June 18th, 2008What is a Bladder Infection?
A bladder infection is an infection of the urinary tract, often called a UTI (urinary tract infection). More common in women than in men, a bladder infection is quickly and easily treated with a course of antibiotics but if left untreated can be very dangerous. Bladder infections are not transmitted from person to person; you usually acquire one from your own bacteria, most often E. coli, which lives in human feces. Still, the commencement of sexual activity often triggers a bladder infection and some old-school doctors might still refer to it as the ‘honeymoon disease’, since new brides often acquire it on their honeymoon.
The first sign of a bladder infection is the feeling that you need to urinate, yet you produce little urine and the ‘full’ feeling doesn’t go away. This should be your first sign to go to the doctor for antibiotics, because ignoring the symptoms will only cause you further pain. An untreated bladder infection will result in painful urination or the inability to urinate at all.
Eventually, a bladder infection will reach the kidneys. A kidney infection is nothing to fool around with - the pain alone will drive you to the nearest doctor. Kidney infections can be accompanied by dangerously high fevers and can lead to permanent kidney damage, so treat a bladder infection at the first sign of difficulty in urinating.
Some people are prone to recurring bouts of bladder infections. This is probably due to the size and shape of the urethra. If you find yourself getting one bladder infection after another, change some habits. Drink lots of water, as it flushes and cleans the urinary tract.
Do urinate often. Many people try to ‘hold it’ as long as they can in the belief that this will expand their bladder and give them more control. Don’t vie for your office’s ‘iron bladder’ award - frequent trips to the bathroom will keep your urinary tract healthier in the long run.
Consider adding cranberry juice to your diet, as it will add hippuric acid to your system, acidifying the urinary tract and making it more difficult for a bacterial infection to get started. Make sure to use pure cranberry juice, and not juice ‘cocktail’, which contains too much sugar. If you don’t want to drink cranberry juice, you can buy cranberry in pill form at your local health food store.
Tags: bladder infection, bladder infections