Should I Limit The Amount Of Fluids I Drink
No. Many people with bladder pain syndrome think they should drink less to relieve pain and reduce the number of times they go to the bathroom. But you need fluids, especially water, for good health. Getting enough fluids helps keep your kidneys and bladder healthy, prevent urinary tract infections, and prevent constipation, which may make your symptoms worse.9
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When To See A Doctor
Although the body may sometimes fight off a UTI on its own, waiting for this to happen carries risks. UTIs can quickly spread, causing serious kidney infections.
A person should see a doctor for any symptoms of a UTI, particularly if they are pregnant or have an underlying health condition that affects their immune system.
A person with should go to the emergency room for immediate medical care. The symptoms of a kidney infection include:
How Is A Uti Diagnosed
To find out whether you have a UTI, your doctor or nurse will test a clean sample of your urine. This means you will first wipe your genital area with a special wipe. Then you will collect your urine in midstream in a cup. Your doctor or nurse may then test your urine for bacteria to see whether you have a UTI, which can take a few days.
If you have had a UTI before, your doctor may order more tests to rule out other problems. These tests may include:
- A cystogram. This is a special type of x-ray of your urinary tract. These x-rays can show any problems, including swelling or kidney stones.
- A cystoscopic exam. The cystoscope is a small tube the doctor puts into the urethra to see inside of the urethra and bladder for any problems.
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Urinary Tract Infections Must Be Treated Promptly By Your Doctor Left Untreated A Uti Can Be Painful And May Spread There Are Several Things You Should Avoid While You Have A Uti In Order To Prevent Worsening Of Symptoms
Urinary tract infection is one of the most common infections affecting older adults, especially women. If you have a UTI without complications, and you are otherwise in good health, your doctor might prescribe a shorter urinary tract infection treatment, such as a 3-day course of antibiotics. However, treatment type and length will depend on your medical profile and specific symptoms. Additionally, your physician may prescribe pain medication that relieves burning during urination, but pain is usually relieved shortly after beginning the antibiotic treatment. Below is some information to help you know what to do if you have a UTI infection in order to prevent exacerbating your UTI symptoms.
The following things can further irritate your bladder and increase the frequency of sensing an urgent need to urinate. Until your UTI has cleared up, you should:
First: What Is A Uti Exactlyand How Do You Usually Treat One
Essentially a UTI is a bacterial infection that can form in your urethra, bladder, or kidneys, causing unpleasant symptoms like frequent urination, a burning sensation while you pee, pelvic pain, and more.
When UTI symptoms rear their ugly head, trying to treat them yourself will only give the infection more time to spread. The longer you wait to get medical attention, the more youre putting yourself at risk for more serious health complications.
One in five women gets a UTI at least once in her life, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
Waiting too long to start treatment can allow the infection to progress from a simple bladder infection treated with three days of oral antibiotics to a complex kidney infection requiring intravenous antibiotics, says Ekene Enemchukwu, MD, assistant professor of urology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Enemchukwu also points out that theres also the chance youre actually not dealing with a UTI at allanother reason to always check in with your health care provider about any concerning symptoms. UTI-like symptoms, in the absence of bacteria, can be caused by other conditions, such as vaginal infections, STDs, kidney stones, severe constipation, and vaginal atrophy, says Dr. Enemchukwu.
If its a typical, mild UTI, heres what your treatment will look like. These interventions can also make it easier for you to go about your day and sleep with a UTI.
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Will A Uti Go Away On Its Own
Some UTIs can go away on their own. A 2022 article states that some uncomplicated UTIs can resolve spontaneously without treatment, but that some people need to see a doctor to relieve their symptoms.
A person should always see a doctor if they develop symptoms of a UTI as they can progress into a kidney infection.
What Causes A Uti And How Can I Prevent One
Bacteria can get trapped for a lot of reasons, but the usual culprit among young women is sex. Simply by peeing before and after sex, you can significantly reduce your chances of getting a UTIdoing so helps flush bad bacteria away from your urinary tract. In general, just keeping cleanand not by doing anything excessive like douching will help keep the unwanted bacteria at bay.
Also, if you enjoy tasty cranberry cocktails, indulge away! The juice has been shown to help prevent UTIs by making it more difficult for bacteria to stick to the walls of the urinary tract and multiply.
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Urinary Tract Infections In Men
Men can get UTIs, particularly if they have trouble with urine flow. Older men who experience prostatitis are at a higher risk. If the bladder is not emptying properly, the build up ofurine makes it more difficult to cure the infection.
A small number of young men may get a UTI. In males, this is usually the result of a sexually transmitted disease.
From Bad To Worse: The Facts About Utis & Kidney Infections
You know those few friends who seem to get UTIs all the time? No biggie, they say. Just run to the doc, pop some antibiotics, and the annoyance is kicked . I was never one of those women, and I naïvely assumed I never would be. UTIs just werent something I got, I thought.
Until I did. In retrospect, the signs were clear: I had to pee every two seconds, and it was painful when I did. At first, I thought it was constipation. Then, I thought it was a bad reaction from the laxative that I took for the constipation that it wasnt. Later, I thought it was the flu. For a fleeting moment, I even let pregnancy cross my mind. But a UTI? That simple, silly, easily treatable little thing? It wasnt even on my radar.
So, like a very bad womens health columnist would do, I ignored my symptoms . I had a big trip coming up, deadlines looming, and shopping and packing lists to check off before hitting the road. These things pass, right?
Well it passed, alrightstraight up into my kidney, where it festered for over 10 days. I had a terrible fever, the chills, and constant discomfort and swelling in my back and belly. It wasnt until I returned home and finally went to the doctor that I found out that a kidney infection was to blame. To save the organ at that point, I needed to be pumped with several bags of IV fluids, a nice fat shot of painkiller, and some serious antibiotics.
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A Pharmacist Can Help With Utis
You can ask a pharmacist about treatments for a UTI.
A pharmacist can:
- offer advice on things that can help you get better
- suggest the best painkiller to take
- tell you if you need to see a GP about your symptoms
Some pharmacies offer a UTI management service. They may be able to give antibiotics if they’re needed.
Altered Release Of Urothelial Factors
In addition to its role as a physical barrier, the urothelium provides bi-directional communication with underlying primary afferents via the detection and/or release of a range of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters and neuromodulators including ATP, acetylcholine, nitric oxide , NGF, prostaglandin E2 , neurokinin A, and inflammatory mediators as described above . Altered urothelial mediator release has been identified from OAB and IC/PBS patients in a number of studies and may be a compounding mechanism in the development of chronic neuronal hypersensitivity .
Limited causations have been determined for altered urothelial neurotransmitter release or receptor expression in OAB and IC/PBS, but there is accumulating evidence that they are a downstream consequence of inflammation, infection or urothelial breakdown.
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Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections
The symptoms of an infection in your upper urinary tract are different from symptoms of infection in your lower urinary tract .
However, in some cases you may notice the symptoms of both, as one can spread to the other.
Symptoms of a UTI are similar to those of many other conditions and don’t necessarily mean you have an infection.
What Is A Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection is an infection of the urinary system. This type of infection can involve your urethra , kidneys or bladder, .
Your urine typically doesnt contain bacteria . Urine is a byproduct of our filtration systemthe kidneys. When waste products and excess water is removed from your blood by the kidneys, urine is created. Normally, urine moves through your urinary system without any contamination. However, bacteria can get into the urinary system from outside of the body, causing problems like infection and inflammation. This is a urinary tract infection .
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How Men Can Prevent Utis
There are things men can do to reduce the chance of getting a UTI. These include:
- Dont hold urine for too long. Bacteria grow in it.
- Drink water to flush your kidneys.
- Practice good hygiene.
- Urinate after sex to flush bacteria from the urethra.
- If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar. High blood sugar can spill into the urine and bacteria thrive on it.
Bladder Infection Risk Factors For Women
Urinary tract infections are common in women, and, unfortunately, many women experience more than one during their lifetime. Risk factors specific to women for UTIs include:
- Female anatomyWomen have shorter urethras than men, so the distance bacteria need to travel to reach the bladder is much less.
- Sexual activitySexually active women tend to have more UTIs than women who are not sexually active. New sexual partners may also increase your risk.
- Certain types of birth control or feminine hygiene productsWomen who use diaphragms and menstrual cups may have a higher risk of UTI, as well as those who use spermicidal agents.
- MenopauseWomen in menopause are naturally producing less estrogen, which can lead to changes in the urinary tract that make them more vulnerable to infection.
If you or a loved one is struggling with a bladder infection, visit Oxford Urgent Care as soon as possible to get the treatment you need to start feeling like yourself again fast. We can also help you identify possible urinary tract infection causes so you can prevent repeat infections in the future. We welcome walk-in appointments 7 days a week from 8 a.m. 7 p.m.
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Causes Of Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are usually caused by bacteria from poo entering the urinary tract.
The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body .
Women have a shorter urethra than men. This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection.
Things that increase the risk of bacteria getting into the bladder include:
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do not use scented soap
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do not hold your pee in if you feel the urge to go
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do not rush when going for a pee try to fully empty your bladder
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do not wear tight, synthetic underwear, such as nylon
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do not drink lots of alcoholic drinks, as they may irritate your bladder
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do not have lots of sugary food or drinks, as they may encourage bacteria to grow
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do not use condoms or a diaphragm or cap with spermicidal lube on them try non-spermicidal lube or a different type of contraception
Tips To Keep Your Bladder Healthy
People rarely talk about bladder health, but everyone is affected by it. Located in the lower abdomen, the bladder is a hollow organ, much like a balloon, that stores urine. Urine contains waste and extra fluid left over after the body takes what it needs from what we eat and drink. Each day, adults pass about a quart and a half of urine through the bladder and out of the body.
As people get older, the bladder changes. The elastic bladder tissue may toughen and become less stretchy. A less flexible bladder cannot hold as much urine as before and might make you go to the bathroom more often. The bladder wall and pelvic floor muscles may weaken, making it harder to empty the bladder fully and causing urine to leak.
While you cant control everything that affects your bladder, here are 15 steps you can take to keep it as healthy as possible:
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Treatment Of Bladder Spasms
How your doctor treats your bladder spasms depends on what exactly is causing your painful symptoms. But in general, therapy may involve one or more of the following treatments. A combination of treatments often works best.
Botox. Botulinum-A toxin has been shown to reduce nerve-related bladder spasms in children and adults. Botox prevents nerves from releasing chemicals that tell muscles to contract. The Botox is injected directly into the bladder muscle wall.
Change in diet. This may help prevent bladder pain if certain foods and beverages are the culprit behind your spasms. Keeping a food diary, which tracks your meals and your symptoms, can be helpful.
Timed voiding. This involves timed trips to the bathroom to urinate, usually every 1.5 to 2 hours. Timed voiding is especially helpful for children. As the bladder spasms get better and fewer wetting accidents occur, you can extend the time between trips to the bathroom.
Pelvic floor exercises . Kegels and other forms of physical therapy help strengthen the bladder and other muscles that help the body hold in urine. Kegels, combined with biofeedback, are often a good way to help reduce bladder spasms in children. To tighten your pelvic muscles, squeeze your muscles in the same way as if you were trying to stop the flow of urine or prevent yourself from passing gas. Kegel exercises take practice, and tightening the wrong muscles can put more pressure on your bladder. Ask your doctor for specific instructions.
How Are Utis Treated
Treatments for UTIs often depend on the severity of the infection. Doctors often divide UTIs into simple and complicated infections.
Bladder infections usually fall into the simple category. Doctors can usually treat them with antibiotics over the course of three to five days. Common antibiotics used to treat bladder infections include trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium.
If you have an infection, you should always take all of your antibiotics, even if you feel better. This keeps the infection from coming back.
Complicated UTIs are harder to treat. Kidney infections usually fall into this category. If you have a complicated UTI, you may require IV antibiotics and have to take antibiotics for a week or more.
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Can Utis Be Prevented
A few things can help prevent UTIs. After peeing, girls should wipe from front to back with toilet paper. After BMs, wipe from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria from the rectal area to the urethra.
Also, go to the bathroom when needed and don’t hold the pee in. Pee that stays in the bladder gives bacteria a good place to grow.
Keep the genital area clean and dry. Girls should change their tampons and pads regularly during their periods. Bubble baths can irritate the vaginal area, so girls should take showers or plain baths. Avoid long exposure to moisture in the genital area by not wearing nylon underwear or wet swimsuits. Wearing underwear with cotton crotches is also helpful. Skip using feminine hygiene sprays or douches, as these can irritate the urethra.
If you are sexually active, go to the bathroom both before and within 15 minutes after sex. After sex, gently wash the genital area to remove any bacteria. Avoid sexual positions that irritate or hurt the urethra or bladder. Couples who use lubrication during sex should use a water-soluble lubricant such as K-Y Jelly.
Finally, drinking lots of water each day keeps the bladder active and bacteria-free.
UTIs are uncomfortable and often painful, but they’re common and easily treated. The sooner you contact your doctor, the sooner you’ll be able to get rid of the problem.