Can Drinking Alcohol Cause a UTI?

Can drinking alcohol cause a UTI? No, alcohol does not directly cause a UTI; it can increase your risk of getting a UTI, or it can worsen existing UTI symptoms. Read this blog to understand how drinking alcohol exacerbates UTI symptoms. Do you want to manage alcohol use? Call ChoicePoint to know about the treatment options to safely flush alcohol out of the system through medically supervised alcohol detox.

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Highlights

• Alcohol itself does not cause a UTI, but it contributes to the factors that cause a UTI.
• Alcohol also worsens existing UTI symptoms by causing dehydration, urinary bladder disturbance, and weakening the immune system.
• ChoicePoint offers a medically supervised alcohol treatment program that helps patients with alcohol use.

Does Alcohol Cause a UTI? How Much Alcohol Is Too Much

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur in the ureters, urethra, bladder, and kidneys. Escherichia coli is the primary cause of UTIs.¹ Alcohol can not cause a UTI, but you can still get a UTI after drinking alcohol.²  Alcohol weakens your immune system, hindering your body’s ability to fight an infection, such as a UTI. 

If you or a loved one is in a habit of drinking alcohol and often encounters UTIs, then it is highly recommended to quit alcohol safely. Take a 5-minute free assessment to check if you’re addicted to alcohol use or if a simple management plan can help. 

Who is at Risk of Getting UTI Because of Alcohol Use?

Here is the list of individuals who are at a higher risk of developing UTIs due to alcohol consumption: 

1. Dehydrated individuals
2. Individuals with a weak immune system
3. Women, because of their shorter urethra
4. Individuals who live in an unhygienic environment
5. Individuals with co-occurring illnesses. For example, individuals with diabetes often have weakened immunity. Excessive alcohol use can make them prone to UTIs.

Recommended read: Does alcohol increase yeast infections

How Does Alcohol Make A UTI Worse?

Although excessive alcohol consumption is associated with severe health conditions. Research suggests that alcohol itself is not the causative agent of UTI, but it contributes to the factors that cause a UTI.³ If a UTI is present, alcohol worsens already existing symptoms. These factors include:

1. Dehydration

If not consumed in moderation, alcohol can cause dehydration, which is one of the main risk factors of UTIs. Too much alcohol consumption forces you to urinate frequently. As a result, beneficial bacteria are also flushed out, making the urinary tract susceptible to UTIs, as harmful bacteria can thrive in these conditions and adhere to the bladder wall, increasing the chances of infection. 

2. Weakens the Immune System

Drinking alcohol flushes out beneficial microflora that weakens your immune system, which makes it less effective against fighting bad bacteria and other germs.  A weakened immune system makes you prone to UTIs and also prolongs your symptoms. 

3. Urinary Bladder Disturbance

The detrimental impact of alcohol consumption on the bladder and urinary tract can also increase the chances of UTI from alcohol. Alcohol can alter the normal urinary flow, creating conditions that are favorable for bacterial growth, causing infection. 

If you want to stop drinking alcohol, ChoicePoint offers online alcohol counselling in NJ, where we can explore options to help you with alcohol detox by MAT or through solution-focused behavioral interventions. Call today 844.445.2565 to live a sober life. 

How Much Can I Drink If I Have A UTI?

Alcohol causes dehydration, weakens the immune system, and reduces the body’s ability to fight harmful bacteria that cause infections, including a UTI. Alcohol consumption might worsen these symptoms if they already exist. That’s why it is recommended to avoid alcohol if you have a UTI.⁴ If you have a UTI and are on an antibiotic course, avoid taking alcohol completely, as alcohol and antibiotic interaction can worsen the infection. Jessica Plonchak (Executive Clinical Director) also recommends not consuming alcohol while you are on an antibiotic course. 

How Alcohol Affects Your Bladder

7 Ways To Prevent UTI While Drinking Alcohol?

Follow these tips to reduce the impacts of alcohol on the urinary bladder⁵:

1. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is the key to avoiding UTIs. Consuming enough water keeps your bladder hydrated, also allowing the harmful bacteria to flush out with urine, minimizing the risks of developing an infection. Recommended Read: Do Detox Drinks for Alcohol Work

2. Avoid Carbonated Drinks

Carbonated drinks can irritate the bladder and increase acidity in the bladder. They also increase the urge to urinate. It is not recommended to consume them with alcohol. 

3. Urinate Properly

Holding urine for longer durations is one of the main causes of UTI. It is advised to empty the bladder and pass urine regularly. Never ignore your urge to urinate.

4. Practice Kegel

Pelvic floor exercises like Kegel involve contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor and help in strengthening the bladder. They also help to improve bladder control. 

5. Eat Something Before Taking a Drink

Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach makes your bladder prone to dehydration. Taking some snacks (proteins or carbohydrates) before a drink reduces alcohol absorption and its effects on the bladder. 

6. Take Care of Your Hygiene.

Unhygienic practices cause UTIs. Take your hygienic practices seriously to prevent UTI. Clean properly after passing urine. 

7. Drink Moderately

It is not recommended to drink when you have a UTI, but if you still want to drink, keep your frequency in check. Excessive consumption only worsens the symptoms. 

How Does ChoicePoint Help to Quit and Manage Alcohol Use Disorder?

ChoicePoint offers a well-equipped alcohol treatment program that helps alcohol use patients to quit alcohol safely. They have licensed professionals who support and care through every stage of addiction treatment. 

1. Alcohol Detox And Withdrawal Management

The first step of recovery is to get alcohol out of your body. We provide medical detox to clear alcohol from your body, as you can not quit alcohol cold turkey. At our alcohol treatment facility, we also help you manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It is done by removing alcohol from the body completely through supervised detox. 

2. Behavioral Therapies

At ChoicePoint, we are not only providing alcohol detox but also focus on changing the behaviors that push the individuals towards alcohol consumption. Our behavioral treatments include:

• Group therapy programs
• Family therapy programs
• Individual therapy programs
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

Through these therapies, we help individuals identify their risky behaviors, overcome fears, and control their emotions.

3. MAT For Alcohol Use 

MAT for alcohol use is an integral step in the recovery. Medications used during the treatment help to provide long-lasting sobriety. Usually, Acamprosate, Naltrexone, and Disulfram are used to treat alcohol addiction. You can get an online naltrexone prescription for monthly naltrexone injections, as they can help to reduce alcohol cravings. 

4. Aftercare Programs

Once the alcohol use treatment is completed, some individuals may need continued support to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Our treatment plans include:

a. Release prevention plans

Our licensed doctors and therapists work together to give you personalized treatment plans.  

b. Virtual and in-person MAT program

For the treatment of alcohol use disorder, we offer the following medications:

• Naltrexone
• Acamprosate
• Disulfiram

c. Therapies

We offer continued mental and emotional therapy to help patients heal even after treatment is complete. These therapies are: CBT, DBT, and group therapy. 

If you are struggling with alcohol addiction, call us today 844.445.2565 to avail our facilities to clear your system of alcohol. ChoicePoint offers BCBS alcohol rehab in NJ. We also accept different commercial insurance plans. You can go for alcohol detox without worrying about the finances. Verify your insurance now.

Go For A Self-Assessment Quiz

If you want to be sure about whether you have alcohol addiction or not, take our medically designed self-assessment addiction quiz. Call our helpline 844.445.2565 to get your results. 

Free Addiction Assessment

Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.

FAQs: Queries Asked About Alcohol and UTI

Our clients at ChoicePoint ask questions about alcohol use and UTI. Here are some of them, read them, they might be helpful for you:

1. Can a UTI go on its own?

In some cases, when symptoms are mild, a UTI can resolve on its own, but this does not happen for severe symptoms. Waiting can result in complications. Medical providers might recommend you take antibiotics to stop the worsening of the symptoms. 

2. What other fluids should be avoided with a UTI?

Not just alcohol, other drinks should be avoided to prevent a UTI. Coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks also irritate the bladder. Caffeine has diuretic effects, increasing urination urgency, and carbonated beverages cause acidity. That’s why these drinks are not recommended.

3. How does the diuretic effect of alcohol increase the chances of UTI?

Alcohol produces a diuretic effect in the body, increasing urine production. This causes beneficial bacteria to flush out of the body, and disease-causing bacteria come into action, leading to UTIs. The high frequency of passing urine dehydrates the body, making it susceptible to UTI. 

4. How to avoid alcohol if you have a UTI?

Alcohol consumption can worsen your UTI symptoms, so you need to avoid alcohol. If you are not able to quit alcohol, ChoicePoint has got you covered. Our outpatient alcohol detox will help to do so. Our clinical staff gives high-quality medical supervision. The good thing is, you can benefit from these services while continuing your daily life. 

Sources

1. Niranjan V, Malini A. Antimicrobial resistance pattern in Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infection among inpatients. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2014 Jun 1;139(6):945-8.
2. World Health Organization. (n.d). Alcohol. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol
3. Pitts TO, Van Thiel DH. Urinary tract infections and renal papillary necrosis in alcoholism. InRecent Developments in Alcoholism: Combined Alcohol and Drug Abuse Typologies of Alcoholics The Withdrawal Syndrome Renal and Electrolyte Consequences 1986 Jan 1 (pp. 341-355). Boston, MA: Springer US.
4. Mergenhagen KA, Wattengel BA, Skelly MK, Clark CM, Russo TA. Fact versus fiction: a review of the evidence behind alcohol and antibiotic interactions. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy. 2020 Feb 21;64(3):10-128.
5. González-Chamorro F, Palacios R, Alcover J, Campos J, Borrego F, Dámaso D. Urinary tract infections and their prevention. Actas Urológicas Españolas (English Edition). 2012 Jan 1;36(1):48-53.