According to a 2008 Cystex survey conducted by Harris Interactive, about half of  adults in the U.S. are wary of using public restroom facilities – women more so than men.. Yet, the busy holiday season will find us needing to use public restrooms more frequently than usual….during long hours of holiday shopping at the mall, at the highway rest stop on the way to a visit at grandma’s house, etc.

So, before you leave home for your shopping trips or to visit the family, check out Cystex.com to find its partnership page with The Bathroom Diaries, providing a city-by-city public restroom finder feature, which provides listings of public restrooms in cities across the country, along with ratings and reviews, hours of use and details about how clean, safe and aesthetically pleasing they might be. This allows you to see what’s really going on behind closed doors and plot out good rest stops accordingly this holiday season.

Cystex® is a unique urinary analgesic sold over-the-counter that combines a pain reliever for temporary relief of the burning and discomfort of urinary tract infections (UTIs), with an anti-bacterial agent that helps slow the replication of the bacteria until you see your healthcare provider for definitive diagnosis and treatment. It is important to make time for the restroom in between shopping for or driving to see your loved ones since one cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are associated with holding in urine for too long a period of time. When you feel the urge to go to the bathroom, you should go in order to avoid UTIs and possible bladder-lining damage, which allows UTI-causing bacteria to multiply and thrive.

If you’re having difficulties `going with the flow,` you could possibly have a urinary tract infection (UTI). Since your urinary flow or `stream` can be the first indicator of possible medical issues, such as inflammation, it’s important to recognize any changes in your urine stream. A strong, steady, healthy urine flow naturally cleanses the urinary tract and surrounding area of unwanted bacteria each time you urinate. If something is inhibiting normal urination, bacteria can be trapped inside the urinary tract leading to a UTI.

According to Elizabeth Kavaler, M.D., urologist and author of A Seat on the Aisle, Please! The Essential Guide to Urinary Tract Problems in Women (Copernicus Books, 2006), there are ways to improve your urine flow strength:

• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water will increase the flow of urine and help flush out bacteria in the urinary tract.
• Take a “Uroflow” Test: If you suffer from recurrent UTIs or suspect you have a urinary blockage, ask your doctor for a “uroflow” test to assess whether or not you are voiding efficiently.
• Put Down the Heavy Purse: 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 (a painful condition that creates pressure on the nerves in the lower back). Back strain in the lower back muscles can actually interfere with urine flow, which can lead to abnormal voiding (urination) and increased presence of bacteria that doesn’t get flushed away…leading to risk for UTIs.