Preventing & Treating Urinary Disorders

The urinary tract is one of the most efficient parts of the human body, cleansing 200 quarts of fluid every 24 hours. However, as it processes all of this liquid, it is also susceptible to breaking down. About 10 million people visit the doctor each year regarding urinary tract infections (UTIs). In fact, only respiratory infections bring people to the doctor more frequently than UTIs. While women are more prone to UTIs than men or chidren, urinary disorders affect everyone.

• 1 in 5 women will suffer from cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder, at some time in her life.
• 20% of women who have a UTI also get a second infection.
• 30% of those with the second infection are likely to get a third.
• At least 10 million adults currently suffer from some degree urinary incontinence, an inability to hold urine.
• After menopause, urinary tract problems increase.
• 1-2% of children will develop urinary tract infections.

How Does our Urinary Tract Work?
Our urinary tract is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Dispelling waste in the form of urine follows this process:

1. The kidneys filter waste fluid from the blood and eliminate it in the form of urine. 
2. The urine travels from the kidneys to the bladder through narrow tubes called ureters. Women have smaller ureters than men, making them more prone to urinary disorders.
3. The bladder, a ball-shaped receptacle in the lower abdomen, stores the urine until it expelled from the body through the urethra.

What Causes Urinary Tract Disorders?
Normally, the urine processed by our urinary tract is sterile. When bacteria from the digestive tract build up and multiply at the opening of the urethra, a variety of urinary tract infections can occur.

Urinary disorders can also occur from the following: 

• blockages in the urinary tract
• catheters
• changes in hormone levels
• lowered immunity
• prostate enlargement
• structural abnormalities.

Women who use a diaphragm may also be prone to UTIs.

What are the Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections?
Any of the following symptoms may be a sign of a urinary disorder:

• Back pain indicates a swollen bladder that is putting pressure on back muscles.
• Bladder pain, even when not urinating. This pain is caused by pressure above the pubic bone in women and fullness in the rectum in men. 
• Blood in the urine indicates that a UTI has traveled to the kidneys, a serious complication of the condition that should be treated immediately. 
• Feeling of tiredness 
• Fever or chills
• Irritability
• For children or infants: irritability; loss of appetite; unexplained, persistent fever; incontinence or loose bowels; a change in urinary patterns; or a generally unhealthy appearance
• Frequent urge to urinate but only passing a bit of urine at a time is an indication of infection.
• Milky or cloudy urine results from a build up of bacteria.
• Painful, burning sensation in the area of the bladder or urethra during urination is a common symptom.

Treatments for Urinary Tract Infections
The normal course of treatment for UTIs is a seven to ten day regimen of antibiotics, depending on whether the bladder or the kidneys are infected. While women may receive an extended antibiotics treatment to prevent a recurrence, men have to take a longer course of antibiotics if the UTI has infected the prostate gland.

Treating a UTI as soon as symptoms arise is important because, if left untreated, the infection will spread to the kidneys. A severe kidney infection usually requires hospitalization and several weeks of antibiotic treatment.

Preventing Urinary Disorders
Here are some ways to prevent getting a UTI:

• Avoid using feminine hygiene sprays and scented douches that can irritate the urethra. 
• Cleanse the genital area before sex and empty the bladder immediately afterward. 
• Drink cranberry juice or take supplements of vitamin C daily. 
• Drink plenty water and other hydrating fluids.
• Never resist the urge to urinate. 
• Regularly wash the genital area thoroughly with soap and water after defecating to prevent bacteria from the anal area from entering the vagina.
• Take showers instead of baths.
• Wipe from front to back.