Urinary problems seem to occur more as you age. From leaks, to pain, to greater frequency, when it comes to bladder problems, there are several. There is one problem in particular that if not caught early on can lead to serious health problems.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more common among women, but men can develop them too. They cause urination to become painful and uncomfortable. Furthermore, your need to urinate increases exponentially. UTIs are most commonly caused by the E. coli bacteria, which is commonly found around the colon or anus in women. UTIs are more common in women because unlike men, their urethras are shorter, which makes the passing of E. coli from the colon to the bladder much easier to occur.
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The good news is that UTIs can be treated with antibiotics, and the effectiveness of these antibiotics is determined by how early on the UTI is caught. By recognizing the seven symptoms of a urinary tract infection, you’ll be able to see your doctor earlier rather than later and have yourself properly treated.
Common symptoms of a urinary tract infections
Dysuria (painful urination): It shouldn’t hurt to urinate, so if you experience painful urination, something is clearly wrong. Pain may feel sharp or it may even feel like a burning sensation.
Frequent urination: Constantly going to the bathroom to urinate regardless of how much you drink is another sign of UTIs. You may also find that when you go to the bathroom, even though the strong urge to urinate is there, only a small amount of urine comes out.
Urinary urgency: When you have to urinate, you have to do it at that very second or else you feel as if you’ll have an accident! Not only will you feel as if you have to urinate more, but that urge to go is very immediate.
Lower abdomen tenderness or lower back pain: If a bladder infection is not treated immediately and spreads to the kidneys, it can result in lower back pain. Lower abdomen pain is often a result of cystitis, another type of bladder infection.
Bloody urine: Your urine may have a tinge of pink or reddish color to it as a result of red blood cells leaking from your kidneys or from other areas of the urinary tract. In some cases, blood in the urine is microscopic, so although it may not be noticeable to you, your doctor will be able to detect it upon further review.
Strong-smelling urine: If you never noticed a smell from your urine before, and now it seems as if the whole bathroom is filled with an odor after you pee, this is another sign of a urinary tract infection.
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Cloudy urine: Urine generally should be fairly clear with a yellowish to clear color. Cloudy urine is another symptom you shouldn’t ignore.
As mentioned, the earlier you have these symptoms checked out and treated, the better you will feel and the lower the risk of developing a more serious infection.
Related: 5 yoga poses to strengthen your bladder
