Saturday, March 23, 2024

Can A Urinary Tract Infection Make You Tired

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Are Some Women More At Risk For Utis

Urinary Tract Infections

Yes. You may be at greater risk for a UTI if you:1,5

  • Are sexually active. Sexual activity can move germs that cause UTIs from other areas, such as the vagina, to the urethra.
  • Use a diaphragm for birth control or use spermicides with a diaphragm or with condoms. Spermicides can kill good bacteria that protect you from UTIs.
  • Are pregnant. Pregnancy hormones can change the bacteria in the urinary tract, making UTIs more likely. Also, many pregnant women have trouble completely emptying the bladder, because the uterus with the developing baby sits on top of the bladder during pregnancy. Leftover urine with bacteria in it can cause a UTI.
  • Have gone through menopause. After menopause, loss of the hormone estrogen causes vaginal tissue to become thin and dry. This can make it easier for harmful bacteria to grow and cause a UTI.
  • Have diabetes, which can lower your immune system and cause nerve damage that makes it hard to completely empty your bladder
  • Have any condition, like a kidney stone, that may block the flow of urine between your kidneys and bladder
  • Have or recently had a catheter in place. A catheter is a thin tube put through the urethra into the bladder. Catheters drain urine when you cannot pass urine on your own, such as during surgery.

What Are The 3 Types Of Fatigue

There are three types of fatigue: transient, cumulative, and circadian:

  • Transient fatigue is acute fatigue brought on by extreme sleep restriction or extended hours awake within 1 or 2 days.
  • Cumulative fatigue is fatigue brought on by repeated mild sleep restriction or extended hours awake across a series of days.

Theres Blood In Your Urine

Pink, red or cola-coloured urine can seem scary, but its usually not a sign of anything life-threatening. Its often present when you are suffering from a UTI, but there are other reasons it can happen, ranging from something as simple as having just eaten beets to kidney stones and certain cancers. Bottom line: It should be checked out.

Also Check: Urinary Tract Yeast Infection Treatment

When Should I Worry

An unchecked UTI can turn into a very serious kidney infection. In can also become a blood infection if you do not treat it right away, or turn into a life-threatening problem. A UTI may happen anywhere along the urinary tract, though some parts are more problematic than others. For example, the urethra is easier to deal with than the opposite end your kidneys.

The best time to worry and do something about it? The second you realize you have a UTI. If treated properly and early on, a UTI is barely a problem and is more of an annoyance, as it may itch or burn. Unchecked, however, it can lead to serious consequences.

Uti Symptoms: The Why And The What

11 Home Remedies For UTI

Lots of things can cause a UTI, but they all boil down to the presence of bacteriasomethings there that shouldnt be. There are several reasons why, but sex is a big one. In fact, nearly 80 percent of premenopausal women diagnosed with a UTI, have had sex within the previous 24 hours.2 During sex, bacteria from the genital area and the anus can come into contact with the urethra and after a quick trip up the urethra, it causes inflammation. The use of diaphragms and spermicide can also contribute to the development of UTIs, as could sex with a new partner or frequent intercourse.2One reason women are especially at-risk has to do with basic plumbinga womans urethra is significantly shorter than a mans, which means that the bacteria have a shorter distance to travel in order to cause infection. Also, in women, the opening of the urethra is closer to the anusmaking the trip for bacteria even shorter.3Other causes for UTIs range from simple things like holding your pee for too long, instances of extreme dehydration, stones in your kidneys or bladder, to catheterization or certain chronic conditions like diabetes.

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How Do You Get Kidney Infection

Many times, it occurs when bacteria enter the opening of tube that carries urine from the bladder. They can multiply and move upward. First, the bladder gets infected and then the kidneys. Many times, these bacteria are a type called E. coli.

Bacteria can get into the urinary tract in several different ways. But they usually spread from anus to urethra. For instance, bacteria can enter into urethra if we wipe our bottom and the soiled toilet paper accidentally touches the genitals.

The kidneys are important to help keep normal, healthy-balanced blood. They are responsible of what to keep and what to remove in the blood. And therefore, any bad things in the blood may also affect your kidneys.

In less common cases, fungi or bacteria can spread to the kidneys through bloodstream. Many infections in other parts of the body can go into the bloodstream. And kidney infection can occur through this route, though its unusual.

For instances, bacteria that infect the skin can spread to the bloodstream which then may eventually go to the kidneys. In rare cases, the infection occurs after a kidney surgery. The use of artificial heart valve or joint may also increase the risk of infection.

*Image credit to Mayo

Furthermore, the problem can also be attributed by a number of different factors. Generally, the risk of getting kidney infection is high in people with:

Infection in another organ of urinary system
Urinary tract obstruction
Gender
If you use a urinary catheter
What else?

Kidney Infection Symptoms And Complications

Typically, the infection causes painful urination . This discomfort may also be followed with other symptoms such as:

  • Changes in urination such as frequent urination, feeling of unable to urinate fully, or persistent-strong urge to urinate. You may also have cloudy, bad-smell urine.
  • Pain in the lower back, side , groin, or around genital area. Sometime, the infection may cause abdominal pain, too.
  • Feeling sick or/and high fever, up to 103.1 Fahrenheit .
  • Fatigue .
  • Change in bowel movement, especially such as diarrhea.
  • Or even blood found in the urine .
  • The symptoms can develop quickly, within a few hours. Kidney infection can be serious and should not be left untreated the treatment is necessary!

    With quick and appropriate treatment, it should be harmless and doesnt pose to other health risks, though it often makes patient feel very unwell. If the infection is left untreated, it can be potential to cause serious complications such as:

  • The risk of kidney damage, leading to chronic kidney disease.
  • The infection may spread to blood circulation, causing septicemia . Again, the kidneys play a role to remove bad things and keep necessary things from the bloodstream. If they get infected, there is a chance for the bacteria to spread in the blood.
  • If the infection occurs during pregnancy, this may cause pregnancy complications such as delivering babies with low birth weight.
  • Recommended Reading: Causes Of Urinary Incontinence In Females

    What Can Happen If A Uti Is Not Treated

    If treated right away, a UTI is not likely to damage your urinary tract. But if your UTI is not treated, the infection can spread to the kidneys and other parts of your body. The most common symptoms of kidney infection are fever and pain in the back where the kidneys are located. Antibiotics can also treat kidney infections.

    Sometimes the infection can get in the bloodstream. This is rare but life-threatening.

    What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Utis

    Urinary Tract Infections, Animation.

    UTIs can cause such signs as:

    • pain, burning, or a stinging sensation when peeing
    • an increased urge or more frequent need to pee
    • fever
    • waking up at night a lot to go to the bathroom
    • belly pain in the area of the bladder
    • foul-smelling pee that may look cloudy or contain blood

    If you have any symptoms of a UTI, you’ll need to go to a doctor right away. The sooner you begin treatment, the less uncomfortable you’ll be. Call your doctor’s office or clinic. If you can’t reach your doctor, you can visit an urgent care center or hospital emergency room. The most important thing is to take action as soon as possible.

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    Bladder Infection Symptoms In Women

    Would you recognize any of these?

    At 22 years old, I found myself in bed one day, ditching work with an on-and-off-again fever of 104 degrees F. Besides the standard feverish chills and sweats, nothing else seemed wrong with me, so I attributed my temperature to the flu.

    But one day of fever turned into three, which turned into five. Id never had a fever that turned on and off like a light switch, so I finally decided to call the doctor. When I described symptoms, he immediately had me pee in a cup and diagnosed me with the one condition Id never considered: a bladder infection.

    Id had a few other bladder infections in my life, but they were always accompanied by a searing sensation when I urinated, so it never crossed my mind. What I know now: Theres more than one way to experience a bladder infection .

    A bladder infection is a type of urinary tract infection and most UTIs are bladder infections, says Jessica Shepherd, M.D., a Chicago-based ob-gyn.

    Women are, unfortunately, about 30 times more likely than men to get a bladder infection because our urethras are shorter and closer to our vagina and anus, making it easier for infection-causing bacteria to make their way into the urinary tract, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    While theres no normal when it comes to toilet habits, if youre going more than eight times a day, or more than twice an hour, thats probably too much, says Shepherd.

    What Is A Urinary Tract Infection

    A urinary tract infection is an infection in the urinary tract, which runs from your kidneys, through the ureters, the urinary bladder and out through the urethra. UTIs are very common and, in general, easy to treat.

    A lower UTI, the more common type, affects the lower part of the urinary tract, the urethra and urinary bladder. Infection of the urethra is called urethritis and of the bladder is called cystitis. If the kidney is infected, called pyelonephritis, this is an upper UTI, as the kidney is the highest part of the urinary tract.

    A UTI can be caused by bacteria or a fungus.

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    Silent Utis: How They Start

    That weekend was supposed to be so fun. I always looked forward to hosting my grandchildren, who lived 45 miles away, overnight. But this time my extreme fatigue stole most of the energy and joy from our precious time together. The strange thing is, it wasnt the I probably did too much yesterday kind of fatigue. It was concerning, Mashunkashey said. That heavy blanket of fatigue covered me the rest of the week. All I wanted to do was lie down, and that just wasnt like me Im not a napping kind of person. She visited her doctor to ask about the exhaustion, but her doctor couldnt provide an answer.

    This wasnt like other health issues Id had in the past, though. Years earlier I was prone to urinary tract infections. I once had six in the span of six months. I dreaded that unmistakable backache, the painful urination, and the urgency to pee, not to mention the doctors appointments and prescription co-pays for all those antibiotics. Thankfully, I seemed to have outgrown UTIs, but this new health complaint was such a mystery It worried me, Mashunkashey said.

    How Do You Get A Urinary Tract Infection

    8 UTI Symptoms All Women Should Know

    Because of the differences in anatomy, women are much more likely to get UTI than men. The opening of a womans urethra is located in close proximity to her vagina and anus which can both be potential sources of infection. The female anatomy creates more opportunities for fungi and bacteria to enter the urinary tract through the urethra. In addition, the length of the female urethra is shorter than a males, allowing an infection to spread more quickly from the urethra to the bladder and on up through the urinary tract.

    Beyond anatomical differences, sexual activity and menopause also make women more vulnerable to UTIs than men. Sexual intercourse increases the potential for fungi and bacteria to enter a womans urethra. Frequent intercourse and intercourse with multiple partners increase the potential for infection even more. 80% of pre-menopausal women with UTI report having had sexual intercourse within the previous 24 hours. Post-menopausal womens bodies produce lower levels of estrogen than pre-menopausal women. Estrogen may be helpful in preventing the overgrowth of E. coli bacteria in the urethra and vagina. As a womans estrogen levels decrease, E. coli may be allowed to grow unchecked and cause an infection.

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    How Do You Get Urinary Tract Infections

    The design of the human body makes it so it isnt hard to get a bacterial UTI, because the infection comes from outside, through the urethra. Bacteria in the genital area can enter the urethra and the urinary tract, either because wiping after going to the bathroom, sexual activity, or unsanitary conditions. Once the bacteria have entered the urethra, the body tries fight them off, but sometimes the bacteria multiply and cause an infection.

    In the case of a fungal infection, usually the fungus gets to the urinary tract through the blood stream. Those who develop this type of infection are usually ill with a disease that has compromised their immune system, such as AIDS.

    In general, women get more UTIs than do men and this increases with age. Statistics show that many women get more than one. Almost 20% of women who have had one UTI will go on to have a second. Of this 20%, 30% of those will have a third, and in turn, 80% of these women will have more.

    Risk Factors For Urinary Tract Infection In Older Adults

    Certain factors may increase the risk of UTIs in older people.

    Conditions common in older adults may lead to urinary retention or neurogenic bladder. This increases the risk of UTIs. These conditions include Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and diabetes.

    They often require people to wear incontinence briefs. If the briefs arent changed regularly, an infection may occur.

    Several other things put older adults at risk for developing a UTI:

    • a history of UTIs

    Also Check: Lower Back Pain Causing Urinary Problems

    What Does A Uti Feel Like

    Generally, UTIs feel like a sharp burning sensation while urinating. Oftentimes, the burning is from the acidic urine irritating the lining of the bladder and urethra, urologist Lisa Hawes, MD, told Readers Digest. The bacteria damages the lining of the bladder and urethra and then the acidic urine acts like alcohol over a cut, causing the burn. You may also experience itching and a constant feeling of needing to urinate. If you have a UTI, back pain might also be something you notice. Back pain is one of the common symptoms of a bladder infection, which is a type of UTI.

    But is it possible to have a UTI without Symptoms? Could you be sick and not even know it? The scary answer is yes.

    Private Duty Nursing Services

    Urinary Tract Infection, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

    Sometimes, seniors need help with more than daily living tasks and require a licensed medical professional. Centric Healthcare offers the services of private duty nurses who attend to your or your loved ones medical needs in your home. Examples of our services that can assist in the treatment and prevention of UTI include assistance with catheter care, medication administration, and a trained eye that can help identify self-care needs and watch for classic and non-classic UTI symptoms.

    Read Also: What Antibiotics Treat Urinary Tract Infections

    Increased Frequency Of Urination

    Urinary tract infection is one of the most common causes of frequent urination.

    Frequent urination is defined as the need to urinate more than usual. This symptom is often confused with urinary urgency. It is an inconvenient symptom that can greatly disrupt daily life for a person with UTI.

    The byproducts of the infection will create inflammation and irritation in the linings of the urethra and bladder. As a result, the irritation of the bladder wall creates the urge to empty the bladder frequently.

    Furthermore, the bladder also often feels full. During each trip to the bathroom, the amount of urine is often less than the usual amount.

    The bladder also sends confusing signals to the brain. The body would feel the need to pee even when the bladder might not be full.

    Typically, the bladder can often hold as much as 600 ml of urine . The urge to urinate is usually felt when the bladder contains about 150 ml of urine .

    Most people urinate between 4 to 8 times, depending on fluid intake, over a 24-hour period.

    Youre Using Certain Methods Of Birth Control

    When it comes to UTI prevention, not all birth control methods are created equal. Luckily, only one method is associated with UTIs: a diaphragm.

    Because of where the diaphragm sits, it puts pressure on the urethra, which might lead to an increased risk, says Minkin. The good news? There are plenty of other great birth control options.

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    When To See A Healthcare Provider

    While mild UTIs in healthy adukts will often go away on their own without treatment, you shouldn’t avoid seeing a healthcare provider to get a urine test or start treatment.

    If you develop signs of a kidney infection, including flank pain, nausea, or vomiting, you need to see a healthcare provider immediately.

    If you are pregnant, you should never take a chance with UTIs, especially if you have diabetes, HIV, or have had previous infections. Even mild symptoms should be looked at, treated, and monitored to ensure that the infection is fully cleared.

    Without exception, any symptoms of suggestive of sepsis should be treated as a medical emergency. This is especially true in babies or the elderly.

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