Yes, there are trillions of reasons to celebrate being a woman but being the favorable gender for UTIs is not one of these! Women are 30% more likely to contract a UTI compared to men. There are multiple reasons to catch one including use of public washrooms, from an affected sexual partner, use of contaminated hygiene products or simply because your immune system ignored its duty and took a day off or the bacteria residing in your urinary tract thought to have some party and it all ended up in a mess in form of UTI.
You can detect a UTI by:
- having painful urination
- pain in the lower abdomen
- frequent urge to urinate
- foul-smelling urine, cloudy or blood-tinged urine.
- And in case the UTI is complicated and has reached kidneys fever, backache, shakiness, and fatigue can accompany.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAVE A UTI
It’s no fun to run errands or attend office with a jam-packed schedule with a UTI in toe! While antibiotics are the sure shot way to clear up a UTI there are some alternatives as well, ESPECIALLY wen you don’t have time to rush to the Doctor.
Just so you know, your body is engineered cleverly and tends to clear minor ailments itself, so all you need to do is aid it in the process.
So here’s credible (disclaimer) information on how you can clear up a UTI at home without a Doctor’s help.
1- HYDRATE MORE THAN NORMAL
You have excessive bacteria in your system and what’s the better way to get rid: to kill them with chemicals or to just kick them out? Yes, you can easily get rid of bacteria by drinking more and urinating more. Simple! Do consider water as the basic drink or rely on natural drinks. Steer clear of carbonated beverages and energy drinks are also a big fat NO!
2 – CRANBERRY JUICE
At least when you have a UTI..! drink unsweetened cranberry juice it has been a proven remedy against UTIs. You can also use this as a preventive measure if you get these infections again and again.
3- WEAR BREATHABLE CLOTHING
When you have a UTI and in a normal routine as well it is recommended to wear breathable cotton underwear. As bacteria thrive in the hot and moist environment using other fabrics can aggravate the condition and serve as a breeding site for bacteria. Also, wear clothes that are not too tight so you can move easily and avoid trapping heat and moisture in delicate areas.
4- DON’T IGNORE WHEN NATURE CALLS
Whether you have a UTI or otherwise doctors advise to pee as soon as you feel the urge. Holding it back unnecessarily and for long durations aggravates UTIs and also adds to the likelihood of having an infection in healthy individuals.
Know that if a UTI is left unattended, it can progress to affect your kidneys. And if you feel there is no improvement in your condition, then you can see a Doctor.
Disclaimer: The author of this article has a degree in medicine and shares information with due consultation.
