Ultra high heeled shoes may be sexy, but did you know that they may not only be bad for your feet, but bad for your bladder? If you regularly wear high heels and also are experiencing UTIs, you might want to consider blaming your stilettos, says our expert, Larrian Gillespie, a retired urogynecologist and author of the book, You Don’t Have to Live with Cystitis, The Groundbreaking Guide to the Prevention and Cure of One of Women’s Most Stubborn Ailments (Quill, An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)..

She says that wearing high-heeled shoes that are too high for your hip and leg structure can cause your torso to tilt forward, which forces your hips and spine out of alignment. If this occurs often, you could develop a “swayback,” also known as lordosis, which is a painful condition that creates pressure on the nerves in the lower back.

Okay, so how does this cause an infection in your bladder? Well, Gillespie says that this pressure contributes to “inefficient urination,” which is the precursor for urinary tract infections.

This is how it works: The back contains many fine nerves, which can become strained by lifting/carrying heavy items, exercising, wearing high heels, from altered position, etc. The discs in the lower back can also become damaged, compressing the nerves and signaling the bladder to empty – even when it isn’t full. The injuries also can disrupt or inhibit urine flow, which causes bacteria to become trapped in the bladder causing a UTI. And, as you may have read on this blog or seen elsewhere on Cystex.com, good urine flow is necessary for flushing all the “bad” bacteria out of the bladder.

High heels aren’t the only culprit of lower back problems. Back strain can also be caused by overexerting yourself while exercising. (no, this is not a good reason to stop exercising!) Just make sure to use proper workout techniques by participating in aerobic activities that give you a natural, fluid motion, such as walking, and use weight machines instead of free weights – and ask someone to show you the proper way to use the equipment. If you currently suffer from back injuries, try swimming, which creates the least pressure on the injured area.

Also, lighten the load you carry around. Carrying a heavy backpack, tote or large, filled-to-the-brim pocketbook, no matter how chic and gorgeous it is, can contribute to the development of lordosis. (According to Time magazine’s special Style issue in 2007, the average weight of a woman’s purse was 5.2 pounds.) So ligten the load by getting rid of that hard-covered novel you keep saying you’re going to read on your lunch hour (but don’t) and only carry what you need to help avoid unnecessary back strain.

If you are prone to lower back problems and find you continue to get recurring UTIs help is out there. Make an appointment with your doctor and in the meantime, try Cystex®, which is an over-the-counter urinary medication that not only helps with the pain of a UTI, it also contains the natural antiseptic methenamine that helps stop bacteria from adhering to the wall of the urinary tract, thereby helping to prevent the infection from occurring in the first place. For more information, visit www.Cystex.com.

Cystex was recommended for women who have recurrent UTIs in the June/July issue of Health Wise Magazine. The article recommends Cystex as part of a healthy routine to prevent UTIs.

You may have heard that cranberries (in juice or supplement form) play some role in helping urinary tract infections (UTIs). Some swear by it to help prevent UTIs, while others say it is a great treatment. While no conclusive evidence exists, we wanted to help sort through fact and fiction to get to the bottom of this “berry” interesting topic.

We asked one of our experts, Elizabeth Kavaler, M.D., urologist and author, for her thoughts.  According to Dr. Kavaler, the first thing to keep in mind is that treating and preventing urinary tract infections are two very different subjects. Cranberries are filled with antioxidants and have long been considered a very valuable ally for our health.  In addition to these antioxidants, cranberries contain hippuronic acid. This compound has been shown in some studies to make it much more difficult for the bacteria that causes urinary tract infections to attach to the bladder wall (because this acid works to acidify the urine). This lowers the risk of getting a UTI in some cases.  An important note however, is to make sure that you are drinking 100% cranberry juice because most of the sweetened versions with added sugar do not contain hippuronic acid.

However, once you have a UTI, cranberries in any form will do little to help treat it, and can actually exacerbate painful urination, one of the main symptoms associated with a UTI. This pain is caused by irritation and inflammation of the urethra and urethral opening. Once you have a UTI, the same acid in the cranberry juice that acidifies the urine to help keep bacteria at bay can actually increase the irritation and cause more pain when urinating. The best thing to do is to go to your doctor for proper antibiotic treatment (he or she will take a culture to confirm the UTI), and, in the meantime, take an over-the-counter urinary pain relief medication like Cystex® to help calm the symptoms.

Cystex® Urinary Pain Relief Tablets is the only over-the-counter (OTC) medication that has a dual-action formula, with both a pain reliever to help with the discomfort and burning, as well as an antiseptic to help keep the bacteria in check and the infection from worsening before you can get into your doctor’s office.

So, bottom line…..by all means drink 100% cranberry juice to help ward off UTIs and to add antioxidants to your body, but once you have a UTI, it is best to stick to proper medication and forgo the berries.

For more information on UTIs, visit http://www.cystex.com.

Since this blog is about all things “urinary,” let’s talk color. When growing up, you learn that certain objects are distinct colors, such as the sky is blue, grass is green and urine is yellow. However, what does it mean when one day you find your urine to be green, brown, or even blood-tinged? Changes in your urine color can be the first indicator of possible medical issues. Your “pee” can foresee problems that you may have been unaware you have.

Healthy urine should be clear, which is a sign that you’ve been drinking a good amount of liquids and are hydrated and healthy. However, the color of urine is often affected by medication, vitamins, diet, or diseases, such as kidney or liver disorders.

Dark yellow urine is often due to dehydration and not enough liquid consumption, which can be fixed by drinking more liquids. On an average day, we need at least 32 ounces of fluids per day.

Fluorescent yellow or orange urine signifies the consumption of darker colored foods, such as beets and carrots, or too much vitamin C. This can be an early sign of liver dysfunction if the urine consistently stays dark yellow/orange or brownish in color and you are experiencing other symptoms.  (Brown urine, along with other symptoms, can be a sign of a serious condition, such as liver or kidney diseases.)

Green or blue urine is often caused by artificial coloring in foods or drugs (e.g. dyes). Urine that is a brighter green color, however, can also be an indication of an excess of B vitamins.

Murky, cloudy urine can be related to either bacterial vaginosis (BV) or a yeast infection, a bad case of a UTI, kidney stones, or other urinary tract diseases. Other complaints associated with cloudy urine are painful urination, reduced urine outflow and increased urinary frequency.

Blood-tinged or rust-colored urine that is accompanied by pain, burning and frequent urination is most likely a bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI). The urine may also be cloudy and/or have an odor. If this is the case, contact your healthcare provider for a urine culture; if you do have a UTI you’ll need a prescription antibiotic medication to clear up the infection. While waiting to see your doctor or for your culture results, which can sometimes take a few days, try Cystex® Urinary Pain Relief Tablets, available over-the-counter at drug stores.

Cystex® is unique in that it not only helps relieve the pain and discomfort of a UTI, but it also contains an antibacterial agent  that helps stop the progression of the infection until your physician puts you on a course of antibiotic medication.

Larrian Gillespie says that any changes in urine color that don’t go away in a few days should be addressed with your healthcare provider.
She also says that the strength of your urine flow is important to pay attention to.

More on that later.

I think that I might have a urinary tract infection (UTI). What are the symptoms?

The telltale signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) include frequent urination, urgency to urinate (yet often releasing just a few drops of urine at a time), pain/discomfort in the back or lower abdomen, a burning feeling when urinating or even blood in the urine. If these classic urinary tract infection (UTI) signs are present, it is important to act fast to help alleviate the pain and slow down the progression of the infection until you can set up a doctor appointment. Cystex® Urinary Pain Relief Tablets is a unique over-the-counter urinary tract infection (UTI) medication that is the only one with a dual-action formula that combines pain/burning relief with an antibacterial to help stop the progression of the infection.

If it seems like you’re getting a urinary tract infection (UTI) whenever you have sex, you’re not alone in thinking this. Truth is, while many women may find themselves in this “boat”, it’s not the size of the wave or the motion of the ocean that causes the UTI. According to urologist Elizabeth Kavaler, MD, size and frequency won’t cause a UTI, but the very nature of sexual intercourse makes it one of the more common causes of bacteria from the anal-vaginal areas getting into the urethra and possibly causing a UTI.

As awful as it might sound, it is perfectly normal for E-coli bacteria to make its way from the anal area to the vaginal area and up the urethra – ending up in your bladder – happens to all women, regardless of how careful you might be. However, normal urination is usually able to purge unwanted bacteria from the bladder. Problems arise when you are dehydrated or have a “weak flow” for some other reason. Sexual activity just ups the anty that more bacteria will make its way into the bladder, causing an infection, if you are not flushing it out the normal way.

So, while it’s not really fact or fiction, if you believe that you are getting UTIs after sexual activity, listen up: a UTI-free sex life is possible, it just takes some planning and preventative measures. And no, it won’t take all the fun out of it! Here are Dr. Kavaler’s tips on how to reduce the risk of getting a UTI after sex:

• Position Matters: It is possible that the missionary position – man on top, woman on bottom – can be causing a problem with excessive rubbing and friction near the urethral opening (that’s because the male partner is riding high on the woman’s pelvis). This awkward alignment might be forcing bacteria into the urethra and resulting in an infection. (Again, if you are urinating properly, any excessive bacteria should be flushed out.)
• Be Aware of Barrier Methods: Some barrier methods of birth control, such as diaphragms, and sponges and spermicidal jellies containing nonoxynol-9, have been implicated in the development of UTIs. Dr. Kavaler suggests using condoms and the birth control pill.
• Get With the Flow: Keep yourself hydrated by drinking four glasses of water a day to improve your “flow.” If you stay hydrated and empty your bladder after sex, you will purge the bladder of any new and unwanted bacteria that made its way into the urethra (and bladder) from sexual activity.
• Preventative Pills: For recurrent UTI sufferers (more than three in one year), Dr. Kavaler recommends talking to your doctor about using prophylactic antibiotics that you take after sexual relations. However, for those who would prefer to not take antibiotics preventatively, she suggests taking the over-the-counter urinary medication Cystex® a few hours before sex. Cystex contains a natural antiseptic ingredient, methenamine, which helps keep bacteria from clinging to the walls of the urinary tract to prevent a UTI from actually occurring. Cystex also contains an analgesic (pain reliever) and can be taken if you do get a UTI. It is the only OTC urinary product that contains this antibacterial agent that helps stop the progression of the infection (while you wait to see your healthcare provider) and possibly act as a preventative.

If you wish to learn more information about the sex and UTI connection, please click here - Burning Love

The Cystex Team has just learned about a Uristat recall. Seems that the product has been voluntarily recalled from major retail chains by the manufacturer. Some retailers are even offering refunds.

For those of you looking for a reliable over-the-counter UTI relief product, we’d like to recommend Cystex® urinary pain tablets for several reasons. First, unlike other brands, Cystex doesn’t turn your urine orange! But even better, while Cystex is an effective analgesic (pain reliever), it has an additional ingredient – methenamine – which is an effective antiseptic, or antibacterial agent, that can help keep a UTI from progressing while you wait to see your healthcare provider (who will treat your infection with a prescription antibiotic, which is necessary to eliminate the urinary tract infection completely). Cystex is the only medication over the counter to do BOTH these things – reduce/relieve pain and stop the progression of the infection.

For more information about how Cystex can be taken to help prevent UTIs, please visit our Web site’s “About Cystex”.

Let’s face it - honeymoons are a time when most couples participate in a lot of sexual activity. That’s the good news. But it’s that sudden increase in sexual activity that some experts believe triggers “honeymoon cystitis” (AKA - urinary tract infections/UTIs) - the bad news. An unexpected UTI - as you can imagine - can put a real damper on your honeymoon.

In fact, getting a UTI is the second worse ailment (following diarrhea/stomach upset) that can ruin a romantic vacation, let alone a honeymoon, according to a Cystex® Harris Interactive survey.

And it’s pretty hard to “grin and bare it” when a UTI strikes! Its dreaded symptoms include frequent and painful urination, abdominal pain and in some cases, even flu-like symptoms.

So how do you avoid becoming a statistic? Think about how and why a UTI occurs:

Intercourse can easily introduce bacteria into the female urethra, which is in the unfortunate situation of being physically located near the action (of sexual activity), so to speak. For some women who have lazy bladders (and experience weak urination), or, are using barrier contraceptive methods (such as diaphragms or sponges), these factors can increase their chances of getting a UTI, as they make it difficult for the body to flush out excess bacteria that may have entered the bladder.

So take some advice from our expert Larrian Gillespie, one of our “resident” urology experts: pack some vitamin C in your honeymoon suitcase and take 1,000 milligrams daily (while on vacation) to help acidify the urine and inhibit the growth of some UTI-causing bacteria. Gillespie also recommends carrying along the over-the-counter urinary pain relief and prevention product, Cystex®, since it not only will help with the pain of a UTI, but will also slow the progression of the infection with the natural antiseptic methenamine that helps stop bacteria from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract. When used as a preventative treatment, Cystex® should only be taken before engaging in sexual activity or in other situations that might create the onset of infection.

Last, but not least, dehydration also contributes to the development of the condition, so as you enjoy your romantic, candlelit dinners and drink champagne to a lifetime of rapturous bliss, be sure to down plenty of water, too! 

For additional information about the UTI/sex connection, visit the Burning Love section of the Cystex.com site

The old adage, “When you gotta go, you gotta go,” couldn’t be truer when it comes to helping to prevent a urinary tract infection (UTI). Because bacteria can replicate more easily in the setting of stagnant urine, the more (and longer) you hold it in, the more at risk you are putting yourself for a painful urinary tract infection (UTI), especially if you are already prone to them. Therefore, it can be helpful to respond to the urge to urinate at least four to six times per day, especially if prone to UTIs. And, remember to take your time and relax so that the bladder has time to empty completely each time.

Of course, it is also difficult to ignore the urgency and frequency that most women experience when they have a UTI. The pain can create tension in the pelvis that may make it difficult to relax and empty completely, as well. If you are experiencing these symptoms and think you have a UTI, drink a lot of water, take Cystex® urinary pain relief tablets (sold over-the-counter at drug stores nationwide) and call your doctor for an appointment. Cystex not only helps relieve the pain and discomfort of a UTI, but unlike other OTC urinary pain products, it can control the progression of the infection until you see your doctor, who will want to confirm the diagnosis of a UTI and treat you with an antibiotic to clear up the infection.

So the next time you really need to go to the bathroom, go with the flow! Don’t hold it in – even if you’re not at home. The Cystex Web site (www.cystex.com) has a public restroom finder (we’ve partnered with the Bathroom Diaries) that lists and rates public bathrooms by cleanliness, accessibility and hours of operation. Be in the know and find out where the best ladies rooms are in your city, so when you “gotta go,” you can.

Cystex® Team Reveals the Contents of the “Bathroom Diaries”

If you’re on this blog, chances are that you’ve had (or have) a urinary tract infection (UTI) and have experienced the pain and discomfort, but also the FREQUENCY (yup, you need to pee!) that typically accompanies this common infection. So it goes without saying that when you have a UTI, you don’t want to be far away from a bathroom.

Yet, even when you don’t have a UTI, when you have to “go,” wherever you might be, you want to quickly find a clean, well-supplied restroom. If you’re a normal, busy woman, you’re likely to find yourself relying on public restrooms on a regular basis. So why do so many of us experience dirty and disgusting bathrooms? Wouldn’t it be nice to flush out the locations of good and clean restrooms in your local area? Or if you have to travel to a new city, know exactly where you can find a pretty potty?

To help women find clean, comfortable, and in some cases, aesthetically-special restrooms, Cystex®, in collaboration with the ‘Bathroom Diaries‘, is providing a “bathroom finder” Web resource that lists them by state/city and offers reviews – in some cases, fairly detailed, including business hours, whether it’s a ladies’ room or unisex, if it has handicap access, is safe and clean, well stocked with the necessities, etc.

So whether you live in Montgomery, AL, or are traveling to Bennington, VT, you’ll find unbiased and informative information on the best public bathrooms to use (and others to avoid at all costs) at the Bathroom Diaries feature on Cystex.com.

The key thing is….just don’t hold it in! Many women don’t realize that urine retention can cause urinary tract problems, including the onset of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Our experts say that habitual urine retention can cause damage to the bladder lining, allowing UTI-causing bacteria to multiply and thrive.

So don’t put your urinary system health at risk, just click here to check out the best bathroom finder feature on Cystex.com, and make your next public restroom experience an enjoyable one! Know before you……..go!