Bladder infection and cold weather — is there a link?

Make sure you drink at least 2 litres of water every day to prevent bladder infection.

Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published: February 10, 2017 12:53 pm

Certain foods like lemon and tomatoes can irritate your bladder. © Shutterstock

The cold weather during winters not only leads to dry skin, cough, cold and flu. With a slight drop in the temperature and the cold winds that are quite common during winters, the air becomes dry. The low level of moisture in the air, which is less than that we get in warmer months, leads to dehydration, which is one of the most common risk factors of UTI (urinary tract infection). Normally, bacteria enter through the urethra and reach the bladder leading to infection. Our body flushes out the bacteria during urination. So if you do not drink enough water, this mechanism is hindered, leading to a bladder infection. And this is the reason, why people are prone to bacterial infection in the urinary tract (bladder, kidneys, urethra or ureters), especially during winters.

How to deal with it?

Dr Anant Kumar, Chairman, Urology, Renal Transplant, Robotics, and Uro-Oncology Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket says that the chances of UTI in winters is high as we drink less water. And hence, drinking at least 2 litres of water on a day is highly recommended not only to maintain your water intake but to lower your risk fo bladder infection. This is because, water helps you to flush out harmful toxins and bacteria present in the bladder and hence, aid in lowering the risk of infection. Moreover, excess water intake also dilutes the urine, which can reduce the pain during urination, a common symptom of UTI or bladder infection. You don’t have to drink ice-cold water or load up your water intake but having warm beverages and fruit juices can help you to maintain the fluid intake. Also, burning sensation which is seen in UTI is mainly due to consumption of high-calorie foods and drinking less water. Also read about 6 common signs that you experience during UTI.

In most cases, bladder infection occurs suddenly, whereas in some it may recur over time, in the long run, indicating it is a chronic condition that should be treated. Most people, especially women, are so apprehensive of reporting UTI to doctors and hence, tend to self-medicate. However, this is not right as self-medication can make the infection acute. Hence, early and on time treatment is the key to preventing the spread of the infection. Here are 7 simple natural remedies to treat urinary tract infection.

With inputs from ANI

Image Source: Shutterstock

Published: February 10, 2017 12:53 pm

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