Dehydration: A leading risk factor for UTIs

Hydration is essential for overall good health. Maintaining adequate hydration levels helps mood and attention, improves blood circulation, and helps optimize urinary tract function to remove waste from the body [1].

When you don't get enough fluids, you can develop dehydration. This can lead to negative side effects like headaches and fatigue. It can also increase the risk of urinary tract infections. 

Urinary Tract Infection Risks

A urinary tract infection occurs when harmful bacteria settle into the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys, causing an infection. These bacteria provoke the immune system to fight them off, which leads to inflammation, soreness, pain with urination, fever, and blood in the urine.  

Both men and women can get urinary tract infections. They are more common in women because they have shorter urethras, making it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract [2].

Dehydration and UTIs

Urination is one way that the urinary tract can flush bacteria out before it can become a problem. Frequent urination and fully emptying the bladder sluices away bacteria in the urinary organs before they can adhere to the tissue. 

When you don't consume enough fluids, you don't produce as much urine. Your body uses available fluids for basic functions like blood volume, sweat, and saliva. A lower volume of fluid reaches the kidneys and bladder, so you don't feel the urge to urinate as often. When you do, you may only pass a small amount of urine [3].

Infrequent urination and low urine volume can create an opportunity for bacterial growth. There is more time between trips to the toilet, allowing bacteria to accumulate and adhere to urinary tract tissue. When you finally do urinate, there is less fluid to wash away bacteria [4,5].

In addition, chronic dehydration can lead to other urinary tract issues such as kidney stones, bladder inflammation, and damage to the kidney.