TL;DR Urinary Tract Infection is common among women throughout the world. It's caused by many factors, including hygiene, contraceptives, and certain health conditions. Luckily, there are various ways to treat and prevent UTI.
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It's one of the painful things most women go through in their lifetime. In fact, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reports that 40-60% of women will suffer from it at least once in their lifetime. [1]
Urinary Tract Infection, commonly known as UTI, is “an infection that affects any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra.” [2, 3]
While the infection can be brought about by fungi and viruses, most of the time UTI is caused by bacteria from the bowel. These are known as the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, which are present in 80% of cases. [4]
UTI is such a common occurrence that it’s the second most prevalent infection affecting around 8 million people every year. [5]
While it can practically happen to anyone, women are usually affected by it.
Why are women more prone to it, you ask?
Simple - women have a shorter urethra. Because of this, bacteria from the intimate area can easily enter the bladder and urinary tract.
On the other hand, cases among men are due to an enlarged prostate that holds up urine flow. This is another cause for bacteria accumulating in the urinary tract.
There are various reasons why a person can contract UTI. The following are common causes and risk factors for getting it: [6]
If you experience any of the following, odds are you may be suffering from UTI [8,9]:
According to Mayo Clinic, antibiotics are the first line of treatment for UTI. [10] How long the treatment and the specific drugs to take all depend on the severity of the infection.
One way of getting rid of bacteria, viruses or fungi in the urinary tract? Keep peeing. It’s a surefire way of flushing them all out.
And drinking plenty of water helps you pee more.
Don’t hold your pee. It may be painful, but it has to be done. Keeping it in will only multiply the bacteria in the urinary tract.
This fruit is your best bet when it comes to treating UTI. Cranberries contain ingredients that get rid of bacteria and take them off the urinary walls. Head over to the grocery store and get some cranberry juice, supplements or dried cranberry snacks.
Complement your cranberry intake with probiotics, which are known to help with digestion as well as UTI treatment and prevention. Probiotics also have good bacteria called Lactobacillus, which can replace the bad ones.
Steer clear of this pesky infection by remembering the 3H's: [6]
HYGIENE
HABIT
HEALTH
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0024568/
[3] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/uti-home-remedies#section1
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3108201/
[5] https://medlineplus.gov/urinarytractinfections.html
[6] https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/your-guide-urinary-tract-infections#2
[7] https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/type-2-diabetes-women
[8] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/uti-home-remedies#section1
[9] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189953.php
It’s key to prioritize sleep and make sure that you’re clocking enough hours. Sleeplessness has adverse effects that could impact your everyday life and long-term wellness (more of this later), so it’s key to understand the important role sleep plays in your general health.
If you’re constantly feeling exhausted lately, know that there are many different possible reasons why. Maybe it’s the whole work-from-home arrangement and coping with the pandemic thing. Perhaps there’s too much on your plate. Or it could be the stress of the holiday season and how to celebrate it differently this year.
Or maybe it’s 2020, ‘nuff said.
But if you find yourself just feeling tired – physically and mentally – most of the day, then maybe it’s time to have a closer look and see if any of the below reasons apply to you.
Tina Sendin
Author