Nobody ever wants to have any kind of infection in their body. It’s not pleasant to be sick even if it’s a mild sickness. And when things go wrong in your body, it tends to affect everything else in your life, too – your moods, your sleep schedule, even your appetite. And a bladder infection is a very good example of an infection that’s particularly annoying. Bladder infections, also known as urinary tract infections, are a bacterial infection that can affect any part of the urinary tract. The urinary tract actually consists of more than one part – it includes the kidneys, ureters, urethra and bladder. The kidneys are responsible for ridding the body of excess waste – they remove waste from the blood and turn it into urine, which is then passed through the body naturally. It’s the job of narrow tubes known as ureters to carry that urine from the kidneys and into the bladder. Once in the bladder, the urine is stored until it is emptied. Most of the time, urine is sterile – it does not contain any kinds of viruses, fungi or bacteria; it contains instead salts, fluids and other waste products. However, on occasion bacteria from the digestive tract cling to the opening in the urethra, the part of the urinary tract that actually carries urine from the bladder out of the body. When it does this, the bacteria begin to multiply, which causes an infection. Doctors have determined that nearly 85% of all bladder infections are caused by something called Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli. When this bacteria passes through food into the body and through the urethra, it gets inside the body’s bladder and causes a bladder infection. Bladder infections are the second most common type of infection that occurs in the body – in fact, they are so common that somewhere around 8.3 million people a year visit a doctor because they have a bladder infection. Women in particular are far more likely to get sick with bladder infections; however, when they occur in men, they are often more serious. Bladder infections in only the urethra is known as urethritis. However, if that infection also moves to the bladder and multiplies, that infection is known as cystitis. And if the infection travels even further, it can eventually reach the kidneys were it becomes pyelonephritis. Symptoms of bladder infections include things like an increase in urine production that’s far above average. This can also result in an increase in thirst. It’s also very common to experience burning or pain when actually urinating, something known as dysuria. It’s also common to experience either bladder spasms or to have the feeling of having urinate even when no urine actually comes out. Some people even report bloody or cloud urine. Fevers can also be a symptom of a bladder infection but more often that is one of the signs of a kidney infection, which is a very serious health issue. If someone is experiencing the above symptoms as well as symptoms like chills, fever or nausea, it’s important that they see a doctor immediately to avoid kidney damage. Treatment for a bladder infection must come from a doctor. They will most often prescribe antibiotics which must be taken at specific times for a specific period of time. In order to confirm that the infection has cleared up, doctors will often take urine samples to run cultures on. It should be noted that symptoms will not abate immediately upon starting antibiotics – it often takes time. Make sure to drink plenty of water while you have the infection; cranberry juice also has positive affects on a bladder infection. Always consult your doctor before using this information. This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
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