The urinary tract is the body system responsible for cleansing the body and releasing the bad elements out of it.

The urinary tract is composed of 6 parts, the two kidneys that are responsible for separating bad elements from the good ones, the 2 ureters, which are attached to each kidney and is the tube where bad wastes in the form of urine passes through, the bladder where the urine will be stored until it is filled up and the urethra, the opening where urine is released.

What happens when bacteria invades your urinary tract? It would still function but there is a possibility that your urinary tract would shut down and fail to work if left unattended. This condition is called urinary tract infection.

There are kinds of urinary tract infection according to its seriousness. Urethritis is the infection wherein the bacteria settle in the urethra. This is a very light infection and can be treated by keeping oneself clean. As the bacteria moves up to the bladder, cystitis will be experienced by the patient.

This condition is mild as well and can be prevented through antibiotic intake. But if this condition is not treated early, the bacteria can travel into the kidney, hence causing pyelonephritis or kidney infection. This is serious compared to the two other types of UTI and can cause vital problems and damages to the kidney.

Lots of prevention measures may be taken by a UTI sufferer, including avoidance of carbonated drinks, coffee, tea, junk foods and salty foods, which are usually the causes of kidney problems resulting to UTI, wearing cotton-made clothes and underwear instead of nylon, regular urination, drinking of water often, and even bladder exercises.

Bladder exercises have been proven to be effective in preventing further UTI problems. One healthy and popular way to revive the bladder’s health is through “Kegal exercises”. These exercises are done to enhance the strength of pelvic floor muscles, which are the muscles supporting the different parts of a person’s urinary tract such as vagina, bladder and urethra.

Further experiments and trials have confirmed that through toughening of these pelvic floor muscles, incontinence (leaking of urine coming from the bladder) may be prevented. These muscles are weakened due to lifting heavy weights, obesity, menopausal stage wherein estrogen is lost and repeated UTI cases.

One example of this exercise is by stopping urine flow during urination. When you do this, the muscles familiarize yourself with them. When you are not urinating, you may also tighten these muscles and hold it for at least ten seconds for twenty times.

What is good about exercises is that no one knows you are doing them and they can be done anywhere because it is so easy to perform.

If you are infected with UTI, you need not panic. It can easily be remedied so there is no immediate need for worry. Just remember that it is better to prevent than to cure so might as well spend some time and effort for something that will benefit you in the long run after all. Engage in these bladder exercises to decrease chances of UTI. Live your life healthily.