How to Prevent UTIs From Getting Worse

How Do You Know You Have UTIs Infection?

     A urinary tract infection (UTI) affects your urinary tract, including your bladder (cystitis), urethra (urethritis) or kidneys. You can treat a UTI with antibiotics, but they are not always necessary.

Urinary Tract Infections Definition

A UTI is a common infection that occurs when bacteria from your skin or rectum enter your urethra and infect your urinary tract. An infection can affect any part of your urinary tract, but the most common type is a bladder infection.

Kidney infections are another type of uti. They are less common, but more serious than urinary bladder infections.

If you have UTI, you will most likely have an urge to pee. Other common UTI symptoms include a burning sensation when urinating and cloudy urine.

UTIs are common, but are likely to reduce the risk of getting them. This article will explain the steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting a UTI, as well as methods to lower your risk for people of all ages.

Symptoms of a UTI

Not surprisingly, some signs and symptoms of UTI involve the frequency and quality of urination. Women who have a UTI, whether you got the infection from intimacy or other means, may have a strong urge to urinate, have cloudy or red urine, and may feel pain or burning during urination.

What Causes Urinary Tract Infections?

Urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria enter the human urinary tract through the urethra and multiply in the bladder. Although the urinary system is designed to prevent such microscopic attacks, this defense sometimes fails. When that happens, the bacteria can survive and develop into a large infection in the urinary tract.

Intestines are most common especially in women and affect your bladder and urethra.

- Bladder infection. Urinary tract infection of this type is usually triggered by Escherichia coli or E. coli, a type of bacteria commonly found in the digestive tract. However, sometimes other bacteria are responsible.

Your intimacy can lead to cystitis, but you don't have to be sexually active to get it. Women can be at risk for cystitis because of the anatomy of the body, in particular, the proximity of the urethra to the anus and the opening of the urethra to the bladder.

- Urinary tract infection (urethritis). This type of urinary tract infection can occur when GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra. And, because a woman's urethra is quite close to her vagina, sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea, herpes, chlamydia and mycoplasma, can develop into urethritis. (mayoclinic.org)

Ways to Prevent a UTI

UTIs can't always be avoided, but it's likely to lower your risk of getting them. Here are a few preventative measures that can help you avoid UTIs.

Wipe from front to back

Since the rectum is a major source of E.coli, it's a good idea to wipe the genitals from front to back after using the bathroom. This habit lowers your risk of carrying E.coli from your anus to your urethra.

It's even more important to do this if you are experiencing diarrhea. Having diarrhea can complicate bowel management, which can increase the chance of spreading E.coli to the urethra.

Keep hydrated.

Consume plenty of fluids throughout your day. This will give you the urge to urinate more frequently, removing bacteria from the urinary tract. Avoid fluids that dehydrate you, such as coffee, tea, and other caffeinated drinks. Water is a good choice for hydration. Set a goal to drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water every day.

Eating cranberries

Cranberries are an herbal and traditional home remedy for preventing UTIs. Berries have compounds known as proanthocyanidins that can prevent E.coli from adhering to the tissues in your urinary tract.

It is also thought that the vitamin C in cranberries can increase the acidity of the urine, which can reduce the overgrowth of bad bacteria.

Scientific studies show contradictory results. Some studies have found that cranberry extract reduces UTI frequency, while others have not found the same effect.

While it's not clear whether cranberry can prevent urinary tract infections, it can be a low-risk medication. If you're craving cranberries, opt for pure, unsweetened cranberry juice instead of a sweet cranberry cocktail. You can also consume fresh cranberries.

Avoid feminine hygiene products that irritate.

The vagina naturally consists of more than fifty healthy bacterial microbes, which are used to maintain a balanced pH level. Scented feminine products can disrupt healthy bacteria, putting you at greater risk for developing harmful bacteria. Stay away from douches, scented powders, bath oils, deodorant sprays, scented pads or tampons, soaps and other potential irritants.

Last Words

If you want to help prevent a UTI, you're not alone. One study estimated that more than 40% of women who develop a UTI develop another UTI within one year. Currently, the most effective method of preventing a recurrent UTI is to take antibiotics as prescribed to completely eliminate the bacteria that caused the initial infection. Unfortunately, alternatives such as cranberries, probiotics, and vitamins aren't reliable options. It's always important to talk to your doctor about a persistent infection, especially if signs and symptoms worsen or treatment doesn't work as expected.