There are just some problems that men pray hard for to never ever experience. These problems normally occur in certain parts of their bodies that they are very protective of. When a specific body part of this nature experiences an infection, they must seek professional help, which a lot of times, they feel uneasy doing. Some will even be too proud or embarrassed to seek professional help as they do not want anyone to know about their problem. An example of such a problem is bladder infection or Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). UTI’s may be a sign of more serious problems that range from easily treatable infections to life-threatening conditions such as prostate cancer.
What is Urinary Tract Infection?
Urinary Tract Infection is a common condition that regularly affects men and women, more especially women at the ages of 40 years and above. A urinary tract infection normally occurs in your urinary system. This consists of: the kidneys, bladder, and urethra. The urethra is the tube that connects the bladder to the genitals and is responsible for urine being transported outside your body by means urination. Most infections affect the lower urinary tract, which includes your bladder and urethra. The symptoms of urinary tract infections are:
– Frequent urinations
– Level of urgency in urinating
– Dysuria (burning or stinging sensation while urinating)
– Occasional bleeding in the urine
– Dark urine color
– Occasional bladder spasm
– Pelvic/back pain
When the symptoms include high fever, chills, and back pains, this may indicate a more serious infection. These are normally treated with antibiotics that need to be taken over a period of time.
What are the causes of urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infections are more common in women than men; however, men can still get affected and the infection can be more complicated. Urinary tract infections are usually caused by bacteria called E.coli bacteria that enters your urinary tract through the urethra and accumulates in your bladder. The E.coli
bacteria usually originate from your intestines and it can be found in your rectal area. This infection can also be a result of your urinary tract’s natural defense mechanisms failing to fight the accumulation of bacteria in your bladder.
Another cause of urinary tract infection stems from sexually transmitted diseases (STI) such as herpes, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. This is why condoms are a must at all times!!
How to avoid urinary tract infection
Avoid having to experience painful urinations and a trip to the hospital by drinking a lot of water constantly. This will ensure that your urine is white in color and that there is a constant removal of toxins and bacteria from your body. When you have urine that is yellowish to dark orange, this means that you have a lot of toxins in your urine. This may be an indication that you have bacteria in your urinary tract.
If you are sexually active, you must always wear a condom because this eliminates bacteria transferring into your penis while participating in intercourse. You may also take certain vitamins such as vitamin E as well as having a non-fatdiet in your daily lives.
Steps to maintain urinary tract health
1. The first step in caring and maintain your urinary tract health will be to look at your medical history and determine whether there’s a history of urinary tract infections.
2. You will need to undergo a physical exam, wherein your urine will be examined by a microscope called a Urinalysis. This is a microscopic examination that thoroughly examines the physical and chemical properties of your urine.
3. Your urine will also be sent to a laboratory for a culture. This is where your doctor will be able to identify the types of bacteria or organisms that cause the infection. From there, the appropriate type of antibiotics will be selected by your doctor to treat your urinary tract infection.
4.In some cases, depending on the level of infection, you will need to undergo an abdominal ultrasound, a computer tomography or CT exam, and a cystoscopy, which is the careful examination of the inside of your urethra and bladder.
How to treat urinary tract infection
A simple, uncomplicated urinary tract infection can usually be treated with antibiotics such as: Amoxicillin, Nitrofurantoin, and Bactrim. The symptoms normally clear up within a week to two weeks, depending on the level of infection. You will also need to follow the instructions given to you by your doctor and finish the entire amount of antibiotics prescribed for your treatment. This will ensure the total eradication of your infection so that you may return to a normal life.
There are a number of people who stop taking their prescribed medication after they have started feeling better. This is a very bad idea since bacteria is resilient and may come back if not completely removed from your system.
Another tip that you will need to follow is that you must avoid being tempted to drink lesser water. This is because you will not want to feel the pain of urinating regularly. In drinking a lot of water, you will aid the antibiotics that you take, in flushing out the bacteria accumulated in your urinary tract. It is also extremely helpful if you drink juices and liquids that have vitamin C. You must also be very aware of what you are allergic to. If you take medications that you are allergic to, you may develop more complications. This is why consulting your doctor should always be your first move.
Other facts about urinary tract infection that you should know:
– If you have a recurring urinary tract infection, which stems from sexual intimacy, this can be treated by a single dose of antibiotics after sexual intimacy.
– A bladder infection can become a kidney infection if not treated immediately. The bacteria in the bladder can be transported to the ureters, and then into the kidneys.
– Kidney infections can develop in a serious chronic infection that may affect you for life by developing into kidney failure, which leads to death.
