Many people wonder how common a urinary tract infection (UTI) is. For many women, they are incredibly common. In fact, around 1 in 2 of all women will develop a UTI at some point during their lives. Considering just how often people get a UTI, people’s knowledge of them can be pretty low. Improving knowledge is a great way to help quickly identify and treat a UTI.
Knowledge is based in three facets. People should be aware of what a UTI really is. They should know what the symptoms of a UTI are. That will allow them to quickly visit a doctor and get it dealt with. Finally, knowledge should include some grasp on the potential treatments that a doctor may choose to suggest or prescribe.
Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria. They actually tend to start in different locations. Urinary tract infections can actually start in the bladder, the urethra, or the kidney. In very rare occasions, an infection can begin in the uterus.
As mentioned earlier, women are very prone to urinary tract infections. This is mostly due to anatomy. Women have a very small urethra compared to men. Because of this, it is very easy for bacteria to travel up it to reach the bladder. Women need to take even more care with their bladder health to avoid UTIs.
If order to get treatment in a timely fashion, it’s good to know the signs of a urinary tract infection. Then you can go to your doctor fairly confident that you know what they are going to say. If you think you have a urinary tract infection, you are likely seeing many of the following symptoms:
Typically, for most people who have a urinary tract infection, a medication will be the first prescription option. There are several different types of drugs that can potentially be used. In addition, a pain killer might be added to help numb the bladder and calm the burning sensations felt during urination.
Many people talk about drinking cranberry juice to help with a urinary tract infection. This is not a myth. It does help. It’s not a cure, but for people who rather consistently have urinary tract infections, it’s a great choice. Preventative measures are always better than having to treat a disease.
When it comes to excellent bladder health, there’s actually quite a few things you can do. First things first, if you need to use the restroom, then use it. It’s never good on the bladder when you “hold it”. Women should always wipe properly to ensure they are not introducing any extra bacteria to their urethra and should urinate after any sexual intercourse. This will ensure that any potential bacteria in the area is flushed out appropriately.
The other area where you can work on your bladder health is through lifestyle choices. Like almost every potential infection or disease, a healthy diet and appropriate exercise are the first step. These should help a person keep a healthy weight, which is another step to bladder health. Keeping alcohol and caffeine intake at reasonable levels will also likely assist. Of course, one thing you can do is take steps to quit smoking. Quitting smoking helps with almost any medical condition.
