This Morning slammed by hundreds of Ofcom complaints after Cherry Healey ‘gives out wrong information’
VIEWERS complained to Ofcom after an episode of This Morning where Cherry Healey shared her personal cure for a UTI.
The TV presenter made an appearance on the ITV chat show last week to talk about her experience with suffering from a urine infection.
She warned viewers of the dangers that come with ignoring possible symptoms, and was joined by Senior Urologist Jean McDonald on the couch.
But viewers were left unhappy, potentially when she incorrectly suggested that cranberry juice could be used to deal with the infection.
Cherry shared that she was recently hospitalised for five days when her UTI went untreated and became very severe.
The BBC documentarian added: “I woke up on Thursday, and it was definitely there.
“But I was a bridesmaid – I was actually maid of honour at my best friend’s wedding, and I was going straight from filming to her wedding in the countryside.
“It’s in the middle of nowhere. There’s no way I could get to a doctor.
“So I was just drinking cranberry juice and taking painkillers – which don’t work, painkillers don’t work on UTIs.
“I could feel my body getting sicker and sicker. I went through the Friday night of celebrations and then by Saturday at the wedding I just felt horrendous.
“I had a blanket wrapped around me the whole wedding pretty much because I was shaking uncontrollably because I had a fever.
“What happened was it had moved up to my kidneys.
“I went to A&E the next day and they just couldn’t work out what was going on.
“I underplayed UTIs so much – I didn’t even tell them I’d had one. I didn’t think that was it.
“It’s only when they did a lumbar puncture on me they found out.
“It’s actually scarred my kidneys. That’s what happens if you don’t listen to your body!”
After hearing the terrifying story, 129 people watching This Morning at home made complaints to Ofcom, claiming the segment had breached broadcasting rules.
What are UTIs?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually caused by E.coli bacteria - found in poo - entering the urinary tract.
The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body (urethra).
Women are more likely than men to pick up UTIs as they have a shorter urethra than men.
This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection.
According to the NHS, things that increase the risk of bacteria getting into the bladder include:
- Having sex
- Pregnancy
- Conditions that block the urinary tract – such as kidney stones
- conditions that make it difficult to fully empty the bladder – such as an enlarged prostate in men and constipation in children
- Urinary catheters (a tube in your bladder used to drain urine)
- Having a weakened immune system – for example, people with diabetes or people having chemotherapy
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not keeping the genital area clean and dry
Check if it’s a UTI
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) may include:
- Pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria)
- Needing to pee more often than usual
- Needing to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia)
- Needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
- Pee that looks cloudy
- Blood in your pee
- Lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
- A high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- A very low temperature below 36C
Your pee may also be dark or smell. If this is your only symptom, it might be because you’ve not been drinking enough water.
What to do if you think you have a UTI
If you think you have UTI symptoms, you should speak to your GP to discuss treatment options.
Most people will need antibiotics.
Some people may be prescribed a ‘delayed antibiotic’, meaning they’ll be asked only to use it if their symptoms don’t go away after a certain amount of time.
If you keep getting UTIs, your GP might recommend you have a low dose of antibiotics over a long period of time or refer you to a specialist for more tests and treatments.
For women who have gone through menopause, there is evidence that vaginal oestrogen creams can reduce UTI symptoms.
Source: NHS