How much should you drink? Dr. While about eight glasses (or 64 ounces) each day is a good starting point, it doesn’t hurt to sip a little more if you think you’re suffering from a urinary tract infection, says Gormley. A small study published in 2018 JAMA Internal Medicine found that women with recurrent urinary tract infections experienced fewer infections when they increased their intake by 1.5 liters per day for 12 months or more. Just be careful about drinking too much I hope you find a solution to your problems. Overhydration can strain your kidneys and, in rare cases, lead to potentially life-threatening water intoxication known as hyponatremia. While there’s no set amount for how much water will push you over the edge, know that your kidneys can process about a liter of fluid per hour (so drinking more than that puts you in the danger zone).

Botros also recommends limiting “bladder-irritating” foods and drinks, such as coffee, alcohol, spicy foods, citrus fruits and sodas. Dr. Gormley adds that cranberry juice, often referred to as a urinary tract infection remedy, may actually irritate things more. However, there is some evidence that both cranberry juice and the extract itself may help prevent the disease. recurrent urinary tract infection—so chat with your doctor about the best plan of action.

Also Dr. Gaither says you shouldn’t keep it inside. This is because urinating naturally flushes bacteria from the body, he explains, so it can help reduce your risk of getting repeat infections. Avoiding peeing can help bacteria multiply.

Try an OTC UTI medication.

Urinary analgesics such as phenazopyridine (better known as AZO, Uristate, or Pyridium) can help relieve the burning sensation of a urinary tract infection by numbing the urinary tract. Dr. “It can at least take some of the bite off of things while you try to let your body work through it,” Ackerman explains. But more importantly, these medications will not cure the infection.

Dr. Don’t panic, but they can also turn your pee bright orange, Gormley says. Urinary analgesics often contain a dye that can stain your urine and tears, so it can show up on your underwear and even discolor your contact lenses. Another thing to note: You should only take these for no more than two days in a row; This is really just a way to ease the discomfort until your antibiotics kick in. Additionally, the dye can sometimes affect the reliability of the urinalysis; A test that examines the appearance of your pee and checks for blood cells, proteins, and other substances that may indicate infection. But he explains that these medications will not affect urine culture results, so tell your doctor before having these tests.

Use a heating pad.

Dr. When you have pain in your pelvic area, abdomen, lower back and surrounding muscles, “heating pads and hot baths” can help relax the muscles and minimize pain, Ackerman says. (At work 11 heating pads for cramps and muscle aches.) Make sure your bath is warm and not scalding to avoid burning your skin. And don’t soak it in water for too long; Your bathtub can be filled with bacteria (even if you can’t see it!), making it easier for bacteria to reach your urinary tract. Definitely avoid bubble baths as soapy water can irritate your urinary tract.

Do mindfulness or breathing exercises.

It’s hard not to feel stressed when you’re sitting on the toilet, desperate to find a comfortable position. But taking steps to calm your mind and body can make things a little more bearable. For example, deep breathing, or breathing from your diaphragm, has been shown to help some people manage chronic pain symptoms. (At work five deep breathing exercises One small study suggested that mindfulness-based stress reduction, or meditation, may help patients with bladder pain. (At work seven simple mindfulness exercises you can try.)Dr. “People really underestimate the value of awareness and breathing in situations like this,” says Ackerman.