Home Remedies That May Help Alleviate Dysuria

Dysuria refers to a painful or burning sensation while urinating. This may be caused by any factor that causes irritation or inflammation in the urethra, such as infection or chemicals.

While the medical treatment for dysuria depends on its cause, various home remedies and lifestyle changes can help you in managing the condition and avoiding further problems.

# Increase water intake

Increasing the amount of water you drink throughout the day promotes frequent urination. This helps in flushing out infectious microbes and toxins from your body, thus relieving pain and managing infections.

Also, dehydration can aggravate the condition. Drinking water at regular intervals prevents dehydration and also helps maintain body heat.

Water-based fruits and vegetables, smoothies, coconut water, juices, soups, and broths can also be consumed as fluid sources to maintain optimum hydration levels in the body.

# Consume cranberry juice and vitamin C

Intake of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, supplements is known to alleviate UTIs by making the urine more acidic.

Cranberries are 88% water and contain fructose, organic acids (such as salicylate), anthocyanidins, triterpenoids, catechins, flavonoids, and high levels of vitamin C (200 mg/kg of berries).

Women with UTIs have conventionally used a cocktail drink with about 25% of cranberry juice for UTI prevention.

# Apply a warm compress

Applying a warm compress can help in alleviating bladder pressure and subsiding pain, giving a soothing effect. You may also use a heating pad in place of the compress.

How to use:

- Soak a fresh washcloth in warm water and wring out the excess water.
- Apply the compress to your lower abdomen for 5 minutes.
- Reapply after a few minutes.

# Consume probiotics

Probiotics are formulations made of the healthy microbes present in your intestines. Intake of probiotics can help rebalance the microbial population in the body, thus improving function and managing infections.

Probiotics have been employed in the prevention of UTIs and candidiasis. However, further studies are needed to warrant their efficacy.

You can consume probiotic-rich foods such as sauerkraut, yogurt, and fermented dairy products. If you fail to get your required intake through diet alone, you can consider taking probiotic supplements but only after consulting your doctor.

# Preventive Self-Care Measures

- Practice relaxation techniques to alleviate stress and tension, which can worsen the condition.
- Change into dry clothes immediately after swimming or getting wet.
- Refrain from using vaginal sprays, douches, and soaps that contain irritants.
- Avoid the consumption of spicy foods, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and carbonated drinks.
- Do not wear body-fitting clothes such as tight jeans and trousers and use cotton underwear.
- Frequently change sanitary napkins and tampons.
- Wash before and after sexual intercourse and use protection.
- Urinate after sex to flush out the microbes from the urethra and bladder.
- Do not control your need to urinate.
- Restrict alcohol intake and smoking.
- For women, wipe in a front-to-back motion after having a bowel movement or urination, and keep the genital area clean and dry.