What would you do if every other time you took your car in to be fixed, your mechanic made the wrong repair?
Or if nearly 50 percent of the time you ordered a meal in a restaurant, the waiter simply decided to bring you something else instead?
I may be going out on a limb here, but I’m betting you wouldn’t accept it. You might even be (appropriately) angry and demand better service or your money back.
Yet, for some reason, we seldom hold our doctors to those same minimum standards. And now a shocking new report reveals that docs are giving women the WRONG treatment for a common infection nearly HALF the time.
Women get WRONG UTI treatment 50% of the time
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections in women. Men get UTI’s too, of course. But just not as often.
It’s because of our plumbing down there. The way we’re put together means we tend to be at a higher risk than the guys for getting them.
Intestinal bacteria don’t have to travel too far to find their way into the urinary tract. This is why AT LEAST 50 to 60 percent of women will have a UTI in their lifetime. (Wondering if you have one? Check out these 6 common signs of a UTI.)
But for many of us, they’re a reoccurring problem. And your chance of developing a UTI rises with age. In fact, your risk for one of these nasty infections doubles after your reach 65.
In other words, ladies, if you’ve made it to your senior years, chances are you’ve already seen your doctor for a UTI at least once before (and will likely do so again). And according to a new study, when you did, there was a 46.7 percent chance he dashed off a prescription for an inappropriate antibiotic.
Other research has revealed docs often assume it’s E-coli, despite multiple other bugs being quite common too. And it gets worse. The new study also found a 76.1 percent chance that the prescription’s length was entirely too long as well.
Drug-free solutions to ditch a urinary tract infection (UTI)
The truth is, he may as well have written you a prescription for antibiotic resistance. Because if the drug is targeting the wrong bug, it’s likely to fail.
Plus, the longer you’re on antibiotics, and the more meds you take, the higher your risk for ending up with a drug-resistant strain of whatever bug your fighting. And that, of course, could mean having to switch to more powerful antibiotics with more risks.
But you don’t have to simply fill the prescription and hope for the best. You do have some other drug-free options which you can try first. Just make sure to touch base with your doctor.
Cranberry:
There’s a lot of arguing over whether or not cranberry does the job. Studies have had mixed results. But the science makes sense, and the first-hand experiences of countless women who swear by it make it worth considering.
Research confirms that cranberry compounds can help keep E-coli and likely other UTI bugs from sticking to the urinary tract walls.
The trouble with many of the cranberry studies is that researchers chose to use a sugar-filled cranberry juice instead of a pure extract. And when you dilute the cranberry, you’re also diluting the compounds that keep the UTI bugs from setting up shop.
A pure cranberry extract is a FAR better choice. And multiple studies show its value. In one study, 500 mg of cranberry extract per day worked as well as an antibiotic to prevent UTIs in women prone to infections. Capsules are available so you can avoid the tart taste.
D-Mannose:
This simple sugar is found in a number of fruits and veggies, including cranberries. And your body also produces a bit of it on its own. Many women have found d-mannose helpful in preventing, as well as clearing, UTIs.
In one study, women battling a UTI who took the supplement twice a day for three days and then once a day for 10 days had a significant improvement in symptoms. Plus, the infection cleared more quickly.
Like cranberry, d-mannose has what experts call “anti-adhesion” properties. In other words, the compound could help turn your urinary tract into a virtual slip-and-slide so the bugs just can’t latch on and are flushed right out.
Probiotics:
Probiotics aren’t just for good digestion. It turns out the lactobacilli types, in particular, can line the walls of the urinary tract and help block the germs behind UTIs from attaching.
Probiotics can also help lower urine pH levels, making your urinary tract an unfriendly home for those ugly bugs. In one study on women who suffered from recurring UTIs, probiotics worked almost as well as antibiotics but without the risks.
One or more of these solutions could help you avoid future urinary tract infections. Plus, they may help you clear up a UTI faster without resorting to antibiotics. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water to help flush those ugly bugs out.
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