% of infections are caused by E. coli, bacteria that normally live in the colon.** UTIs are diagnosed by a urine test performed by a healthcare professional.

 

Some UTI symptoms include:

  • Fever

  • Urgency

  • Side or flank pain

  • Inability to urinate

  • Shaking chills

  • Frequent urination

  • Blood in the urine

Remember to consult your physician if you think you might have a UTI.

Antibiotics are often used to manage UTIs, although even when treated with antibiotics, there’s a high rate of re-infection. By 4–6 weeks, 50%–70% of individuals treated for a UTI will again have positive urine cultures.*** 

If left unmanaged, UTIs can result in the following:

  • Urgency or difficulty urinating

  • Confusion and falls

  • Pain and depression

  • Decrease in daily activity due to fatigue, pain and urgency

  • Increased metabolism and decreased appetite

  • Antibiotic use

  • Further infections

  • Skin breakdown and skin infection

  • Hospitalizations

Medical foods, such as UTI-Stat, are another way to manage UTIs. Just 1 fl oz of UTI-Stat contains five key ingredients that have been clinically shown in two trials to manage UTIs. UTI-Stat’s five key ingredients offer these strong benefits:

  • Cranberry Concentrate and D-MannoseInterfere with bacteria sticking to the urinary tract wall

  • Vitamin C and FOSSlow the spread of harmful bacteria

  • Bromelain Helps manage the body’s normal inflammatory response

If you’re interested in learning more, click here to find out about how UTI-Stat can help manage your urinary tract health.

 

*http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/urinarytractinfections_t.htm

**Ejrnæs K. Dan Med Bull. 2011;58(4):B4187.

***Nicolle LE. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;31(3):757-61.