If you've ever had a urinary tract infection, then
you know the agony of that terrible burning feeling and relentless need
to pee—and you'd probably do anything to avoid getting another.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, 1 in 5
women experiences a UTI at some point in her life. And while men can get
them, too (UTIs are the second most common infection), women are much
more likely to contract one, says the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases. That's because we have a shorter
urethra, which makes it all too easy for UTI-causing bacteria to pass
through it and invade the bladder. No fair.
"Our urinary system is designed to keep out bacteria;
however, these defenses can fail," said Dr. Kelly M. Kasper, an ob-gyn
at Indiana University Health. "When that happens, bacteria can grow and
multiply and cause infections."
Here are 8 of the most common reasons those defenses fail—and a handful of helpful tips for prevention.
Sex
We know, huge bummer. Many women get UTIs after
doing the deed because the motion of sex can transfer bacteria from the
bowel or vaginal cavity into the urethra. To lower your risk of getting a
UTI, pee within 30 minutes of having sex, said Dr. Lisa N. Hawes, a
general urologist in Fulton, Maryland, and a physician spokesperson for
the American Urological Association. And ignore the often-shared advice
that both partners should wash their genitals immediately before and
after sex. "This actually changes bacterial flora and will increase UTI
risks," Hawes says. (Ugh, another yeast infection?
Constipation
You might be able to blame your poop (or lack
thereof) for your UTI. Being constipated makes it difficult to empty
your bladder all the way, which means trapped bacteria have lots of time
to grow and cause infection, says Hawes. On
the flip side, diarrhea or fecal incontinence can also increase your
risk of getting a UTI, because bacteria from loose stool can easily make
its way into your vagina and urethra. A tried-and-true tip: Wipe from
front to back whenever you use the bathroom, but be especially careful
to do so after a bowel movement.
Uncontrolled diabetes
"When blood sugar is high, the excess sugar is
removed through the urine," Hawes said. "This makes a favorable
environment for bacterial overgrowth" and a potentially unfavorable
situation for you. You may have heard the myth that eating too much
sugar can cause UTIs, even if you don't have diabetes, but Hawes assures
us that's not true. Unless you have diabetes, your sweet tooth isn't
the culprit.
Holding it
If you have to go, go! "Holding our urine for 6 hours
or more may make UTIs more common, as bacteria that does get into the
bladder has lots of time to overgrow between voids," Hawes said. While
traveling, for example, it may seem like a good idea to hold tight and
keep driving until the next rest area, but do yourself a favor and
stop—the extra miles aren't worth the risk of infection.
Dehydration
Drinking plenty of water not only quenches your
thirst, but it also wards off UTIs during hot summer months, when many
of us don't hydrate enough. "We should always try to drink at least half
our body weight in ounces," said Stephanie Seitz, ND, a physician at
the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. "When we drink plenty of
water, we help flush out bacteria that can cause UTIs."
Birth control
If you switch birth control, the resulting hormone
shift could lead to a change in normal bacteria in your vagina, which
could up the odds of a UTI, Hawes said. Use of diaphragms and
spermicides can also increase your chances of developing one, Kasper
adds.
Feminine products
"Dirty pads and tampons are a place where bacteria
can grow very easily," said Dr. Ehsan Ali, a primary care physician in
Beverly Hills, California. So change them frequently to prevent
infections while on your period. Likewise, Dr. Alyssa Dweck, MS, an
ob-gyn in Westchester County, New York, says to choose your underwear
wisely: "A cotton crotch is always preferred, and avoid thongs with a
thin, chafing g-string, which can transfer bacteria." Wearing cotton
helps prevent excessive moisture that causes bacteria to grow down
there, Dweck said.
Kidney stones
These mineral deposits up your risk of getting a UTI,
Ali said, because they can block the urinary tract and back up urine,
giving bacteria plenty of time to grow.
Source: Fox News