Tips to Avoid a UTI | Tennessee Valley Urology Center
Urinary tract infections can be miserable. Do you know the symptoms of a UTI? Tennessee Valley Urology Center would like to help you easily identify a UTI and learn how to avoid an infection in the first place.
The most common symptoms of a urinary tract infection include:
- Burning pain upon urination
- Having a constant sensation of needing to urinate
- Feeling pain in the lower back
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fever and chills
Although some people are more prone to UTIs than others, there are some steps that everyone can take to help reduce their incidence.
Drink plenty of water.
When you up your water intake, you go to the bathroom more frequently, which means you’re also flushing out your bladder more often. The increased fluid both helps move bacteria out of the urinary tract, but it also dilutes your urine, which helps prevent bacterial growth. Try to aim for about 8 glasses a day.
Empty your bladder before and after intercourse.
Since sex can push bacteria into the urethra, experts recommend making it a habit to go to the bathroom both before and after sexual intercourse to help reduce bacteria as much as possible.
When you need to go, don’t hold it.
Most of us are guilty of holding our bladders for a variety of reasons when we need to urinate. We might be caught up in our work or avoiding a public restroom, however, it’s really a problem to allow urine to become stagnant since that promotes the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. No one should allow more than 4 to 6 hours to pass without urinating.
Ladies: practice proper hygiene.
Women are particularly prone to UTIs, but one way to help reduce that risk is to always wipe yourself in the bathroom from front to back to avoid introducing bacteria into the urethra. While we’re talking about women’s bathroom habits, please don’t douche. The problem with douching is it flushes away good bacteria and disrupts the natural balance in your vagina. You’ll be more at risk for UTIs because the bad bacteria will be able to grow.
Tennessee Valley Urology Center is here to help you with all of your urologic needs, and we promise to treat each patient with compassion and dignity. Please visit our website today to learn more about our physicians and services.