FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM FEBRUARY 20, 2020 • WELLNESS • THE QUEENS COURIER 35
wellness
Finding support when living with a chronic illness
UTIs cause roller coaster of emotional pain and antibiotic overuse: Study
Women are desperate for solutions to
their frequent urinary tract infections,
and they’re equally tired of the stigma that
comes with them, reveals a new national
survey.
Key fi ndings of “UTIs: Th e Burning
Truth” by ellura, the urinary tract supplement,
found that 3 out of 4 women (76
percent) feel they are judged from others
as lacking good hygiene and living a promiscuous
lifestyle, common misconceptions
attached to UTIs that contribute to
emotional trauma, oft en as frustrating as
the physical pain UTIs cause. Th e truth?
Sex is a common risk factor associated
with UTIs, but estrogen loss from menopause
and various medical conditions also
increase risk.
Traditional over-the-counter remedies
and behavioral changes like drinking
more water, practicing better hygiene
and urinating aft er sex are not suffi ciently
reducing the number of UTIs women
experience, leaving them on a roller coaster
of treat and repeat with antibiotics,
according to the survey. An alarming 52
percent of respondents said they use “just
in case” antibiotics as their go-to for UTI
prevention, relying on these pharmaceuticals
not just for treatment, but for prophylactic
use an average of four times over the
previous year.
Of 1,000 women surveyed, 31 percent
have gone to more extreme measures and
abstained from or limited sex entirely
to prevent their UTIs, further highlighting
that women will try everything in the
book to be rid of UTIs.
“Th is survey refl ects what I hear from
patients who feel frustrated that the cycle
of UTIs is inevitable, mostly because they
are trying many unproven products to
reduce these infections with limited success,”
notes urologist and ellura medical
advisory board chair, Dr. Sophie Fletcher.
So, what do you need to know if you’re
a woman with frequent UTIs? You’re far
from alone. UTIs represent nearly 25% of
all bacterial infections in women worldwide,
and account for more than 10 million
doctor visits annually.
A few other truths derived from the
study:
• Antibiotic overuse is not the answer.
Th e cure is what ails you, according
to the survey, as 80 percent of women
admit having experienced a negative
side eff ect from taking antibiotics,
including yeast infections, digestive
and skin issues, and antibiotic resistance
- when these drugs no longer
work to fi ght off UTI-causing bacteria.
Th e study found 24 percent of women
have experienced antibiotic resistance
issues. “Many women have a bad habit
of calling their doctor and getting antibiotics
before they even know if they
have a true culture-proven UTI,” notes
Fletcher. “Urinary symptoms, like pain
and burning, can oft en be relieved
without antibiotics, which are needed
to treat infection, but also can kill the
good bacteria in the body.”
• Your emotions are real. Fift y-three percent
of study respondents report anxiety
related to their UTIs and 33 percent
have experienced depression from
this oft en stigmatized health issue.
Women over 50 years of age specifi cally
feel judged as having “old age” issues,
according to the research.
• More positive dialogue and education is
needed. Forty-seven percent of respondents
report leaving their doctor’s offi ce
with negative emotions, including a
sense of hopelessness and a certainty
that their UTIs will return, suggesting
a need for more meaningful conversations
about this stigmatized health
issue. “As healthcare providers we can
be a valuable resource for UTI prevention
and antibiotic education to help
women reduce UTIs with fewer antibiotics,”
concluded Fletcher.
Th e nationally representative survey
was conducted by Wakefi eld Research
and commissioned by ellura, the medical
grade urinary tract supplement that
identifi ed and advanced the science of 36
mg PAC (proanthocyanidins) from cranberry
juice concentrate and its role in UTI
prevention.
For more about how women really feel
about UTIs, visit www.UTIburningtruth.
com.
— Courtesy of BPT
When a person is fi rst diagnosed
with an illness, support from friends
and family can be instantaneous.
People want to know what they can
do to help, off er to lend a hand or
an ear to listen, and are frequently
checking in. Th is support can be
key to helping someone cope with
a new diagnosis.
But those living with a chronic
condition may need support
beyond the initial diagnosis.
Th is is particularly true for
conditions that are not always
well understood, like rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) - an autoimmune
disease of the joints
that impacts approximately
1.6 million adults in the
United States., In fact, people
with RA may fi nd their
need for support from
family and friends is
even more important
as their disease progresses
than when
they were fi rst diagnosed.
Why a “support squad”
is important
Research shows that
for people living with
a chronic condition,
the support of family and friends may
be associated with improved health outcomes.
Th is could include additional
assistance with everyday tasks or someone
to listen for emotional support.
Building a “support squad” also means
having someone or several people to lean
on for encouragement, motivation and,
most of all, understanding. Th ese people
can help navigate new obstacles in
the condition over time and remind their
loved one that he or she is more than just
the disease.
Tips for building an
RA support squad
With an “invisible” chronic illness like
RA, someone may not look sick on the
outside, and it can be diffi cult for loved
ones to recognize symptoms such as joint
pain and stiff ness, and fatigue. If you
or someone you know has RA, consider
the following tips for building a support
squad:
Set clear expectations with friends and
family. While some people with RA may
fi nd it helpful if their loved ones ask them
how they are feeling, others may feel
overwhelmed with constant questioning.
Being clear with your specifi c needs, and
helping friends and family understand
the best way to support the management
of RA, can alleviate confusion and frustration.
Make it a family aff air. Bringing a partner
or parent to a rheumatologist appointment
can create support in between
appointments and help ensure the person
living with RA does not feel alone.
Extend support systems beyond friends
and family. Sometimes an immediate support
system doesn’t fully understand what
a person with a chronic condition like RA
is going through and what he or she may
be facing. Support can be found in other
places, whether that be a social or online
community of others living with the same
condition or experts such as a healthcare
provider. A support squad should include
people with all diff erent types of backgrounds,
as each will have a diff erent perspective
and advice to give.
Encourage loved ones to build their
own support squad. Support squads aren’t
just for a person living with a chronic condition
like RA. Signifi cant others or loved
ones should have someone to talk to when
they’re not sure what the right approach is
for off ering support. Th is can be a friend,
spouse of someone else living with RA or
even a healthcare provider.
For more tips about building a support
squad and communicating with friends
and family members about living with
a chronic condition like RA, visit www.
Arthritis.com.
Content was provided by Pfi zer.
— Courtesy of BPT
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