All women should make a couple of lifestyle changes to ensure proper health and hygiene of the urinary tract. This is necessary to keep problems such as Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) at bay. Following a prominent study, approximately 20% of women suffer from a UTI at least once in their course of life.
Tips to prevent UTI
Since it is always better to avoid a condition than cure it, here are some important lifestyle tips to follow so you don’t develop a UTI.
- Drink water, a lot of it!
Every woman who wishes to avoid UTIs should keep this important tip in mind. We understand that you might have heard this tip over and over again, and it is certainly one thing that works. Make sure you drink a sufficient amount of fluids all through the day. It helps you get rid of the harmful bacteria and toxins in your body via urine.
- Consume a lot of fruits
Fruits help you in losing weight. They are a rich source of vitamins and essential nutrients that could do wonders for your immunity. Fruits like cranberries and blueberries are immensely helpful for people who deal with UTI. So, add a vivid range of fruits in your diet to keep the condition at bay.
- Eat yogurt
Yogurt has lactobacilli and probiotics, which are good bacteria that shield you from UTI and other conditions.
- Reduce your stress levels
Stress hampers your immune system. So, try to handle your stress and keep a check on its possible triggers, so as to not aggravate its side-effects.
- Reduce the consumption of sugar
This is something that wouldn’t directly help you with UTI, but eating less sugar will help you maintain your body weight. Moreover, consuming a lot of sugar can hamper your immune system and diminish its ability to fight harmful viruses and bacteria.
- Pee when you have to
Yes, you are busy, but never hold back your pee. Every time you need to go to the bathroom, just go immediately. Controlling the urge can lead to bacterial growth in your bladder and cause infections.
- Use lubricants
UTI is primarily caused by vaginal dryness. The dryness leads to irritations during intercourse and that might cause infections. So, every time you get involved in physical intimacy, make use of a condom and a lubricant that is water-based. It will protect the sensitive tissues around the area.
- Clean yourself both pre-and post-sex
To prevent UTI, you need to be careful about your hygiene. Therefore, ensure that you clean your genital both before and after sex. It will prevent the spread of bacteria. Wash your genitals with mild soap and lukewarm water to keep a UTI at bay. Also, dry it with a towel and wear a fresh underwear after that.
- Pee after sex
Every time you have sex, it is vital that you don’t forget to pee afterward. Your urine will help you get rid of the bacteria via your urinary tract. So, any bacteria, which would have developed post-sex, will be eliminated from the body.
Following these lifestyle tips for UTI prevention will help you stay protected from this infection.