Cystitis

Cystitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the urinary bladder, often due to a bacterial infection.

The bladder is the hollow muscular organ located in the pelvis, responsible for collecting the urine produced by the kidneys.

Symptoms of cystitis

The typical symptoms of cystitis are:

• constant urge to urinate
• burning and pain during urination
• sensation of incomplete bladder emptying
• pain and a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen.

Cystitis is usually an inflammation of the bladder caused by a bacterial infection of intestinal origin. The most common bacterium is Escherichia coli, which is able to travel from the intestine up the urethral canal and reach the bladder.

There can also be other causes, not of bacterial origin, that can favor the onset of urinary tract disorders:

• low immune defenses due to stress or abuse of antibiotics
• dehydration and poor habit of drinking water
• excessively holding back the urge to urinate
• intestinal disorders such as diarrhea or gastroenteritis

Remedies for cystitis

If the trigger for cystitis is linked to a bacterial infection, the therapy of choice is based on taking antibiotics that are eliminated through the urinary tract. It can nonetheless be useful to take substances with a specific anti-inflammatory action to combat the inflammatory state and the related painful symptoms.

In cases of recurrent cystitis or when a specific bacterial infection is not identified, it may be advisable to use herbal active ingredients with antiseptic and pain-relieving actions.

It is always advisable, however, to drink large amounts of water, at least 2 liters per day, to favor the elimination of infecting germs.

Cystitis in men

Cystitis is an extremely widespread condition but it affects the male sex less frequently than the female sex. The reason for this difference is anatomical in nature: the male urethra (the canal connecting the bladder to the outside) is about 18 cm long in men, while in women it is only 4 cm.

Therefore, in men, it is more difficult for intestinal bacteria to travel up it and reach the bladder.

Risk factors for men are often attributable to enlargement or inflammatory states of the prostate, which can cause urine to stagnate in the bladder.

Cystitis in women

Cystitis is a condition that primarily affects the female sex for simple anatomical reasons.

Compared to men, the urethra in women is shorter and the orifices of the anus and urethra are closer together; consequently, infectious agents can more easily travel up to the bladder.

The incidence of the disorder increases with age, and the cause is to be found in certain problems associated with menopause, such as estrogen deficiency.

Furthermore, in the female sex, the presence of relapses is much more frequent, and in cases of recurrent cystitis (3-6 episodes per year), remedies of herbal origin can be used.

Food supplement based on Hibiscus flower extract (Ellirose®) with proteolytic enzymes (enflog®) and vitamin C, useful for promoting the functionality of the urinary tract.

The average duration of symptoms for each episode of cystitis varies from six to ten days, a period during which it is necessary to continue antibiotic treatment to avoid the risk of recurrence.

Normally, the infection is limited to the bladder only. The only situation of potential alarm is the case in which it is suspected that the infection has spread from the bladder to the kidneys; in this case, pay maximum attention to these symptoms:

• Fever
• Lower back pain
• General feeling of malaise

Recurrent cystitis

In some cases, despite antibiotic treatment, relapses can occur. In these situations (3-6 episodes per year), we speak of recurrent cystitis; very often, the use of antibiotics no longer appears useful, and it is appropriate to resort to herbal active ingredients capable of exerting both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions.