How to Correct Body Postures During Pregnancy? - Part 1

Correct body postures and movements are essential factors for our well-being. During pregnancy, a woman experiences various changes in her body. Therefore, most women tend to keep up incorrect body movements and postures, which affect their health and well-being during pregnancy.

Pregnant women need to maintain correct body postures and movements, because it helps minimise body aches, pains, and discomforts during pregnancy. It also helps a woman to have a healthy childbirth and achieve the body shape following her pregnancy. However, it is important to follow correct body movements and postures before as well as after pregnancy.

How to Prevent a UTI?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are relatively common among women compared to men. Because of the shorter distance between the urethral opening and the bladder, they are more prone to get UTIs. Their urethra and the anus are also in close proximity, raising the risk of UTI further.

Certain lifestyle modifications help prevent urinary tract infections in both men and women, while some prevent UTIs, especially in females.

UTI: Treatments

Doctors usually offer antibiotics to manage urinary tract infections (UTIs). The type of the antibiotic and the duration of the treatment depend on the type of bacteria found in the urine and your health condition.

Single isolated urinary tract infection

A single isolated UTI can be treated with an antibiotic. However, it is important to collect a urine sample for culture before antibiotic therapy.

Doctors offer an antibiotic for three to five days for a simple urinary tract infection. Symptoms of an uncomplicated urinary tract infection usually disappear in a few days of therapy. Amoxicillin, Nitrofurantoin, Trimethoprim, or a type of antibiotics called cephalosporin can be used for the initial therapy. Sometimes, the treatment regimen is modified according to the urine culture and sensitivity test, and/or the clinical response.

UTI: Complications and Diagnosis

If a urinary tract infection (UTI) is managed properly, it usually resolves without any complications. However, untreated UTIs, especially upper urinary tract infections, can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, prompt and proper diagnosis and management are important factors for a good outcome.

Complications

Untreated urinary tract infections can cause following complications.

• An untreated UTI can lead to an acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) upper urinary tract infection (pyelonephritis), and consequently, results in permanent kidney damage.

• Recurrent urinary tract infections (it is a common problem, especially among women, who got three or more episodes of UTIs.)

• Untreated UTIs can increase the risk of delivering premature or low birth-weight infants.

Who Is at Risk of UTI?

Certain factors can increase the risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI). Some risk factors can be modified while others cannot be changed. However, certain lifestyle modifications and measures help lower the risk for UTI.

Being female

Urinary tract infections are common among females compared to males. The distance between the urethral opening and the bladder is shorter in women than in men. Therefore, their urethra increases the ability of bacteria to enter the bladder. The anus and the urethra are also situated within close proximity in females than males. It also raises the risk of UTI among women.

Urinary Tract Infection: Causes

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) usually occur due to bacteria, which enter the urinary tract via the urethra. Certain bacteria from the own bowel flora, live on the skin around the perineum. They can ascend and multiply in the urethra and the bladder. Sometimes, the bacteria can spread from the blood stream or the lymphatics to the urinary tract.

The urinary tract is designed to avoid the invading bacteria. Sometimes, these defence mechanisms can fail. Therefore, bacteria grow in the urinary tract, causing a UTI. There are several defence mechanisms to avoid urinary tract infections. They are: