Introduction: When an infection develops in your urinary system that is known as Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). It mainly affects the lower urinary tract which includes the bladder and urethra. It has been observed that women are at greater risk of this infection than men. Some common symptoms include painful urination, urgency of urination, pelvis pain, frequency of urination, and tenderness above the bladder area. It is mainly founded in women because the size of the urethra is short in women than men so it’s easy for bacteria to travel to the bladder.
But you can avoid the risk of UTI with some simple changes in your daily routine, here are some of them:
1. Hydration and Urination: Drink plenty of water as much as you can throughout the day to help flush bacteria out of the urinary system. Urinate frequently, your bladder will be the happiest when you flush out frequently. The color of your urine should be light almost like water, dark urine is more likely to burn and make you want to hold the urine inside. Especially after sexual intercourse, urination is important as it helps to expel any bacteria that may have entered the urethra.
2. Consumption of Cranberry Products: It is observed that consumption of cranberry products can lower the risk of urinary tract infection in people. Instead of cranberry juice try to consider cranberry supplements because it is likely to provide more benefits than juice which comes with a lot of sugar. It prevents the bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract wall.
3. Personal hygiene: You should maintain good hygiene habits such as wiping from front to back after using the toilet, to prevent bacteria from the anal area from reaching the urethra which can lead to UTI. One should always avoid using harsh soaps or douches in the genital area, as they can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria. You should stay away from product that irritates, such as strong feminine hygiene spray, powers, or scented toilet paper. Scented personal products can smell good but they can irritate the urethra and increase the chances of infection.
4. Avoid Holding Urine: By holding your urine, you are increasing the risk of urinary infection as this can encourage bacterial growth in your urinary system. This is even more important during the pregnancy period as pregnant women have a higher risk of urinary tract infection. You should try not to wait for more than 3-4 hours to pee and completely flush out your bladder every time.
5. Urinate before and after sexual activity: Sexual activities increase the risk of getting UTI, especially in women. Emptying the bladder before and after sexual activity can help flush out any bacteria that may have entered the urethra during intercourse. It is good to clean or gently wash your genital area before intercourse, this can reduce the chance of bacteria spreading over your urethra.
It is common to have a urinary infection but you can prevent it by taking some medication from your health care team. And do let me know if this information was helpful or not.
