Are You Taking Care of Yourself?

Yes. We are in a global pandemic, and you probably have a billion other things to worry about. 

But as your care providers, we have to ask if you’re taking care of yourself. We know you need to save about three worlds a day — probably more with kids — but keeping your reproductive organs and urinary tract in top shape is our primary goal, even if you don’t see much of us these days. 

So while you’re slaying dragons and online shopping, make sure you’re doing some of these steps to take care of yourself and keep your urinary tract and surrounding areas happy and healthy. 

1. Drinking Water 

Cliché, we know. But drinking water just really makes everything better. 

More importantly, drinking enough water helps your kidneys and urinary tract get a regular wash out. All sorts of particles can get trapped in the body and in the urethra, and peeing helps those things get rinsed form the body. It also lessens the chance of kidney stones by offsetting salt buildups. 

2. Letting Loose

We know how enticing it can be to lay around in leggings or yoga pants all day. They’re versatile enough for you to binge watch Netflix all day but also run to the store if needed. 

However, they’re also really good at harboring icky stuff around your vaginal or penial area. This can lead to urinary tract infections, skin irritations or vaginal infections. 

Try letting loose every once in a while and wearing loose-fitting sweatpants. Cotton underwear is also great for the vagina because it allows things to air out and relax. You even can try sleeping sans underwear or pants.

3. Watching the Bad Stuff

Now we’re not saying you can’t have any coffee or eat french fries. But you should still be trying to watch your salt and caffeine intake.

Salt makes you retain water and messes up the balance in your kidneys if there is too much, which is a problem. Caffeine does the same thing, but it also can irritate the urethra, which isn’t fun. 

The best way to offset these problems? Drinking water. We told you. It fixes so much.

4. Wiping Down

With the weather being nicer, we suspect people are trying to go outside more and do stuff. This can cause sweat and bacteria to build up in the underwear and pant area. The same thing can happen when you have intercourse too—just add bodily fluids into the mix. 

Which is why it’s so important to make sure you are peeing after sex and wiping down after getting sweaty. You even can change your underwear if it makes you feel comfortable. Just try to keep things dry and clean down there. 

5. Paying Attention to Your Body

The kidneys, reproductive organs and bladder are all organs you don’t really think about until a problem arises, which is why you should be regularly checking things out to make sure they are working properly. 

It’s as easy as making sure you urinate completely. If you’re rushing to pee, try to take the extra second to make sure you are fully finished. It allows all of your urine to drain and not stay inside the bladder, which can irritate it. 

Do all of the other easy stuff too. Drinking enough fluids, doing some daily movements and urinating after sex. They may seem like little things, but in the big picture, you’re preventing all sorts of problems for yourself. 

We’re Still Here to Serve You

Despite the global pandemic, Norman Urology is still serving its clients fully, just in different ways. We’re offering telehealth services to those who don’t need to come into the office and only seeing patients face to face if it’s absolutely needed. We’re also still doing in-house procedures. 

If you’re experiencing issues with your reproductive system or urinary tract, don’t hesitate to reach out today. We’re still happy to help.