Effective Lifestyle Tips to Manage UTIs
Approximately 50% to 60% of adult women tend to experience UTI at least once in their life. It is a massive number because this implies that every five or six women out of every ten experience a urinary tract infection. It is a painful infection, and nobody wants to suffer from it. So, here, we have come up with a few lifestyle tips that will help manage UTIs.
Lifestyle tips for UTI
1. Drink a lot of fluids
Increasing your everyday fluid intake, particularly water, can help eliminate the bacteria from your urinary tract. It is thus recommended to consume approximately six-to-eight glasses of water daily.
2. Add fruits to your diet
Fruits are incredibly helpful for weight loss. They are a rich source of nutrients and vitamins, which boost immunity. Several studies prove that blueberries and common fruit juices, such as cranberries, can help treat UTI. Including fruits in your diet can help overcome a variety of other infections too.
3. Do not hold your pee
It is best advised to pass urine once every three to four hours. Holding back urine for long hours can weaken the bladder muscles. It also makes bladder infection more prevalent.
4. Urinate and clean up before and after sex
During sex, the bacteria can travel to the urinary tract. It can accelerate your chances of developing a UTI. UTI is more prevalent in women because their urethra is smaller than men. It makes it easy for the bacteria to travel to the urinary tract. UTI, though rare, is seen in some men too. They might transfer the pathogens to women during sex. In men, the groin is the primary source of bacteria and must be cleaned thoroughly to prevent infections.
5. Add yogurt to the diet
Lactobacilli and probiotic strains are present in yogurt. They have good protective properties, which guard you against a UTI infection.
6. Use a good water-based lubricant while having sex
For someone who experiences vaginal dryness and uses a lubricant during sex, it is recommended to use a water-based one. You will have to avoid spermicide if you tend to develop UTIs frequently.
7. Wear comfortable and loose fitted clothes
Wearing loose and comfortable clothing allows the air to keep the urethra area dry. It would be best if you avoided nylon underwear and tight-fitted jeans for long hours. They tend to trap moisture, which stimulates bacterial growth.
8. Clean your genital area
Your rectum and anus are a breeding ground for bacteria. When you wipe starting from the front and going all the way backward, ensure that no bacteria comes in contact with the vagina, as that can trigger a urinary tract infection.
9. Reduce sugar consumption
A prevalent lifestyle tip for UTI is to keep a check on sugar consumption. This will help you watch your weight and keep UTIs at bay.