The expert also weighed in on the cranberry juice technique to deal with urinary tract infections
Dr Kasim Ahmed appeared on Morning Live’s expert panel on Tuesday to shed light on urinary tract infections, highlighting their increased rates in summer due to dehydration from sweating which can stop your body from being able to properly flush the urinary system.
He offered a straightforward tip for tackling UTIs, saying: “Some simple UTIs can be treated just by having enough water on board. However, some UTIs need more treatment than that, it may be a case of trying to get antibiotics.”
For those needing antibiotics, Dr Ahmed pointed out who can skip a GP visit to get it: “Antibiotics are actually quite readily available for you especially if you’re a woman between the ages of 16 and 64.”
“Through the Pharmacy First scheme you can go to a pharmacist with your symptoms, describe your symptoms to your pharmacist and they should be able to give you a short course of antibiotics. Normally that’s three to five days.
“Now if you’re outside of that demographic; you’re a woman over 65, you’re a child under 16, you’re a man or if you’re pregnant, you’ll need to see your GP.”
The doctor weighed in on cranberry juice for UTIs, noting that despite limited scientific support, there’s no real harm in taking it if it eases your symptoms, so long as you’re not diabetic.
He said: “I’m never one to say no to something if it helps someone, if it’s helping your symptoms that’s what is important.
“There’s some evidence for it but it’s really limited and the mechanism isn’t fully understood. It may be molecules in the cranberry juice that might stop bacteria attaching to the lining of your bladder or urethra, which would then potentially stop an infection. However, how that happens isn’t quite understood. But if it works for you, excellent.”
For diabetics considering cranberry juice as a remedy, Dr Kas highlights the need for caution given its typically high sugar content, advising them to monitor their blood sugar levels closely. Committed to destigmatising UTIs, the NHS doctor encouraged people to have open discussions about the condition, stating: “(UTIs) affect millions of people every year.
“From a hospital perspective, they’re one of the most common infections in A&E that end up getting admitted to hospital. It can go all the way up to the kidneys, you can get very very serious infections as a result of it. It’s not a comment on your hygiene at all.”
He also emphasised the mental strain that UTIs can impose, alongside the “debilitating” physical symptoms they often bring. He elaborated: “The psychological effects of a UTI, the toll it can take is huge. It is more prevalent in women and the symptoms women get can be absolutely knackering.”