Are you experiencing pain or burning sensation all the time when urinating? Frequent urination and back pain? You must not get used to it and pay no attention at all.
These may be signs that you have Urinary Tract Infection or UTI. A disease that can be  classified in a three letter acronym doesn’t mean that it has to be ignored. UTI is an infection to the urinary tract consisting of the kidney and ureter as parts of the upper urinary tract and the bladder and urethra on the lower urinary tract.
But do you know the causes of UTI and where do disease-causing bacteria of this infection come from? Poor hygiene is the most common cause why our urinary tract has been penetrated by disease-causing bacteria. Unobserved proper hygiene allows germs and bacteria to build its home in different areas in the body.
Women are said to be more susceptible to UTI than men because of the women anatomy. Moreover, there are actually women who are prone to repetitive infection.
Sexual intercourse is also a possible ground of getting infected by UTI. In fact, UTI and sexually transmitted diseases share the same signs and symptoms. Through sexual intercourse, the bacteria in the vaginal area are rubbed down and enter the urethra causing the infection to break in.
 Of course, improper urination can definitely caused you an infection. Urinating is a form of excreting waste fluids in the body. Thus, it is necessary to do it regularly and properly. Whenever we get hold of urination, our bladder expands more than its capabilities. And when you finally release it, the bladder will not be drained completely hence there will be waste left in the bladder. These residues will cause the infection.
The following are the signs and symptoms that you have to look after, remember, the rule is that the upper the part or the urinary tract is infected, the serious it becomes.
For lower urinary tract infection, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Pain or burning when urinating Urgency. You may feel a sudden urge to urinate and cannot get hold of it
- Frequent urinating but expels only a few drops of urine
- A cloudy and bad odor urine and for some, with blood
- Lower abdominal pain
- Mild fever
- Furthermore, for upper urinary tract infections, a more serious signs and symptoms are to be seen which include the following:
- High fever and chills
- Nausea
- Vomiting
As soon as you feel and observed such signs and symptoms, it is important to seek medical assistance to prevent occurrence of any disease. UTI can easily infect a person but following some prevention tips can still help in keeping ourselves away from various diseases.
- Do not delay urination. Urinate as soon as you felt the urge to urinate to eliminate
 bladder infection and damage
- Drink lots of water and urinate as often as possible. It is important to frequently clean and drain you bladder
- Take Vitamin C supplements as it can help to acidify the urine
- Drink cranberry juice for it is said to effective in preventing UTI.
For women, since they are in a greater risk of UTI, they definitely need to practice proper hygiene and be mindful of the following:
- Wipe from front to back to avoid germs from the anus to enter the urethra
- Try to avoid feminine sprays and scented douches/ medicinal or cleansing agents as they can irritate the urethra
- When engaging into a sexual intercourse, wash before and after and most importantly, urinate after.
Remember that ways of disposing waste in the body should be a good process that needs to be practiced and should not bring anything but wellness. Follow a clean and healthy living to prevent any diseases.
References:
http://www.edupics.com/images/results/photo:0/query:urine
http://www.edupics.com/en-coloring-pictures-pages-photo-toilet-i14230.html
http://www.edupics.com/en-coloring-pictures-pages-photo-urinary-system-kydneys-and-bladder-i16022.html
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