Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) - What is it, Symptoms, How can we Avoid it?
What is Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
One of the most common infections that affects about 1 in 3 women worldwide, at least at one point in their lives, is a urinary tract infection. The seriousness of a Urinary Tract Infection in women should never be downplayed as it can turn out to be quite worrisome for your health as well as adversely affect you in the long run. If it is left untreated, a seemingly innocent case of a urinary tract infection, can lead to much more sinister health problems.
These health problems include the spreading of this infection to your kidneys, which can cause either an acute or chronic kidney infection referred to as pyelonephritis, which has the potential to permanently damage your kidneys. It may also lead to premature births and babies with low-birth weight in pregnant mothers. Furthermore, at times, a serious case of Urinary Tract Infection can lead to sepsis, which is a life-threatening complication of this infection.
Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection?
One should always be aware of the signals their body sends them. Having said that, there are some Urinary Tract Infection symptoms which you must know so that you can recognize the infection at an early stage and work towards eliminating it with a doctor. A Urinary tract infection leaves a person with a strong and frequent urge to urinate. The urine itself might be of an unusual color; cloudy or bloody, or may have a very pungent odor. You may also experience a burning sensation when urinating and have abdominal pains.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to consult a doctor and start treatment for Urinary Tract Infection without any further delay.
How can we avoid Urinary Tract Infection?
However, there are also certain recommended practices that you can adopt in your daily life to lower your chances of developing a urinary tract infection in the first place:
Drink Lots of Water
Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day is not only good for your skin, kidneys and overall health, but it is also a great way to lower your chances of developing a Urinary Tract Infection. Drinking adequate amounts of water helps you flush out the toxins from your body, as it leads you to urinate more frequently. Thus, an infection will not be able to develop into a Urinary Tract Infection since your body is able to get rid of toxins frequently throughout the day.
Always Wipe Front to Back
Urinary tract infection in women may be a result of wrong hygiene practices. After you have relieved yourself, always remember to wipe your privates from the front to back. If you do it from the back to the front, bacteria from your feces might reach your vagina, which can lead to a Urinary Tract infection.
Always Urinate after Intercourse
After you have been intimate with your partner, make sure you urinate. This helps clear your body of any bacteria which may have entered during intercourse. Drinking a glass of water right after can help you in totally flushing out any remaining bacteria. This habit will significantly reduce your chances of contracting a urinary tract infection.
Do Not Use Unnecessary Feminine Hygiene Products
The vagina is a self-cleaning organ and doesn’t need to be cleaned with anything other than plain water. It is also an extremely sensitive area and might not react well to too many external products. You do not need soap, douches or any special washes because they tend to disturb the vagina’s natural pH level. If that happens, you will feel irritation and this might be a sign of a urinary tract infection.
Alternate Birth Control Methods
Using diaphragms and non-lubricated or spermicide-treated condoms can result in bacteria flourishing in your vagina which can lead to a UTI. It is a clever idea for you to discuss other birth control options with your doctor.
Urinary tract infection in women is more common than you think. Thus, it is a good idea to adopt these preventive measures and lower your risk of contracting a Urinary Tract Infection!
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