In this article: What is UTI | Why are women more prone | Conventional treatment | Natural home remedies | Caution
A urinary tract infection (UTI) refers to an infection in any part of your urinary system such as the urethra, bladder, ureters and kidneys. The lower parts of the urinary tract comprising the bladder and the urethra are the most commonly affected areas.
Before jumping into the details, do you want to test how much you know about UTI? Play this quiz on UTI.
Women are more prone to UTI than men. Why?
Owing to the difference in anatomy, women are more prone to UTIs than men. Women’s opening to the urethra is closer to the rectum, where infection-causing bacteria is present. Also, women have a shorter urethra than men, and hence the bacteria don’t have to travel far to reach the bladder.
What are the symptoms of a UTI?
The most common symptoms of a Urinary tract infection are:
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Strong, persistent urge to urinate
- Frequently passing small amounts of urine
- Strong-smelling urine
- Urine that appears cloudy or bright pink which is a sign of blood in the urine
UTIs might also cause pain in the lower abdomen or the back. Pain in the pelvic area in women and the rectal area in men is also a sign.
If there is fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, and pain in the upper back and the sides, it most likely means the infection has reached the upper urinary tract.
What is the conventional treatment?
The UTI is typically treated with a course of antibiotics if the infection is due to bacteria. And in the case of viral or fungal infection, your doctor would prescribe antivirals or antifungal medication, respectively.
But, do you know you can treat UTI with some easy home remedies? As soon as you notice the symptoms, start on a treatment remedy so as to not aggravate the infection.
Here is how you can go about it.
Natural remedies to treat UTI at home
1. Adequate water intake:
Staying hydrated is one of the simplest yet very effective remedies for UTI. Drinking adequate water is key to good health, which applies to both preventing and treating UTIs.
Hence, if you are prone to UTIs, consuming at least 1.5 litres of water per day is recommended.
2. Increase other fluids’ intake:
Further, if you are suffering from UTIs, you can increase your fluid intake, especially those mentioned below, to treat the problem.
- Coconut water
- Banana stem juice
- Cranberry juice
- Teas such as Green tea and herbal teas such as parsley tea, chamomile tea and peppermint tea
Coconut water and banana stem juice are natural diuretics. So they make you urinate more, thus helping flush out bacteria.
Cranberry juice, green tea, chamomile, and peppermint teas possess antibacterial properties and help eliminate UTI, thus proving effective home remedies.
3. Yoga poses for UTI:
Yoga poses that engage bladder muscles help in reducing symptoms of UTI. Practice the below poses to help with your healing process. Not to mention, these poses are accessible to beginners too.
- Child’s pose
- Chair pose
- Triangle pose
- Garland pose
4. UTI prevention:
Last but certainly not least, follow the below precautions if you are prone to UTIs; because prevention is always better than cure!
- Pee after sex
- Wipe from front to back
- Take showers instead of baths
- Entirely empty bladder while urinating
- Wear breathable underwear
- Avoid foods that irritate the bladder
Watch: Natural Remedies To Combat UTIs
Caution
Untreated UTIs can lead to serious complications and even become life-threatening. It is best you try home remedies at the first signs of UTI, and if you cannot manage to treat it yourself, seek medical help.
Also, if you have recurring UTIs, you should talk about it to your healthcare provider to understand why it is happening.
Images: canva.com
