3 Things That Can Worsen a Urinary Tract Infection

If you have ever had a urinary infection, then you are probably very familiar with the symptoms. Not only do urinary or bladder infections lead to  painful urination, they can also cause an increase or decrease in urinary output, back pain, abdominal pain, fever, chills, and bloody or cloudy urine.

Drinking plenty of water and taking antibiotics as directed by your doctor can help eliminate the infection; however, there are a few things that may actually worsen your symptoms. Here are three things that can exacerbate symptoms of a urinary tract infection and what you can do about them:

Drinking Coffee

While coffee counts as fluid intake, it contains caffeine. Drinking coffee, a potent diuretic, will help increase urination to help rid your bladder of bacteria. While this can be a good thing, caffeine can be highly irritating to your bladder and ureters.

Bladder irritants such as caffeine can promote bladder spasms, which in certain cases, can lead to urinary retention. When urine is retained in the bladder for long periods of time, bacteria and other microorganisms can grow, worsening your existing infection or promoting a secondary infection.

Drinking decaffeinated coffee might be a better option; however, since there is still a small amount of caffeine left in the coffee bean after the decaffeinating process, you might still experience bladder spasms and urinary pain. 

Taking Vitamin C

While eating foods rich in vitamin C can help promote a strong immune system so that you are less likely to get a urinary tract infection, taking vitamin C supplements can actually make your symptoms worse. Like caffeine, vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is irritating to the bladder walls.

This can lead to burning upon urination, urethral spasms, urinary hesitancy, and even blood in the urine. In fact, if you take too much supplemental vitamin C, you may be at a heightened risk for developing kidney stones.

Instead of taking vitamin C supplements, eat citrus fruits in moderation to get your daily allowance of vitamin C. It is important to note that, while citrus fruits may not be as irritating to your urinary tract as vitamin C supplements, they are still very acidic.

Smoking Cigarettes

The chemicals in cigarette smoke can lead to the buildup of toxins in your bladder. This can worsen your symptoms and may even prolong your urinary infection. Smoking can also damage the small capillaries in your bladder and urethra and suppress your immune function so that your body is less likely to fight the infection. If you are unable to quit smoking when you have a urinary tract infection, try cutting down. The less you smoke, the less likely toxic chemicals will accumulate inside your bladder.

If you believe you have a bladder infection, drink plenty of water and see your doctor. If your infection is resistant to treatment or is severe, your health care provider may refer you to a specialist. Urologists are physicians specializing in the diagnoses and treatment of conditions affecting the urinary tract. The sooner your infection is recognized and treated, the less likely you are to develop a secondary infection.