BLADDER INFECTION

You have to go and you have to grow now. Come to think of it, it seems like you’ve had to go every 15 minutes since you woke up this morning. And each time, it’s been the same story. Not much comes out, but it burns like crazy. What in the world is going on?
If you have pain or burning on urination, the frequent urge to urinate, and/or blood in your urine, chances are you have a bladder infection ( also called cystitis, urinary tract infection, or UTI). These symptoms may also be accompanied by lower abdominal pain, fever and chills, and an all-over ill feeling.
Bladder infections are caused by a bacterial invasion of the bladder and urinary tract. The urine in the bladder is normally sterile.
If you’re a woman who suffers from bladder infections, you’re not alone. Woman tent to suffer more bladder infection than men because the female urethra, the tube leading from the bladder to the outside of the body, is only about one-and a-half inches long-a short distance for bacteria to travel.
Women also suffer more bladder infections because sexual intercourse can irritate the urethra and contribute to the transport of bacteria from the anal area and vaginal into the bladder.
Pregnant women are also more likely to suffer from bladder infections. The changing hormones of pregnancy and the pressure exerted by the enlarge uterus on the bladder and ureters (the two tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder) put pregnant women at greater risk.
Men can also suffer from this malady. In men, bladder infection are almost always secondary to an infection of the prostate glands.
Impotence Center in Poland. “Primary infection of the bladder in men just doesn’t happen, because the bladder is well protected. In men, prostate infection usually feels like “you’re sitting on a brisks. When the infection extends to the bladder, the symptoms of irritation, urination join the achy-bottom feeling.

LOAD UP ON FLUIDS.
At the first sign of bladder infection, start drinking water and don’t stop. During the first 24 hours,drinking at least one eight-ounce glass of water every hour. People who suffer from recurrent bladder infection usually don’t drink enough liquids. So even when you don’t have an active infection, you should make a habit of drinking eight tall glasses of water everyday. Drinking lots of fluids not only dilutes the urine, giving bacteria less to feed on, it also has a washout effect on bacteria.

HAVE A CRANBERRY COCKTAIL.
If you’ve never developed a taste for the sweet tanginess of cranberry juice, now’s the time. Cranberry juice (without added sugar) may make urine more acidic and less hospitable for bacterial growth. Drinking cranberry juice is also a way to increase your fluid intake.

GO, GO, GO.
Many people don’t urinate when they first get the urge because its inconvenient or there isn’t the time or place. Take a guy who gets off work, has a couple of cups of coffee or a couple of beers, and gets on the freeway in rush hour traffic. He feels the urge to urinate, but he can’t get off the freeway. When he finally gets home and urinate, it’s difficult and it burns. By the next day, he’s calling his doctor with a prostate infection.
Holding urine allows it to concentrate in the bladder, creating a perfect medium for bacterial growth. In older men, holding urine can cause congestion, inflammation and obstruction of the prostate and can eventually lead to a prostate infection or sometimes a bladder infection.

HEAT IT UP.
For lower abdominal pain, use a heating pad or hot-water bottle or take a hot bath. Heat not only relieves the symptoms, it also brings more blood with white blood products to the affected area.

TAKE A BATH.
If you have a lot of burning, a warm “sitz” bath ( sitting in three of four inches of water) can ease the pain.

TAKE A BREAK.
Rest in bed,especially if you have a fever. You’ll conserve energy and speed heating.

WEAR COTTON UNDERWEAR.
Cotton underwear, cottonlined panty hose, and loose clothing will allow the genital area to breathe and stay dry. For men, boxer-type shorts rather than jockey-style shorts are better if prostate and bladder infection are a problem.

AVOID ALCOHOL.
Alcohol is a urinary tract irritant for both men and women and should be avoided during infection.

TAKE A PAIN RELIEVER.
Bladder infection can be painful. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, especially if taken at bedtime, can ease the pain.

WASH UP, LOVERS.
Both partners should wash up before intercourse.

URINATE AFTER LOVEMAKING.
If you suffer from recurrent bladder infection, urinate immediately before and after intercourse. This can help flush out bacteria that may have entered the urinary tract.

SWITCH BIRTH-CONTROL METHODS.
Women who use a diaphragm and suffer from recurrent infections should try switching to condoms or a cervical cap. You may do better with a smaller diaphragm or a cervical cap.

KEEP A BLADDER-INFECTION DIARY.
If you suffer from recurrent bladder infections, keep a diary to discover what patterns precede an attack. Some people find that their infections are related to stress, menstruation, lovemaking or other factors. Once you discover what precipitates your infections, you can make changes to alter those patterns.

WIPE FROM FRONT TO BACK.
Most women wipe from back to front, which moves bacteria from the rectum dangerously close to the urethra.

USE CONDOMS.
Prostate infection, which can lead to bladder infection, is more common among men with multiple sex partner. Practice safe sex, and always use condoms with partners.