Urology Awareness Month

September is Urology Awareness Month. It’s surprising how much is covered under this one umbrella, but what does urological health really mean and what steps should we be taking to improve our urological health?

Urology covers a whole host of different conditions, ranging from UTIs and kidney stones to incontinence and testicular cancer. Urological health refers to the urogenital system, which are the parts of your body responsible for producing, storing, and discharging urine and the parts of your body involved in sexual function. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common kind of infection (after chest infections), and it’s estimated that 1 in 2 of us will develop some urological condition in our lifetime – a sobering statistic, especially when considering the lack of education around what can be very sensitive and scary conditions.

Education is key when it comes to raising awareness of potential diseases, and while they might these kinds of illnesses can seem overwhelming, here are some quick educational facts to keep in mind.

-Be aware of how much sugar and sodium you’re eating. Consuming too much sugar is bad for one’s health overall, but also means that your kidneys have to work overtime to keep up.

-Make sure you are staying hydrated. The NHS recommends drinking six to eight glasses a day, and lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count.

-Pelvis floor exercises can help strengthen your pelvic floor, which can help prevent incontinence.

-Habits like smoking and overeating can all have a negative impact on your urogenital system. Excess coughing and too much fatty tissue can put undue strain on your bladder.

-Caffeine and alcohol can also irritate your bladder, so it’s important not to overindulge.

-Whether stress can directly cause illness is debated, but a 2021 study by The Wistar Institute Cancer Center suggested there could be a link between high stress levels and cancer coming back.

As with all health conditions, being aware of what is normal and right for you is key when trying to find out if something is wrong. CommunityAd is not a medical professional, and this article should not be used as a substitute for medical advice.

If you want to find out more about urological health, you can visit www.theurologyfoundation.org/ for education resources and information on how you can help raise awareness and get involved with volunteering and fundraising that helps the foundation carry out its lifesaving work.

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