What is Cystitis?

Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder. Cystitis is more common in women than in men and almost all women will have cystitis at least once in their life.

What Are the Symptoms of Cystitis?

• Pain, burning or stinging when you urinate
• Need to urinate often and urgently
• Urine that contains traces of blood, in more severe cases
• Pain in your stomach, lower back or abdomen
• Feeling unwell, weak or feverish

What are the Causes of Cystitis?

The most common cause of cystitis is a bacterial infection. If bacteria reach the bladder, they can multiply and irritate the bladder lining, causing the symptoms of cystitis. Cystitis can also result from damage or irritation around the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. 

Dietary and Lifestyle Advice

• Watch what you eat: Some people find certain foods make cystitis symptoms worse, for example, coffee, fruit juice or spicy foods. If there is anything that triggers your cystitis, you may wish to avoid it
• Always empty your bladder fully: Not doing so could aggravate the condition. 
• Don’t wait to go if you need to urinate: Delaying it can place extra stress on your bladder and could make it more vulnerable to infection