An infection in the urinary system is known as a urinary tract infection. Sometimes, we use an alternate word for urinary tract infection: UTI. This infection usually affects the three internal parts of the body. These parts include the urethra, bladder, as well as kidneys. It can also affect the uterus in women.
When a urinary tract infection affects a person, whether a man or woman, there are symptoms. According to the best urologist, these symptoms involve painful urination. In addition to painful urination, tenderness above the bladder area can also occur in some people.
Urologists also say that patients with urinary tract infections can also experience frequent urination. There is also a myth related to the symptoms of urinary tract infections. When people pass cloudy or smelly urine, then they believe that these are the symptoms of UTIs.
However, if you pass cloudy or smelly, there is no need to worry as these are not the symptoms of a UTI. Another important factor, in making people prevent this infection, is that women are at a great risk of this health condition than men. Reason? Don’t you know?
The size of the urethra is small in women than in men. When bacteria enter the urethra of women, they don’t face any difficulty to travel from the urethra to the bladder. Unfortunately, when these bacteria enter the bladder, the infection gets severe.
Besides the increased risks of UTIs in women, there is also a group of women that is more prone to this infection. As you know women after menopause usually experience low levels of estrogen. Due to these low levels, there is a change in the tissues of the vagina and urethra.
Ways to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
There are always ways that play an effective role in reducing the great risk of urinary tract infection. Before exploring these ways, it is a must for you to know about the factors which are culprits for increasing the danger of a urinary tract infection.
The chances of this health condition will not reduce if you often make physical relations with more than one partner, regardless of your gender. Furthermore, the use of birth control pills can also lead to this problem. The problems associated with a weak immune system and a blockage in the urinary tract can also result in a UTI.
1- Drink More Fluids
Staying hydrated is the first step in remaining at a side that is not in the range of urinary tract infections. When you keep drinking water or other fluids, it means that you will pee more than the normal routine. Peeing several times a day can help in flushing out the bacteria.
When the process of peeing flushes out the bacteria, there is no chance for them to reach the bladder. Some urologists recommend that water is the most effective choice for most people to prevent urinary infections. The amount of water that your body needs to consume every day depends on multiple factors.
Water is the most effective choice for preventing urinary tract infections doesn’t suggest that other liquids will not play a role in reducing the danger of a UTI. You can consume lemonade, buttermilk, smoothies, as well as a milkshake in healthy amounts to reduce this danger.
However, you need to minimize the consumption of caffeinated drinks. If you consume caffeinated drinks in higher amounts, they can irritate your bladder.
2- Try to Urinate Before and After Physical Activity
The chances of urinary tract infections always remain when you make physical activity with your partner. These risks will go to new heights if you are a woman, or you make this contact with more than one partner.
While performing physical activity, these bacteria can enter the urethra. But a good point, in this regard, you can prevent this infection by taking a good step. You need to pee right before and after physical activity. This tip will help in managing the risk of UTIs caused by physical relations.
Additionally, you can also wash your genital area with a good soap that kills germs and bacteria. It will help in killing and reducing the amount of bacteria that can spread to your urethra or bladder.
3- Consume Probiotics
The benefits of probiotics are not easy to count. The biggest and most effective benefit of probiotics is that they increase good bacteria in the gut. Furthermore, they can also play a role in increasing good bacteria in the urinary tract as well.
When these bacteria will increase, they will protect you. You can consume probiotics in different amounts such as yogurt, kefir, etc. Moreover, the use of probiotic supplements will also remain for you to stay healthy and active for a long period of time.