“Throughout the day, I always had the urgency to pass urine. But when I went to the bathroom, not much came out and my pelvic region started to feel painful. When I did urinate, I felt burning pain and the urine looked cloudy and smelt bad. This lasted a few days and it was extremely uncomfortable as I was not able to concentrate on my work.” Is this scenario familiar to you? Fret not, this is not something cancerous. It just means that you may have a urinary tract infection (UTI) and there are ways to treat it fast when identified early. UTI is an infection of the urinary tract, which is caused by bacteria or other microorganisms that entered your urinary tract. It can lead to potentially life-threatening complications in some people. If you are pregnant and have signs of a UTI, see your doctor right away. A UTI could cause problems in your pregnancy, such as giving birth pre-maturely or getting high blood pressure.
What are the symptoms of a UTI?
To identify a UTI, you may have some or all of these symptoms: Burning feeling when you urinate Frequent urge to urinate, but not much comes out when you do Pain or pressure in your lower belly Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy, dark or bloody Having a fever or chills You may stop an infection from getting worse, if you act promptly upon identifying the above symptoms. The best remedies are a combination of medical treatment (taking antibiotics) and lifestyle changes.
Here are the steps to ease your discomfort until antibiotics treat the infection;
- Drink plenty of water. Water can flush out the bacteria from your bladder and dilute your urine.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, spicy food and soft drinks as they can irritate your bladder
- Lay a heating pad over your bladder or take a hot bath to relieve pain
- Increase consumption of Vitamin C as it makes urine more acidic, which inhibits the growth of bacteria in your urinary tract
But isn’t it better if you prevent the occurrence of getting UTIs?
- Start changing to healthier habits.
- Lifestyle changes are crucial to help prevent another infection.
- Urinate frequently when you need to. Don’t hold it.
- Urinate before and after sex as sexual activity can push bacteria deeper into the urethra.
- After you pass urine or have a bowel movement, wipe clean from front to back.
- Choose only fragrance-free personal hygiene products
- Wear loose cotton clothing or underwear
- Shower instead of taking a bath
- Improve your diet and quit smoking
In fact, about one in five women who get UTIs will experience another infection again. If your symptoms do not improve or if you are prone to UTIs, consult a doctor about your treatment options. If you or your loved ones would like to seek professional medical advice, call us at +65 6679 7867 or email us at customercare@tmcg.com.sg and our friendly medical concierge will be on hand to assist you.