Urinary Health
The urinary tract is the body's filtering system for removal of liquid wastes. Women have a shorter urinary tract than men and are especially susceptible to bacteria that may invade the urinary tract and multiply - resulting in infection known as a urinary tract infection, or UTI.
Although most UTIs are not serious, they can be a
...Read more painful nuisance. Approximately 50 percent of all women will have at least one UTI in their lifetime with many women having several infections throughout their lifetime. Some women are more prone to recurrent UTIs than others and for them it can be an ongoing battle.
Please contact your GP or Health Provider should your symptoms worsen or constantly reoccur. Untreated urinary infections may lead to kidney infection. If there is blood in the urine please consult your healthcare provider.
Bladder infections are characterized by an urgent desire to empty the bladder. Urination is typically frequent and painful, even after the bladder has been emptied, there may be a desire to urinate again. The urine often has a strong, unpleasant odour and may appear cloudy.
What Causes Urinary Tract Infections? -
The most common cause of UTIs are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin near the rectum or in the vagina, which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra. Once these bacteria enter the urethra, they travel upward, causing infection in the bladder and sometimes other parts of the urinary tract.
Sexual intercourse is a common cause of urinary tract infections. During sexual activity, bacteria in the vaginal area are sometimes massaged into the urethra. It is recommended that women urinate immediately before and after intercourse to reduce the risk of infection
Another cause of bladder infections or UTI is waiting too long to urinate. The bladder is a muscle that stretches to hold urine and contracts when the urine is released. Waiting too long past the time you first feel the need to urinate can cause the bladder to stretch beyond its capacity. Over time, this can weaken the bladder muscle. When the bladder is weakened, it may not empty completely and some urine is left in the bladder. This may increase the risk of urinary tract infections or bladder infections.
There is some evidence to suggest that food intolerance can product cystitis in some people. If you think this may be a factor for you then you could try a food intolerance test and then avoid any suspected allergens.
The treatment for UTIs could include –
• immediately drinking copious amounts of water. Also include unsweetened cranberry juice in you diet.
• Wear cotton underwear and after a bowel motion, wipe from front to back only
• It is also best not to take bathes when you feel any vaginal irritation. Also avoid any perfumes, strong soaps or deodorants in the vaginal area
• If you suffer from frequent urinary tract infections, use sanitary pads rather than tampons
• Do not delay in emptying the bladder. Making sure that you urinate every two to three waking hours
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and carbonated drinks.
Supplements to consider may be Cranberry, D-Mannose, Dandilion, Juniper, Buchu, Vitamin C and probiotics. Please contact our Nutri Centre nutritionists to discuss which supplements may be suitable for you.
Another common complaint is incontence.
There are several types of urinary incontinence, but the most common are:
• stress incontinence, when the pelvic floor muscles are too weak to prevent urination, causing urine to leak when your bladder is under pressure, for example when you cough or laugh
• urge incontinence, when urine leaks at the same time or just after you feel an intense urge to pass urine
These two types of urinary incontinence are thought to be responsible for over 9 out of 10 cases. It is also possible to have a mixture of both stress and urge urinary incontinence.
Pelvic floor exercises are very important. You may also want to consider supplementation of various nutrients. Please contact our nutritionists for advice on which products may be suitable for you.
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