UTIs in monsoon: Find out how drinking less water increases your risk and what are the ways to prevent infection The monsoon season can be vexing, as high humidity and damp conditions create the perfect environment for several infections and health concerns. There's a rise in various infections and irritations during this season, with urinary tract infections (UTIs) being one of them.ALSO READ: Do you pee more often as you grow older? Urologist explains if it is normal and when to worryThere's a constant urge to pee because of UTI. (Picture credit: Shutterstock)For a complete picture of the factors that drive UTIs, so you can avoid them and reduce this seasonal health risk, Dr Mangesh Patil, urologist at Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, weighed in with expert insights on why UTIs become more common during the monsoon and how you can prevent them. He answered some common questions about UTIs, concerning risk factors, vulnerable groups and prevention.Why do UTIs happen in monsoon?Recurrent UTI is when the condition returns twice in six months or thrice in a year. (Pexel)Besides high humidity, profuse sweating, and wearing wet clothes for long periods, which the urologist believed played a role in bacterial growth, he also insisted that a common monsoon lifestyle habit is responsible for this surge in UTI cases.“This is largely due to decreased water consumption. In cooler, rainy conditions, people don't feel thirsty as much, and they tend to drink less water. It then leads to highly concentrated urine and infrequent urination, which is conducive to bacteria staying longer in the urinary tract," Dr Patil noted.Are UTIs more common in women than men? Who all are vulnerable?Yes, Dr Patil confirmed that UTIs are more common in women than in men because their urethra is shorter, allowing bacteria to enter the bladder more easily. But does this mean men are exempt? Not really, he countered, as certain conditions can increase their risks, including diabetes, kidney stones, and an enlarged prostate.How can you prevent UTIs in the monsoon?Dr Patil recommended the following precautions:Drink plenty of water to help flush bacteria out of the urinary tract.Do not hold your urine for extended periods, as this may allow bacteria to build up.Change out of wet clothes as soon as possible.Wear clean cotton underwear.Practice good personal hygiene.If you have diabetes, maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range, as high blood sugar can make you more susceptible to infections.Avoid self-medicating with antibiotics. Appropriate antibiotic use is essential to prevent resistance and recurrent infections.What are the warning symptoms?Seek medical help immediately if you experience:A burning sensation while urinatingFeverBlood in the urineSevere painEarly diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications.About the expertDr Mangesh Patil is a urologist in Mumbai with 26 years of experience. His areas of focus include nephrectomies, cystectomies, robotic prostatectomy, bone and soft tissue, prostate cancer surgery, and cystectomy.Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.Adrija Dey’s proclivity for observation fuels her storytelling instinct. As a lifestyle journalist, she crafts compelling, relatable narratives across diverse touchpoints of the human experience, including wellness, mental health, relationships, interior design, home decor, food, travel, and fashion that gently nudge readers toward living a little better. For her, stories exist in flesh and bones, carried by human vessels and shaped through everyday endeavours. It is the small stories we live and share that make us human. After all, humans and their lores are the most natural and raw repositories of stories, and uncovering them, for her, is akin to peeling an orange under a winter afternoon sun. Always up for a chat, she believes the best stories come from unfiltered yapping, where "too much information" is kind of the point. A graduate of Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi, and an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, Adrija spends her idle hours cocooned with herbal tea and a gripping thriller, scribbling inner monologues she loosely calls poetic pieces, often with her succulents in attendance. On lazier days, she can be found binge-watching, for the nth time, one from her comfort-show holy trinity: The Office (US), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or Modern Family. Dancing by herself to her peppy playlists, however, is an everyday ritual she swears by religiously.Read MoreWater ConsumptionHealthCatch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!.Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.See Less