by Jonte Rhodes

Created on: December 16, 2008

Urinary tract infections are basically a build up of bacteria in the urinary tract, and can be caused by a variety of different factors. The majority of the time, these infections can be treated easily and quickly by a simple course of antibiotics. However some of the time the causes of the infection might need separate treatment before the bacterial infection itself can be cured.

The best way by far to avoid getting urinary tract infections is to make sure that you take in plenty of fluids at all times, particularly water. The body's natural way of flushing bacteria and toxins from the urinary system including the bladder and kidneys is to urinate and so flush the bacteria from the body. Simply by drinking more fluids, you will increase the rate of urination, meaning that more of the bacteria that might be building up will be removed from the body.

As well as water, many different types of fruit juice are good for preventing urinary tract infections if consumed regularly. Cranberry juice in particular is said to be very effective in both reducing symptoms, as well as preventing them in the first place. This is due to the fact that a certain chemical found in cranberry juice prevents some types of bacteria from adhering to the walls of the urethra.

There are a huge range of herbal supplements and treatments for urinary tract infections on the market today, primarily sold at herbalist and health shops. All of these tend to claim that they are very effective, although before purchasing one, checking independent reviews of the product are probably a good idea. Certainly some work better than others, as well as having different ingredients which might work better for some people than others.

Urinary tract infections are a lot more common in women than men, which is due to the fact that women have a shorter urinary tract than men. This means that the infection causing bacteria has to travel a shorter distance to get to the bladder or kidneys, where it can multiply. In men the fact that the bacteria has to travel a fairly long way along the length of the penis before it gets to the bladder, means that it is more likely to be either killed or flushed from the body by urination.

Other more at risk groups of people tend to be those with sickle cell disorders, diabetics and also people with deformities to their urinary systems. Also men who are experiencing prostate problems, and pregnant women are also more prone to urinary infections as well. Lastly people who have weakened

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