When common bacteria such as E. coli enter the urinary system, they can cause a urinary tract infection (UTI). This condition is preventable despite the fact that it’s also easy to get. Read on to learn more about bacterial infection and things you can do to avoid it.
If you experience a strong urge to go to the bathroom, or a need to urinate more frequently probably, a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) could be responsible. Other symptoms like abdominal pressure and discomfort while urinating often accompany a UTI. While the condition can affect anybody, including babies, it mainly occurs in women.
Make water your friend throughout the day, as urinating helps to flush bacteria out of your urinary tract. Drinking a lot of water will force you to use the bathroom more frequently. If you’re unable to drink about eight glasses of water per day, try incorporating other beverages that will help keep you well hydrated. Some healthy options include decaf herbal tea, fruit juice, or smoothies. Don’t drink too much alcohol as it can irritate your bladder lining.
This is more of an issue as women age. Declining estrogen levels due to menopause can cause thinning and other anatomic changes in the urinary tract anatomy that increases the odds of getting a UTI. According to a study, post-menopausal women can reduce their chances of getting UTIs by applying low doses of topical estrogen creams.
If you feel the urge to use the bathroom, don’t hesitate to go. Keeping urine in your bladder for too long creates ideal conditions for bacterial growth. Using the lavatory every few hours can help minimize the risk. This works for women of all ages, including teenagers.
When you go to the restroom, avoid wiping UTI-causing bacteria into your urethra, where urine exits the bladder. These usually thrive in the rectum, and you can reduce the odds of getting them into the urinary system by wiping your genitals from front to back. People having diarrhea are much more vulnerable to getting bacteria into the urinary system. If you are having loose stools, it’s important to be cautious after a bowel movement.
If you’re sexually active, you need to be careful not to let bacteria enter the urethra during sex. The best UTI protection for women, in this case, is to urinate after intercourse. Doing that may wash out the urinary tract of any bacteria that could cause an infection.
If you often get UTIs and are on birth control, you may need to revisit the products you’re using, according to WebMD. Some of them contain chemicals that may cause a UTI when in contact with the vaginal environment. Be sure to discuss with your doctor safer options than diaphragms or spermicide-lubricated condoms. Oil-based lubricants can be a problem too. To address vaginal dryness, consider changing to a water-based alternative.
Some of the feminine products you use may increase your UTI vulnerability by irritating your urethra. Most of them contain chemicals that may interfere with your vaginal health and pH level. This interference can lead to the overgrowth of UTI-causing microorganisms, including the E. coli bacterium.
Some irritants you may want to avoid include
Not all bacteria are bad for your health, including vaginal bacteria. Some of them are necessary, and that’s why they’re called good bacteria. If you experience an unhealthy decline of useful microbes in your system, you may be susceptible to UTIs and other bacterial infections. In that case, you may want to try probiotics to avoid infection.
While this is an active area of research with mixed results, drinking pure cranberry juice may help avoid getting UTIs. Some studies suggest that the proanthocyanidin compounds in berries may make it difficult for bacteria to survive in the urinary tract.
Antibiotics are drugs used to fight off bacterial infections, including UTIs. These aren’t usually the first line of defense, so your doctor will probably suggest other remedies first. However, you may need to use oral antibiotics if your condition fails to improve or keeps recurring. Keep in mind that extended use of these drugs may cause bacterial resistance in your body. It might also interfere with the balance of good bacteria in your system, exposing you to severe infections.
Urinary tract infections are often painful and can make everyday life a little more difficult. However, by implementing these healthy practices, you can keep UTIs away. As always, you can visit one of our urgent care centers if you are suffering from a UTI complications, visit our Urgent Care Center in Irvine, Urgent Care Clinic in Fountain Valley, or Urgent Care Center in Costa Mesa.
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Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
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