Urinary Tract Infections: Causes Symptoms And Treatment
Various types of urinary tract infections affect people around the world, but adult women suffer the most from its most common formcystitiswhich affects the bladder. In the United States, approximately 25 to 40 percent of women have had at least one urinary tract infection.Men and children also develop urinary tract infections, but in fewer numbers.Here are the causes and symptoms of UTIs along with treatment options.
Living With Urinary Tract Infections
If you have 3 or more urinary tract infections each year, your doctor may want you to begin a preventive antibiotic program. A small dose of an antibiotic taken every day helps to reduce the number of infections. If sexual intercourse seems to cause infections for you, your doctor many suggest taking the antibiotic after intercourse.
Diabetes And Utis: What You Should Know
More than 50% of women will have a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives. Women with type 2 diabetes may be at an even higher risk of UTI. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information , patients with type 2 diabetes experience more frequent and more severe UTIs. They also tend to have worse outcomes: the UTIs in diabetes patients are more often caused by resistant pathogens, meaning the infections are more difficult to treat.
Most important for people with diabetestype 1 or 2is to catch the UTI early. Diabetes patients can have a harder time fighting infection and are already at risk for kidney damage, which can become worse if the infection spreads.
You May Like: How To Empty Bladder Without Catheter
Gi Issues Caused By Kidney Stones
Normally, kidney stones cause symptoms such as pressure and pain in your lower back, fever, frequent urination, discomfort urinating, and bloody or discoloured urine. However, sometimes kidney stones can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort.
If youre experiencing sudden low back pain and gastrointestinal discomfort, dont ignore the possibility that it might be kidney stones.
You May Like: What Foods To Eat If You Have Diarrhea
When To See Your Gp
You should see your GP if you or your child have symptoms of cystitis for the first time.
Cystitis isn’t usually a cause for serious concern, but the symptoms can be similar to several other conditions, so it’s important to get a proper diagnosis.
If you’re a woman who has had cystitis before, you don’t necessarily need to see your GP again. Cystitis is very common in women and mild cases often get better on their own. Speak to a pharmacist if you need any advice about treating cystitis.
However, you should see your GP if your symptoms are severe or don’t start to get better in a few days, you get cystitis frequently, or you’re pregnant.
Children and men should always be seen by a GP if they have symptoms of cystitis, as the condition is less common and could be more serious in these groups.
Don’t Miss: Overactive Bladder After Prostate Surgery
Your Health Care Team
If you have diabetes and also have urology-related health problems, you may work with a primary care doctor , endocrinologist and a urologist .
It’s important to work with your doctors to make a plan to keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range and to arrange for an A1C test. This plan may involve a blend of lifestyle changes, oral medications and insulin. You should also feel empowered to talk to your doctors about sexual function and bladder control concerns, as your provider may not always ask about these “quality of life” issues.
Herbal Tea For Urinary Tract Infections
Heres the DIY herbal home remedy:
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon plantain
Method
Don’t Miss: Is Amoxicillin Good For Bladder Infection
Symptoms & Causes Of Water Retention Because Of Kidney Disease
Water or fluid retention, also called as edema indicates the accumulation of clear yet watery fluid in an abnormal manner in the cavities or tissues present in the human body. In simple words, fluid/water retention or edema takes place by the excess amount of trapped fluid in the tissues of a human body. The problem may affect almost every part of ones body individuals may often notice the problem more in the arms, hands, legs, feet and ankles. Edema or water retention may be caused because of many reasons, but it is very common because of kidney problems in patients.
How Can You Reduce The Risk Of Developing A Bladder Infection
There are several things you can do to minimize your risk of developing a bladder infection:
- Wipe from front to back after having a bowel motion so your urethra is not contaminated
- Urinate as soon as possible after sexual intercourse
- Make sure your genital area is clean before and after sexual intercourse or activity
- Take your medications for diabetes as directed
- Eat a healthy diet and limiting sugar.
UTIs are not contagious nor sexually transmitted that is you cannot catch them from another person.
Also Check: Does Botox Help Overactive Bladder
Skip Citrusy Or Caffeinated Sodas Irritate The Bladder
Sodas in general have been found to irritate the bladder in people with chronic bladder inflammation, and they could aggravate symptoms in someone with a bladder infection. Citrus-flavored sodas and caffeinated sodas are the culprits when it comes to worsening urinary tract infection symptoms. So, when you’re struggling to overcome a bladder infection, stick to water or cranberry juice as your drink of choice.
Why Do Women Get Urinary Tract Infections More Often Than Men
Women tend to get urinary tract infections more often than men because bacteria can reach the bladder more easily in women. The urethra is shorter in women than in men, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel.
The urethra is located near the rectum in women. Bacteria from the rectum can easily travel up the urethra and cause infections. Bacteria from the rectum is more likely to get into the urethra if you wipe from back to front after a bowel movement. Be sure to teach children how to wipe correctly.
Having sex may also cause urinary tract infections in women because bacteria can be pushed into the urethra. Using a diaphragm can lead to infections because diaphragms push against the urethra and make it harder to completely empty your bladder. The urine that stays in the bladder is more likely to grow bacteria and cause infections.
Frequent urinary tract infections may be caused by changes in the bacteria in the vagina. Antibacterial vaginal douches, spermicides, and certain oral antibiotics may cause changes in vaginal bacteria. Avoid using these items, if possible. Menopause can also cause changes in vaginal bacteria that increase your risk for urinary tract infection. Taking estrogen usually corrects this problem but may not be for everyone.
Read Also: Best Product For Bladder Leakage
Common Causes And Risk Factors Of Bladder Stones
Health Check Certified By: Patty Weasler, RN
Bladder stones, which are also referred to as vesical calculus or cystoliths, most often occur when the bladder isnt completely emptied, and the minerals in the remaining urineknown as concentrated urinecrystallize into hard masses.
There are a variety of factors that may cause this to happen, which well soon explore, but struggling with emptying the bladder isnt the only reason stones can occur. In some cases there may be an underlying medical condition or infection that is contributing to their formation. Read on to learn more about the most common causes and risk factors of this condition.
Can Bad Teeth Cause Urinary Infections
If you have severe tooth decay and infection in your mouth, you may contract infections in certain parts of your body. Infections of the bladder, kidneys, and UTIs are the most common. In other words, every time you eat or drink, you are filtered through the mouth for infection and decay.
Don’t Miss: Where Does Bladder Cancer Usually Spread To
Diabetes And Urinary Tract Infections
To avoid urinary tract infections, consult your doctor if symptoms occur.
People whose diabetes is not properly controlled have twice the risk of developing infections.
In addition to diabetes, you could be more susceptible to urinary tract infections if:
- Your blood glucose levels are not properly controlled.
- Sugar in the urine promotes bacterial growth.
- Your nervous system is already affected by diabetes .
- You could have a lazy bladder that does not empty completely.
- You are a woman.
- Certain anatomical traits, such as having a shorter urethra, increase the risk of bacterial contamination.
- You already have diabetes complications in your kidneys or blood vessels.
- This could be a sign that your diabetes is not properly controlled.
- You have had a urinary tract infection within the last year.
- People who have had infections within the last year are more at risk of a recurrence.
Is It Bad To Take Cranberry Pills Everyday
Some people may find that they can reduce the frequency of urinary tract infections due to their antioxidant content. In addition, they may improve heart health, control blood sugar, boost immunity, and prevent cancer, cavities, and stomach ulcers. It is safe to consume up to 1,500 mg of vitamin D per day.
Also Check: Over The Counter Bladder Medication
How Serious Are Urinary Tract Infections
Some people may find themselves particularly prone to UTIs. Upper urinary tract infections are the more serious of the two. In this case the bacteria have managed to reach the tubes connecting the bladder to the kidneys. If the bacterial infection reaches the kidneys the problem becomes serious and hospital treatment may be needed.
Lower urinary tract infections affect bladder and the pipe from the bladder to the penis or vagina . Whilst less dangerous than upper UTIs, lower UTIs should be treated early to prevent the infection from reaching the ureters.
Increased Adherence To Uroepithelial Cells
The uroepithelium is having a very important property of flexibility by which it will allow filling and emptying of the bladder and at the same time impermeable to fluid and able to cope with the varying pH, osmolality, and toxicity, for example, high ammonium concentration. It is composed of different layers of cells with the umbrella or facet cells lining the lumen are multinuclear, large cells with uroplakin facing the urine. Uroplakins are proteins contributing to the impermeability of the epithelium but can also act as a receptor for type 1 fimbriae on the uropathogenic E. coli
The important step in the pathogenesis of UTIs is the adherence of uropathogens to the bladder mucosa. Therefore, adhesins are important virulence factors. Although virulence factors have been distinguished best in E. coli , many same principles may be applicable to other Gram-negative uropathogens, for example, Klebsiellae. Type 1 fimbriae mediate the adherence of glycoprotein receptors on the uroepithelial cells to E. coli , whereas P fimbriae bind to glycolipid receptors in the kidney .
Also Check: What Vitamins Are Good For Bladder Health
Can Too Much Sugar Cause Bv
Researchers have evaluated that high intake of carbs, sugar and fats are associated with an increased risk of BV.
Secondly, eating too much sugar suppresses your immune system. Bad bacteria find it as an opportunity and feed on sugars to outnumber good ones. Therefore, we can conclude that eating too much sugar puts your natural defense down. Once your defense goes down, your risk of getting BV increases significantly.
Heres what Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has to say about BV It is the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age . BV or Bacterial Vaginosis is an imbalance between good bacteria and bad bacteria.
Normally your vagina is home to Lactobacilli species. These species are responsible for the production of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The vaginal pH of less than 4.5 is maintained by these good bacteria.
Women with BV have increased vaginal pH meaning above 4.5 on a pH scale, along with other symptoms such as:
- Thin discharge
Symptoms Of Utis In Men
The symptoms of a UTI can depend on whether it’s in the upper tract or lower tract. Most UTIs in men happen in the lower tract, which includes the bladder, prostate, or urethra, says Dr. Sloane.
Per Mayo Clinic and Keck Medicine of USC, men who get a lower UTI in their bladder or urethra usually have symptoms like:
- Burning sensation when you pee
- Pain when you pee
RELATED:How Do You Get a UTI? Urologists Explain Why These Infections Develop
You May Like: Bladder Infection Back Pain Right Side
How Can I Manage Bladder Irritation
You can manage discomfort by avoiding foods you have identified as bladder irritants. But removing foods from your diet doesnt mean you can never have them again. You might be able to enjoy them in moderation . Drinking plenty of water will help reduce pain from any bladder-irritating foods you might ingest, in moderation or accidentally.
Shortness Of Breath After Very Little Effort
Why this happens:
Being short of breath can be related to the kidneys in two ways. First, extra fluid in the body can build up in the lungs. And second, anemia can leave your body oxygen-starved and short of breath.
What patients said:
At the times when I get the shortness of breath, its alarming to me. It just fears me. I think maybe I might fall or something so I usually go sit down for awhile.
I couldnt sleep at night. I couldnt catch my breath, like I was drowning or something. And, the bloating, cant breathe, cant walk anywhere. It was bad.
You May Like: Why Spicy Food Causes Heartburn
Don’t Miss: What Were Your Symptoms Of Bladder Cancer
Why Are Diabetics Prone To Urinary Tract Infections
Hindawi
- A higher concentration of glucose in the urine allows the disease-causing bacteria to grow.
- High glucose levels in the renal parenchyma provide a favourable environment for the multiplication of microorganisms, which ultimately results in the kidney getting infected.
- Impairment of different types of immunity in diabetics allows the disease-causing bacteria to cause infection.
- Nerve damage in the urinary tract of diabetics can result in urinary retention and inability to urinate properly, thus resulting in reduced bacterial clearance and increased chances of infection. Studies reveal 26% to 85% of diabetic women develop bladder dysfunction due to diabetic neuropathy.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Bladder Infection Or Uti
The most common symptoms associated with a bladder infection or UTI include:
- frequent urination
- burning or pain during urination
- feeling like you need to pee but little or no urine comes out
- pain in the lower abdomen or above the pubic bone
- a full feeling in the rectum
- bloody or foul-smelling urine
More serious symptoms, such as the ones listed below may indicate a kidney infection:
- abdominal pain
- nausea and vomiting
- pain in the back, just above the waist
See your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of a urinary tract infection. If you can’t reach your doctor, go to an urgent care center or hospital emergency room.
Don’t Miss: Catheterizing The Female Urinary Bladder
Im Pregnant How Will A Uti Affect My Baby
If you have a UTI and it isnt treated, it may lead to a kidney infection. Kidney infections may cause early labor. Fortunately, asymptomatic bacteriuria and bladder infections are usually found and treated before the kidneys become infected. If your doctor treats a urinary tract infection early and properly, it wont hurt your baby.
What About Sugar And Dairy
According to the American Urological Association, to maintain a healthy bladder, it may also be beneficial to cut back on your intake of added sugars and refined carbohydrates like:
- White bread.
- Cookies.
- Candy.
The risk of consuming too much sugar is greater for certain people. In particular, “Sugar can increase the risk of UTIs mostly in patients who and are prone to elevated urine and blood sugar levels,” Bellin says.
The reason? When there is a high level of sugar in urine, UTI-causing bacteria can grow more easily, per the National Kidney Foundation. “Bacteria need nutrients to survive, and sugar can be used as a nutritional source,” Bellin says. In other words, don’t give the bacteria something to munch on.
Besides the potential for excess sugar to contribute to UTIs in people with diabetes, no one food or type of food will directly cause a UTI, including dairy products like milk or cheese. However, Bellin notes that people who are lactose intolerant and still consume dairy despite the havoc it wreaks on their digestive system may be slightly more at risk for developing a UTI.
“If someone is lactose intolerant, dairy can cause more diarrhea and GI issues, which in turn will increase chances that GI flora can get into the urinary tract and cause an infection,” Bellin says.
Read Also: Non Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Guidelines