A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that begins in any part of the urinary system, from the kidneys, to the ureters or bladder and urethra. Women tend to be at greater risk of UTI and are generally prescribed antiboiotic treatment, which in some cases can lead to recurrent infections due to increasingly resistant bacteria. There are, however, natural remedies for UTI that could prevent the need to antibiotic treatment.

Urine is generally a sterile fluid and infection will only occur when there is an introduction of outside bacteria. Escherichia coli (E. coli) causes about 80% of urinary tract infections in adults and can be diagnosed through urinalyisis and culture performed by your physician.
Not everyone experiences symptoms with a UTI, but general symptoms can include:

• A strong urge to urinate
  
• A burning sensation with urination
  
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
  
• Flank or back pain
  
• Lower abdomen discomfort or pressure
  
• Fever
  
• Blood in the urine (hematuria) or cloudy, unusual smelling urine
  
• Bacteria in the urine (bacteriuria)

Primarily, treatment should include disinfection and alkalinizaiton of the urinary tract. Many have heard of the use of cranberry juice for treatment of UTI and in a great number of cases this can be beneficial. Cranberry juice (the un-sweetened kind, not Ocean-Spray) and blueberry juice (un-sweetened) have anti-septic properties that can prevent the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract. More specifically, cranberry juice prevents the attachment of bacteria to the walls of the urinary tract. Freeze-dried cranberry capsules can also be taken as a supplement.

I am looking for people with a disorder called Castleman's Disease. 

I am looking for people with a disorder called Castleman's Disease. 

I read an interesting article today from WalletPop.com about simple ways to cut your medical costs.  I am a huge proponent of preventative health.  The way I keep my costs down is I STAY HEALTHY so I don't have to pay money to doctors and hospitals!  Unfortunately, I do have to visit every once in awhile, so I found the information in this article helpful.  In a nutshell, here is what I got out of it:

As a kid, I remember all the excitement leading up to a big thanksgiving dinner one November afternoon. In preparation for a huge extended family reunion, my mother was cooking the biggest feast you've ever seen. She was frantic with all the details and wanted me to help. I don't remember everything about that day, but I do remember that my mom asked me to help set the table. At that moment, getting the table set was the most important thing in her life. After all, you can't eat until the table's set.

It's interesting how fast things can change. After one quick phone call, setting the table became an afterthought. The call informed my mother that her cousin, her cousin's spouse and their two children, who were traveling to our house for the reunion, were in an automobile accident. The parents had been killed and the two young boys were in the hospital. Suddenly, our priorities for that whole weekend shifted from plates and silverware to making sure that two newly orphaned toddlers received the care they deserved.