If You Have a U.T.I.

If you have a urinary tract infection, or UTI, you're probably thinking about peeing/urinating quite a lot.Why? Because it stings when you go-yow! You also might have the feeling that  you need to go to the bathroom all the time.And when you do phew!Your pee smells bad.

These changes occur because bacteria have caused an infection somewhere in your urinary tract.Lets find out more.

What exactly is the urinary tract?

Your urinary tract is actually a system made up of six main parts: Your two kidneys,two ureters,bladder and urethra.The kidneys clean waste products from your blood. The waste becomes urine,which drips into the ureters (long thin tubes, one connected to each kidney). From there,the urine travels through the ureters down to the bladder.

When it's empty your bladder is about the same size as an empty balloon. IT Looks like one.Then the bladder slowly fills up with the urine coming from the kidneys. When you have about a cup (237 milliliters) of urine in your bladder your brain tells you it's time to find a bathroom.

Once you're ready to pee, you relax a set  of muscles at the bottom of your bladder. That lets the urine rush into the urethra,a tube that leads from your bladder out of your body.

Urinary tract troubles

Women are more likely than man to get UTI. That's because their urethras are much shorter than boys urethras.The shorter urethra means bacteria  can get up into the bladder more easily and cause an infection there.

The bacteria that cause UTI is normally lice in your intestines. Each time you have a bowel movement (poop), some of these bacteria come out of your body. If they aren't wiped away properly, they stay on your skin. In girls, this means they can grow near the opening of the urethra because their urethras are closer to where they wipe. From there bacteria can get inside the urethra, causing irritation to the urethra.This is called urethritis.

Sometimes the harmful bacteria keep spreading.From the bladder,they may head into one of the ureters and climb up into a kidney. This type of UTI is called pyelonephritis, or a kidney infection, and it's serious because it can damage the kidney and make you very sick.

How to do i know if I have UTI?

You may notice signs of a urinary tract infection before any one else can see there's anything wrong with you. That's why it's important to know you're having peeing problems. Ask your self these question :

Does it hurt or sting when you urinate/pee?

Do you have to go to the bathroom much more often than normal?

Can you only pee/urinate a little bit at a time?

Do you have to get up many times in the night to pee/urinate?

Do you feel pain, pressure, or a tickle in your lower belly?

Is there blood in your urine?

Is your urine cloudy?

Does it smell bad when you urinate?

These are signs and symptoms of a bladder infection, so based on your answers, you must consult your doctor as soon as possible.

If you have any of those symptoms, plus you feel feverish, have chills, or have pain in your belly or back, just under your lower ribs. These are signs of a kidney infection and you should see a doctor right away.

What will the doctor do?

First, your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms. If your doctors thinks you have a UTI, he or she wants to test your urine. You'll have to go to a bathroom and pee into a plastic cup.

Your doctor will give you special wipes to clean your self off before you collect the pee. This is so your urine sample won't contain germs from outside your body.  If the doctor finds germs in your pee, it's a sign of infection and he or she will want to be sure those germs are coming from the inside, not the outside. Some bacteria on the outside is normal and aren't necessarily causing the problem on the inside.

One way the doctor can test your pee is to dip a special kind of stick into your cup of urine. The stick has specially treated paper on it and if it turns a certain color, it means you have a UTI. The doctor also can choose to send the urine sample to a lab for testing. If it turns out you have bladder infection, your doctor will order some medicine for you to take to kill the bacteria.

You'll go home, and take it easy, and you'll start feeling better in a few days. You"ll also want to stay away from foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as cola or tea. Caffeine can irritate your bladder, making you even more uncomfortable.

Bye-bye, UTI

Once you've had a UTI, you'll never want to have one again! To keep those bacteria out of the urinary tract, take these steps:

Keep clean. Wash your private parts every day when you take a bath or shower.

If you're a girl, always wipe from front to back when you go to the bathroom.

Don't hold it. If you have to go, go.

When you're thirsty, drink something, no matter how busy you are. Water and cranberry juice are two good choices. Those tips to the bathroom can help wash bacteria out of your body and cranberry juice can actually help prevent another infection.

If you're a girl, think twice about taking bubble baths because they can bother the urethra.

Wear cotton underwear. Nylon underwear traps moisture near you body, especially when it's hot out side. Bacteria love to grow in warm moist places.

By DR. GARY S. SY

mb.com.ph

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