Understanding Urologic Health: Tips for Prevention and Care
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
30 January, 2025
The urological system is the organ system that is tasked with ensuring all toxic and waste substances get excreted out of the body- via the urine. It consists of 2 kidneys, 2 ureters, the bladder and the urethra respectively. This means that the kidneys help filter out waste from the blood by filtration, the ureters carry it down to the bladder for storage, until you pee it out via the urethra. These organs work perfectly in sync to help an individual maintain their blood pressure, help with acid-base balance and also help produce factors which help in red blood cell production and maintenance. Let us look at the various issues that can affect this system, how to prevent them and how they are treated.
How To Maintain Good Urologic Health Naturally
Taking care of the urinary system is actually not too hard- it just involves following a healthy diet, getting some routine exercise and also always understanding the importance of sufficient hydration. We have given you our top tips for good urologic health below-
- Diet- Eat colourful veggies and fruits everyday in multiple servings. They are full of antioxidants and flavonoids and other goodness- which will help your body work better, including the kidneys and associated organs.
- Whenever you shop for food, make it a habit to read labels- see how much salt, sugar, preservatives, calories and RDA values are present and then decide whether eating it would help you in the long run or not. Remember- hypertension is caused mainly due to excessive salt intake and sodium levels tend to build up through the day, seemingly in minute amounts.
- You should drink about 2-2.5 litres of water everyday, or even more depending on how the weather is and how much physical activity you have undertaken in a day.
- Try to stay away from dehydrating agents like caffeinated beverages and alcoholic drinks or any food or drink that is too salty or sweet due to the addition of artificial sweeteners.
- You should exercise regularly, so you don’t gain too much weight. With the added advantage of weight management, you also help reduce the risk of urinary incontinence.
- Never hold your pee in or control the urge to relieve yourself. You end up messing with the bladder muscles and also increase the risk of getting an infection.
- Men and women, especially the latter need to know about keeping their pelvic floor intact- by exercising it – using simple but effective exercises like Kegels, bridge pose and doing squats- these can also help with other issues like constipation, childbirth and ageing respectively.
- If you are diabetic or hypertensive or have chronic heart or kidney disease, then make sure to take all medication prescribed, so you can keep symptoms under control.
- Never underestimate the importance of good personal hygiene- more women suffer from UTIs than men, but this is due to a combination of factors like anatomical disposition and being socially conditioned to wait to pee in a toilet, unlike men.
- If you are sexually active, then ensure to practice safe sex always. If you think you have an infection, then get it treated ASAP.
Common Urological Problems And Their Prevention
Some of the most common urinary tract issues include infections (UTIs), kidney stones, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder and erectile dysfunction or prostate hyperplasia in men alone. UTIs are normally caused due to poor personal hygiene or if you have autoimmune disorders or are diabetic, among other related possibilities. Kidney stones are hardened mineral deposits caused due to low water intake. Incontinence and overactive bladder – both are caused when the pelvic muscles are weak – either due to childbirth, pregnancy or neurological issues. Men have their own set of problems in the form of erectile dysfunction (ED) and prostate gland enlargement, which can put pressure on the urethra.
Importance Of Hydration For Urologic Health
We hope you know that you are literally 70% water and that blood is mostly water with a lot of important constituents thrown in. All of these needs to be filtered by the kidneys- which means if you drink enough water, your blood volume is maintained, your blood pressure is going to be fine and your kidneys will also continue to work normally.
Conclusion
We have listed out the 10 best lifestyle changes for better urologic health, above. If you have been reading this whole series of blogs, then you’d understand that eating right, drinking enough water and exercising well will not only help your urinary system, but also keep your body healthy as a whole. If you face symptoms like smelly or foamy urine, or notice blood and pain while peeing, it is time to see a urologist- who specialises in this area. They will be able to help you out by diagnosing the problem and then come up with a treatment plan that will work very well for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common urologic health issues?
How can I prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs)?
Can diet and hydration improve urologic health?
How does aging affect urologic health in men and women?
Are there natural remedies for improving bladder control?
