What Causes Urinary Tract Infection And What Should You Do?

Urinary Tract Infection: Reasons Why You May Contract It And 4 Easy Remedies

Urinary tract infection or UTI can affect any segment of your urinary system. The infection could set in your kidneys, bladder, ureters, or urethra. Most commonly, it affects the urethra. If the infection is limited to your lower urinary tract, then there is nothing to worry about. But sometimes when the UTI spreads to the kidneys, medical intervention is needed. That is why you have to be extra careful to not contract UTI. And if you do, you will need to consult a doctor who’ll prescribe medicines. At the same time, try a few simple remedies to kill the infection all the faster. These tips will relieve the pain, stinging, and burning that UTI triggers. So let us look at the reasons why you might get UTI so that you may be able to prevent it.

Causes of UTI

The infection is triggered when bacteria enter your urinary system through the urethra and start to multiply rapidly. They spread to all the other organs of the system. This happens when-

1. You use the public washroom- public washrooms are seldom clean. Bacteria abound. When you sit on the commode, bacteria dwelling there can enter your urethra.
2. You Wipe from back to front- after defecation, if you wipe from back to front, the bacteria from your anus will come in contact with the urethra. E-coli in particular is a very potent UTI-causing bacteria that come out of your body when you defecate.
3. You use diaphragms- some women who use diaphragms as a contraceptive device report contracting UTI.
4. You have kidney stones- blockages of the urinary tract may trigger UTI

Avoiding UTIs

To prevent contracting UTI, you must-

1. Flush the toilet before using one in a public washroom. If possible, purchase a toilet disinfectant and spray the toilet seat generously before you sit down on it.
2. After defecation, be careful how you clean up. Splash your urethra with plenty of water to minimize your risk of contracting a UTI.
3. If your doctor says that your diaphragm is causing UTI, you need to switch to other contraceptive methods.

Home remedies for UTI

If you contract a UTI, you will need to see a doctor or the infection could become severe. You can utilize a few home remedies simultaneously to speed up healing and deal with the pain-

• Drink lots of fluids

Drinking plenty of water, herbal tea, coconut water is a swift and efficient way to deal with UTI. The more fluids you drink, the more you’ll have to pee. This will flush out all the toxins and harmful microbes in your system. Drinking water also keeps your kidneys healthy and considering the fact that when you get a UTI, your kidneys become vulnerable, give these organs a helping hand by staying hydrated.

• Consume foods with Vitamin C

Vitamin C can bolster your body’s natural defence system. All you have to do is include Vitamin C rich foods in your diet. Eat plenty of oranges, strawberries, ‘amla’, sweet lime, pineapples, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, etc.

• You need probiotics

Probiotic foods provide your system with an extra dose of beneficial bacteria. These bacteria are crucial for the health of your urinary system. Besides, the bacteria present in these foods also bolster your immune function and will help your body eliminate the bacteria that trigger UTI. Yoghurt/ curd, pickles, cheese, and ‘dhokla’ are excellent probiotic foods.

• Heat therapy

Heat therapy can help scale down the pain associated with UTI. A hot water bag/ bottle can help. But make sure you do not hold it right against your naked skin because the skin in your private parts is tender. Wear clothes when using heat therapy. If you want to know how to improve sanitary hygiene, you can talk to a doctor through MediBuddy’s E-consultancy services.

Conclusion

Do not ignore a UTI, you need to take immediate action before things get complicated. [av_promobox button='yes' label='Consult Now ' link='https://www.medibuddy.in/?utm_source=blog_cta&utm_medium=blog' link_target='' color='blue' custom_bg='#f00' custom_font='#ffffff' size='large' icon_select='no' icon='ue800' font='entypo-fontello']For more information, you can always talk to a doctor online on MediBuddy.[/av_promobox]