A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an unpleasant experience for anyone. You may be someone more likely to get a UTI. In that case, it is important to know ways to prevent an infection. Keep reading to find out how to prevent a UTI.

Symptoms and Causes of a UTI

When you get a UTI it is usually due to excess bacteria that can get into the urethra. This condition will cause inflammation as well as irritation. A UTI causes symptoms like:

• Pain when urinating
• A feeling of pressure in the pelvic area
• Cloudy or abnormal colored urine
• Strong smelling urine
• Flank pain (pain in the sides around the kidney area)

The bacteria that cause the infection are introduced from outside of the body. Females are more prone due to the short length of their ureters. However, it is a relatively common infection, and everyone should know how to prevent it.

Best Ways to Prevent a UTI

The best treatment is prevention. So, here are a few ways that will help you minimize the chances of urinary tract infection:

• Practice good hygiene
• Drink more fluids
• Urinate more frequently
• Change clothes more often
• Evaluate eating habits

All these suggestions are helpful in the prevention of a UTI. Good hygiene practices limit the number of bacteria that could cause infection. Drinking more fluids helps hydrate and will allow you to urinate more frequently. Urinating more frequently and increasing fluid intake will help flush the tract and remove the bacteria that could cause infection.

If you have sharp abdominal pain, blood in your urine, or fever and you suspect you have a UTI, call your doctor ASAP. Any symptoms like these could be signs of a kidney infection, which develops when a UTI is left untreated for too long.

If you suspect you may have a UTI and live near Chattanooga, TN, call UT Urology at (423) 778-5910 to help with diagnosis and treatment. The doctors at UT Urology will help you with the best ways to prevent UTIs. Remember, prevention is the best medicine!

Summer is finally here and we can expect at least a few months of hot, humid weather. In many ways, this is a good thing. Summer means ice cream and swimming and lounging in the sunshine. It also means that the conditions are prime for bacteria to thrive both inside and outside of the body. According to research, summer is the season in which UTIs are much more common, especially in young women.

UTI is a urinary tract infection, a treatable condition that can develop in either the upper or lower urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the bladder itself, the urethra, the ureters, and also the kidneys. Seeing that approximately 40 percent of all women develop at least one urinary tract infection in their lifetime, it is essential that we gain awareness of the cause, treatment, and prevention of this condition.

One of the most common causes of urinary tract infections is the introduction of e. Coli bacteria into the urethra and, from there into the bladder. During the summer, several factors can contribute to an increased UTI risk, including:

• Urination habits. During the summer months when many people are busy traveling, there may be more than a handful of moments in which one holds their urine for longer than is healthy. This can increase the risk of bacteria in the urinary tract.
• Dehydration is also more common in the summer months. A lack of hydration means less dilution of the fluids being flushed from the kidneys and also less frequent urination that clear the urinary tract.
• Bathing suits and wet suits. As if the heat and humidity were not enough of a factor for thriving bacteria, we also throw in ample time lying around in a wet bathing suit. This combination is a win-win for the microorganisms and a lose-lose for you.
• Sexual activity doesn’t necessarily increase during the summer months but this is a contributing factor to UTIs that is often overlooked so needs to be mentioned. This risk can be significantly decreased by cleaning the genital area before and after sexual intercourse (both partners) and also by urinating after sex.

Treating the Average UTI

Signs of a UTI include a strong urge to urinate followed by little urinary output. UTIs also typically include burning or cramping upon urination. At the first signs of infection, it is beneficial to visit a healthcare provider. A simple urine test can quickly confirm a UTI. Antibiotic treatment typically begins immediately and clears the infection within a matter of days.

The longer a UTI lasts without treatment, the more challenging it can be to treat. Don’t wait to receive proper care. We’re here to help. Call UT Urology in Chattanooga at (423) 778-5910 to schedule your consultation and examination.

When you urinate, the last thing you expect is to see red. To notice visible blood in your urine can feel frightening, and may send you into a tailspin of investigative work. What could be the reason for blood in the urine? What might it mean for your health? Why are there no other symptoms to speak of? These are all normal questions, and they can be answered by your Chattanooga urologist.

Without causing unnecessary alarm, our first recommendation if you have observed blood in your urine is that you schedule an examination and consultation with us. The team at UT Urology has extensive training in conditions affecting the urinary tract, including the kidneys, bladder, and other structures. We are here to help you make sense of the mystery of hematuria and to provide treatment focused on the resolution of this problem.

When there is blood in the urine, what we want to determine is its source. There are three common areas from which blood cells may be released: the bladder, the ureters, or the urethra. You know the bladder as the container for urine. The ureters are the small tubes that attach to the kidneys and the bladder. The urethra is the tube through which urine is excreted.

Causes of Blood in Urine

There are several potential reasons for the release of blood cells into the urine. For this reason, it is important to see us for a thorough evaluation, whether or not hematuria is accompanied by other symptoms, such as discomfort or a strong and frequent urge to urinate. Some of the common reasons why one may see blood in their urine include:

• Bladder infection, or urinary tract infection. Typically, burning upon urination will also occur, but not always, so don’t rule out this possibility.
• Kidney infection. This condition may also cause fever and chills, or pan in the low back.
• Kidney stones. Most people are aware that kidney stones are likely to cause intense abdominal or pelvic pain as they pass.

Lesser known reasons for hematuria include enlarged prostate, tumors (benign or malignant), and strenuous exercise. A comprehensive examination that includes urinalysis, bloodwork, and other screenings as needed will help us determine the underlying cause of blood in the urine, as well as the most appropriate approach to treatment.

At UT Urology, our primary concern is your comfort and health. Contact us at (423) 778-8765 to schedule your visit.