5 things to pay attention to when preventing urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is a relatively common disease among men. It brings a lot of troubles to many men in life and work. So how to treat and prevent urinary tract infection is a problem that many patients are more concerned about. Next, I will introduce to you some measures to prevent urinary tract infection.

Drink more water to urinate smoothly

When it comes to urine, most people’s first reaction is that it is the “garbage” of the human body. Don't underestimate this somewhat dirty liquid, it is an indispensable part of human metabolism. The meat, grains and other foods that people eat will eventually turn into "toxins" such as urea, uric acid, creatinine, and creatine in the blood. Only by filtering them through the kidneys and excreting them from the body through urine can we avoid excessive "toxins" from harming our health. Since the amount of water the human body takes in and excretes every day is basically the same, it is very important to consume 1500-2000 ml of water every day to ensure urine volume.

In addition to excreting "toxins", urine also has an important function of flushing the urinary tract, which is important for preventing urinary tract infections and urinary stones. Urine needs to pass through the ureter, bladder, and urethra to be finally discharged from the body. In normal people, there are bacteria living around the urethral opening, and some bacteria may also enter the bladder. Once the number reaches a certain level, it may cause infection. The main reason why most people do not get urinary tract infections is that regular urination prevents bacteria from growing in the urinary tract.

The body loses water through breathing and evaporation through the skin. Especially hot weather opens the pores, and the amount of water released through the skin increases significantly compared to other seasons, resulting in a decrease in people's urine volume and frequency of urination. The urine stays in the bladder for a longer time, making it easier for bacteria to multiply. Therefore, when the weather is hot and you sweat a lot, you should drink more water to prevent urinary tract infections.

No smoking reduces irritation

Urinary tract infection is the most common disease that threatens the health of the urinary system. Its occurrence is also closely related to unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking and alcoholism. A study from Finland was presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association. After excluding factors such as medication that may affect women's urinary health, the researchers found that compared with people who have never smoked, women who smoke are 1.8-2.7 times more likely to experience urinary urgency and 1.7-3 times more likely to experience frequent urination.

For people who have had urinary tract infections, urology experts at the Mayo Clinic in the United States remind them not to drink coffee, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks containing caffeine, because these drinks will irritate the bladder during a urinary tract infection, causing patients to urinate frequently.

In addition, patients with urinary tract infections should eat less spicy foods and try to reduce irritation to the urinary tract by properly matching their diet. When eating warm food, you should pair it with some cold ingredients. Do not add too much spicy condiments such as garlic, chili, and peppercorns. Instead, add some cold vegetables such as cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, and tomatoes.

Wash away germs with hygiene

If we divide the population with urinary tract infection by gender, we will be surprised to find that the incidence of urinary tract infection in adult women is 8-10 times higher than that in men, and half of women have had a urinary tract infection in their lifetime. According to a survey report by the World Health Organization, the most common disease among adult women is not colds, but urinary tract infections and reproductive tract infections.

The reason why women are more susceptible to urinary tract infections is primarily due to their special body structure. The female urethral opening is near the perineum, the urethral sphincter is weaker and the urethra is shorter and wider than that of men, with a length of only 3-5 cm. Therefore, bacteria can easily rise along the urethral opening to the bladder and cause inflammation. At the same time, local irritation around the urethra, gynecological diseases, and changes in sex hormones can all lead to changes in the vaginal and urethral mucosa, facilitating the invasion of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, female friends must pay attention to three points in life.

First, wash your underwear frequently. Women's vulva is particularly rich in sweat glands. Especially in hot and humid weather, if not properly cared for, the vulva can easily remain moist for a long time, and bacteria can multiply particularly quickly at this time. Therefore, when it is hot and you sweat a lot, you must change your underwear every day.

Second, after going to the bathroom, wipe from front to back with toilet paper. The female urethra is close to the anus. If the wiping method is not correct after defecation, the risk of urethra contamination will be greatly increased.

Third, clean up promptly after sexual intercourse. Urinary tract infections in women caused by sexual intercourse are relatively common, especially among newly married women. A survey from Taiwan showed that about 1/4 of women have experienced "honeymoon cystitis."

Don't sit for long periods of time to improve your physical fitness

In the intestines, E. coli are "normal residents", but once they reach the urinary tract they can cause inflammation. Studies have shown that 80% of urinary tract infections are caused by E. coli. The bad habit of sitting for a long time will cause the vulva to be in a damp and stuffy state for a long time, which will accelerate the reproduction of bacteria. This is especially obvious in hot and humid weather or environment. Therefore, people who sit and work for a long time should wear loose clothes, and underwear should be made of pure cotton, which should not be too small or too tight. Many female friends are accustomed to wearing underwear made of artificial chemical fibers. This material has poor breathability and can easily increase local temperature, leading to bacterial growth. It is best not to wear thongs like those sold on the market now. In addition, you should also be careful not to sit for a long time in places that can generate heat (such as flat ground, bicycle, motorcycle seats, etc.).

People who work sedentary jobs should develop the habit of drinking more water and urinating frequently. It is best to urinate before going to work. Whether it is during work, study or a meeting, choose a "half-time" time to "go to the bathroom". After holding urine for a period of time, in addition to emptying the bladder as soon as possible, the best way is to replenish plenty of water and urinate more often. This has a flushing effect on the bladder and can prevent the growth of bacteria in the bladder.

Early treatment to prevent disease

The urinary tract is a part of the body that has close connections with the surrounding tissues. People with the following chronic diseases must seek timely treatment. Controlling the disease will help prevent urinary tract infections.

First, systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, chronic diarrhea, etc. reduce the body's resistance and increase the risk of urinary tract infection. Secondly, urinary tract obstruction caused by ureteral and kidney stones, urethral stenosis, prostatic hypertrophy, etc. will more directly cause urinary tract infection. Finally, there are people who have recently undergone urethral catheterization, cystoscopy, or urinary tract surgery.

Once you find symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, pain, chills, fever, and back pain, you must go to a regular hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time. What needs to be emphasized here is that during treatment, it is imperative to adhere to the principles of timely, sufficient dosage, and sufficient course of treatment, and you must not "follow your feelings" and stop taking the medicine at will. Otherwise, UTIs are likely to recur.

The above is an introduction to the common knowledge of urinary tract infection. It is very important to develop healthy and good living habits in daily life. If you really get this disease, you must seek medical attention in time to avoid delaying the best treatment time.