A new study has shown that regular exercise could strengthen women’s ability to fight off urinary tract infections and potentially prevent them from occurring
Hitting the gym can help to control the onset of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and also enables you to fight and prevent viral infections.
According to the medical site?Healthline, a UTI can affect any part of the urinary system and occurs when bacteria enters the body. Common symptoms include a strong, frequent desire to urinate, abdominal pain, a burning sensation or pain when urinating and strong-smelling urine.
The?infection?occurs when bacteria accidentally enters the vagina during sex, through wiping from back to front after going to the loo, as a result of poor personal hygiene or even from wearing a thong.
Over 50% of women are likely to experience UTIs in their lifetime, while 20?30% experience it more than once.
The good news is that scientists are much closer to understanding the link between working out and succumbing to bacterial infections.
Researchers are in the process of figuring out if exercising, which appears to fight viral infections, will also protect women from bacterial infections including UTIs.
A recent study revealed that women who partake in low-to-moderate intensity activities for at least four hours a week are less likely to need antibiotics for UTIs than those who aren?t active.
While the study didn?t offer much detail on exactly how activity can protect women from UTIs, it suggested that being more active could decrease the chances of getting UTIs.
Another plus is that, like other muscles in your body, your pelvic floor and vaginal muscles can be strengthened with exercise (losing weight and stopping smoking can also help). Exercises that focus on your core muscles ? like planks, squats, sit ups and lunges ? engage your pelvic floor, so provide some benefit. But the most effective way to get your vagina and pelvic floor back in shape is by exercising the pelvic floor muscles themselves with Kegel exercises.
