A urinary tract infection (UTI) is more common than you think. In Singapore, about 40 percent of women will develop UTI at least once in their lifetime, with some even having it multiple times. UTI is an infection that affects the urinary system, which can be caused by a number of factors, including prolonged trapping of urine, lack of fluids, and even pregnancy. The symptoms include painful urination, bloody or cloudy urine, increased urge to pass urine, and even fever and chills.
UTIs are usually easily treatable. But it can get pretty annoying when you’re attacked with infections again and again. Prevention is key when it comes to persistent and recurrent infections, and we’ll let you in on our top five remedies to put an end to your discomfort.
1. Drink lots of water
This seems like a no-brainer but drinking plenty of water or other hydrating fluids is one of the safest and best ways to help prevent urinary tract infections. When you’re well hydrated, there’s a lesser chance for bacteria to attach to cells along your tract. Basically, water helps to dilute your urine and flush bacteria out, which then gets expelled from your body when you go to the loo.
2. Stock up on the cranberries
Cranberry juice doesn’t treat current UTIs, but it may be effective in preventing them. Scientists have suggested that cranberries can make it difficult for bacteria to stick to your urinary tract, thereby preventing infections from occurring. If you’re looking for cranberry remedies, try out Avalon Beauty’s women’s intimate care enzyme drink which is targeted at preventing infections and supporting your urinary tract on our Marketplace here.
3. Don’t hold your urine for too long
If you frequently delay emptying out your bladder, it allows bacteria to accumulate in your urinary tract overtime, eventually causing infections. This risk increases if you don’t drink enough water. Your bladder only sends signals to your brain to make you want to urinate if it contains enough liquid. Without enough water, you won’t feel like urinating and this allows bacteria to sit and multiply in the tract.
4. Invest in some probiotics
Probiotics contain large quantities of good bacteria. They can help to prevent UTI by preventing the growth of bad bacteria. Probiotics can be found in foods like greek yoghurt, cheese and kefir products. You can also take probiotics in supplemented forms. This enables you to take larger and fixed concentrations in a single capsule.
5. Keep your intimate area clean
Poor hygiene is one contributing factor to frequent UTIs. This is especially during menstruation and after you’ve gone to the loo. Poor hygiene habits like leaving sweaty clothes on for long periods of time or not changing your sanitary pad frequently can also increase your risk. You can consider getting a feminine wash to keep your vaginal area clean and fresh – we have Betadine’s wide range of feminine care items on Marketplace to take your pick from.
Preventive methods can go a long way to stop recurrent infections from happening. But if you suspect an infection ‘down there’, do check in with a doctor as soon as you can to get medical advice and the appropriate treatment.