|
Read time: 7 min
|
Posted on:
Read time: 7 min
Posted on:
Drinking alcohol does not directly cause a UTI as UTIs are caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract and multiplying. However, drinking alcohol can increase your risk of getting one and it can worsen the symptoms of an already existing UTI.
Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of getting a UTI because it can lead to dehydration and a weakened immune system. When you are dehydrated, your urinary tract throughput decreases, giving bacteria in the bladder and other tissues more time to multiply and cause disease.
Additionally, certain types of alcoholic beverages may contain ingredients that can irritate the bladder leading to more severe UTI symptoms. Alcohol can also interact with certain medications prescribed for UTIs, making them less effective in treating the infection.
Overall it is recommended to avoid or limit alcohol consumption when you have a UTI.
Key takeaways:
Continue reading to learn more about UTIs, how alcohol can affect them, and what other drinks you should avoid with a UTI.
A UTI, or urinary tract infection, is a bacterial infection that can affect the bladder, kidneys, ureters (the tubes that run from the kidneys to the bladder), or the urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outside world).
Most UTIs are caused by E. coli, a bacteria found in the colon which migrates from the anus into the urethra. However, other common UTI pathogens include Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Doctors break down UTIs into different classes. You can have two or more at the same time.
Cystitis refers to common bladder-based UTIs. With these, patients have a persistent urge to pee and may have cloudy urine.
Urethritis affects the urethra. This type of infection can produce discharge and result in a burning sensation when you pee.
Lastly, pyelonephritis affects the kidneys. Patients with this type of infection often experience back pain, fever, and chills.
In many cases, patients develop urinary tract infections without noticing that they have them (at least for the first few days or weeks). However, if symptoms do develop, they can include:
Drinking alcohol does not directly cause urinary tract infections (bacteria are required for that). However, it can raise your risk and make symptoms worse if you already have an active infection.
Alcohol raises the risk of developing UTIs through several mechanisms. First, it can lead to dehydration, a leading cause of urinary tract infections. When you become dehydrated, urinary tract throughput decreases, giving bacteria in the bladder and other tissues more time to multiply and cause disease.
Second, alcohol consumption may damage the immune system, making it harder for it to eliminate early-stage before it causes symptoms. For instance, clinicians have observed a close association between alcohol consumption and susceptibility to infection.
Lastly, alcohol consumption may contribute to UTIs indirectly by increasing the likelihood of sexual activity. Studies show, for instance, that people who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, leading to more UTIs.
If you have a UTI, you should avoid drinking alcohol. Wine, beer, and spirits can worsen symptoms and cause serious side effects when combined with certain classes of antibiotics. Alcohol further irritates the bladder, compounding the effect of bacteria.
Drinking alcohol may also render treatment less effective, prolonging infection. Common antibiotics, such as trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole do not work as well in the presence of alcohol. Plus, you may experience unwanted side effects, such as racing heart, nausea, and flushing.
Alcohol may hurt your bladder even if you do not have a UTI. Pain occurs because alcohol causes the fluids you excrete to become more acidic. The extra acid load irritates the internal lining of the bladder, making you feel like you have a UTI, even if no bacteria are present.
Doctors commonly advise people to avoid beverages such as coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks during UTI episodes. Getting people to stick to water, they believe, helps to flush out the system, reduce the bacterial load, and, hopefully, mitigate symptoms without the need for antibiotics.
Recent evidence backs up this common-sense medicine. A study published in the Journal of Wound Ostomy & Continence Nursing found that patients with UTIs instructed to avoid tea, coffee, and soda saw an improvement in overall symptoms compared to those who carried on as normal. However, the researchers admitted that actually getting people to eliminate irritating drinks from their diets was difficult.
Some UTIs clear up after a few days but most require antibiotics. Many are persistent and can if left untreated, cause serious kidney damage.
If you are experiencing nausea, chills, fever, or vomiting, contact your physician immediately. You may require a course of antibiotics to eliminate the infection and prevent further damage to your urinary tract system.
Similarly, if you have had UTI symptoms for several days that won’t go away (such as a burning sensation when you pee), you require medical attention. Chronic UTIs can develop into serious infections that damage multiple organ systems.
To learn more about medication, treatment, and recovery, contact an online doctor. At DrHouse our online doctors are available 24/7 throughout the day, in the evenings, and on weekends, and can provide prompt UTI prescriptions. They can also make recovery recommendations, such as avoiding alcohol and other drinks, like coffee, that make symptoms worse.
Content on the DrHouse website is written by our medical content team and reviewed by qualified MDs, PhDs, NPs, and PharmDs. We follow strict content creation guidelines to ensure accurate medical information. However, this content is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For more information read our medical disclaimer.
Always consult with your physician or other qualified health providers about medical concerns. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it based on what you read on this website.
If you are experiencing high fever (>103F/39.4C), shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, heart palpitations, abnormal bruising, abnormal bleeding, extreme fatigue, dizziness, new weakness or paralysis, difficulty with speech, confusion, extreme pain in any body part, or inability to remain hydrated or keep down fluids or feel you may have any other life-threatening condition, please go to the emergency department or call 911 immediately.
DrHouse provides 24/7 virtual urgent care, men’s health, women’s health and online prescriptions.
Jessica Guht Dec. 04, 2023
Jessica Guht Nov. 27, 2023
Jessica Guht Nov. 27, 2023
Jessica Guht Dec. 04, 2023
Jessica Guht Nov. 27, 2023
Jessica Guht Nov. 27, 2023
Prescriptions as needed
Renew or get a new Rx.
On-demand virtual visits
See a physician 24/7.
24/7 care support
We are here to help you.
on your schedule
Skip the unnecessary waiting room, see a board-certified clinician now.