Four reasons why you’re getting UTIs

Raj @ Mission — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 07:26:08 +0000

Source – https://news.llu.edu/

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the more common infections people struggle with, resulting in more than 8.1 million physician visits each year.

Jane Yun, MD, an OBGYN at Loma Linda University Health, says UTIs are caused by bacteria traveling up the urethra — the tube passing urine out of the body — and into the bladder. Some common symptoms include discomfort or burning while urinating, the frequent need to urinate or feeling like urinating even when the bladder is empty, and change in the color or odor of the urine.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms often or have received several diagnoses of a UTI, Yun says these may be four reasons why:

You are a woman.

Yun says women are more prone to developing urinary tract infections than men due to having a shorter urethra and shorter distance between the opening of the urethra and the vagina and rectum. This shorter distance promotes the colonization of vaginal and gastrointestinal bacteria at the end of the female urethra, which is normal. But sexual activity, for example, promotes the movement of the bacteria up the urethra and into the bladder to cause UTIs, she says.

You are over washing.

Getting a UTI does not mean a person has a hygiene issue. In fact, according to Yun, over-washing the vaginal area with harsh or heavily fragranced soaps or using methods such as douching can throw off the balance of normal vaginal flora, which allows the overgrowth of bacteria that can cause UTIs and increases the risks of vaginal irritation and infections. “We don’t recommend douching,” Yun says.

You are going through menopause.

Yun says menopause is a low-estrogen state causing thinning of the vaginal tissue and an increase in the pH of the vagina. “This promotes a change in the flora which can increase the risk of getting UTIs,” she says. Also, the menopausal state is often associated with incontinence — accidental leaking of urine — and incomplete emptying of the bladder, both of which can promote UTIs. “Vaginal estrogen has been shown to be helpful for this,” Yun says.

You have certain medical conditions.

There are multiple conditions that can predispose a person to developing UTIs such as diabetes, pregnancy, obesity, pelvic organ prolapse, sickle cell trait, spinal cord injuries or any condition that requires self-catheterization to empty the bladder, urinary tract anomalies and kidney stones, Yun says.

To avoid getting a UTI, Yun initially recommends behavioral changes such as increasing water intake, considering new contraception options, urinating after sexual activity, wiping from front to back when using the bathroom and taking a cranberry supplement.

If you are already experiencing symptoms of a UTI, Yun says to make an appointment with your doctor. “It’s important to prevent the infection from spreading throughout the urinary tract with antibiotics, which will cure an ongoing and active infection.”

Suffering from recurrent UTI symptoms? Schedule an appointment with your provider through

The post Four reasons why you’re getting UTIs appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

You’re Getting Fit, but Where Do You Lose Weight First?

mymedicplus — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 07:06:47 +0000

Source- https://www.healthline.com/

People want to lose weight for many reasons: health, athletic performance, appearance, the desire to keep up with kids or grandkids.

But where exactly the weight will come off first is highly individualized. There’s little science to suggest that all people lose weight in particular areas first.

Seeing results in a targeted body zone can be motivational, but can you predict (or better yet, influence) where you’re likely to lose weight first? Probably not.

Here’s what we know about the science of weight distribution and regional weight loss.

The role of genetics

Genetic factors largely determine where fat is distributed in your body.

Genetic analysisTrusted Source shows that the relationship between genes and body fat distribution is stronger in women than it is in men. For example, if people in your family tend to accumulate weight in the hips and thighs, you may gain weight there, too.

StudiesTrusted Source suggest that genetic factors also influence weight loss. For example, if high protein, high fiber diets tend to work for your parents, there’s a good chance they may work for you, too.

Research is underway to discover exactly how genetics could help health professionals personalize weight loss programs.

The role of your sex

Where you lose the most weight may have something to do with your sex.

In one large, worldwide studyTrusted Source involving more than 2,500 people, male participants tended to be less compliant with a low calorie diet but still lost slightly more weight than female participants did.

ResearchTrusted Source has found that men tend to lose more weight from their trunk area, while women lose more weight from their hips.

The role of age

If you’ve lost weight before, you may already know where your body tends to show weight loss first.

For some people, the first noticeable change may be at the waistline. For others, the breasts or face are the first to show change.

Where you gain or lose weight first is likely to change as you get older. Both middle-aged men and postmenopausal women tend to store weight around their midsections.

Studies show that for postmenopausal women, adding exercise alongside a healthy diet is key to losing belly fat.

Does exercise make a difference in where you lose weight first?

Most of the scientific evidence suggests that you can’t target a specific spot to lose weight, even if you concentrate your exercise efforts on that zone.

In one 2013 study, participants exercised only their nondominant leg for a period of 12 weeks. Interestingly, the exercised leg lost less fat than what was lost in the upper body — and there was no difference in fat loss between one leg and the other.

In a 2010 studyTrusted Source involving female soldiers who had been in an intense total-body physical training program for 12 weeks, researchers found that they lost the most fat from their arms and trunks, while fat mass in their legs was essentially unchanged.

There’s no evidence suggesting you can use exercise to target where you lose fat first on your body. But exercise can improve your:

heart health
brain function
physical strength
athletic endurance
general weight loss goals

Why it matters where you lose weight

Multiple studiesTrusted Source have confirmed that extra weight around the midsection has worse health consequences than extra weight around the hips and thighs.

Extra weight around the waist — especially deep visceral fat that encases the organs — raises the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular issues, like heart attack and stroke.

How do I get rid of visceral fat?

Although you won’t necessarily be able to see visceral fat loss, it’s still important to manage it since it can harm your health.

Research has found the following eating plans may help reduce or manage visceral fat levels:

a low glycemic index dietTrusted Source
a diet high in plant or animal proteinTrusted Source
portioned mealsTrusted Source
a vegetable-heavy dietTrusted Source
diets low in sugarTrusted Source and alcoholTrusted Source

Exercise has also been found to help reduce visceral fat, especially high-intensityTrusted Source exercise like running.

Where does the weight actually go?

Your body breaks down fat cells when you lose weight. It uses the energy in those cells to fuel your activity levels and keep your body warm.

Once fat cells have been metabolized, the byproducts leave your body in sweat, urine, or carbon dioxide when you exhale.

What’s considered safe weight loss?

How do you know whether your exercise and nutrition strategies are working?

It’s OK to lose small amounts of weight over a longer period of time. And actually, that’s preferred.

Most doctors agree that losing around 1 to 2 pounds a week is ideal for sustainable weight loss. Faster weight loss is unlikely to last because it’s harder to maintain in the long term.

The bottom line

Where you’ll lose weight first is largely determined by genetic factors.

Just as your body is programmed to gain weight in certain areas, it’s also programmed to lose weight in certain areas. Your sex, age, and hormones also play important roles in where and how quickly you lose weight.

Most research shows it’s not possible to target certain areas for fat loss. However, studies have shown that several strategies are effective for reducing the amount of abdominal visceral fat.

Eating lots of lean protein and vegetables, exercising more often than not, and limiting your carbs, alcohol, and sugar intake will help.

You may not be able to predict which parts of your body are going to lose weight first, but you can change your diet and exercise habits so your whole body benefits from a healthier lifestyle.