Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/872903
WHILE THE BLADDER and urethra (canal that carries urine from the bladder out of the body) are the most common sites of a UTI, the kidneys (internal organs that filter urine) and ureters (ducts that funnel urine from the kidneys to the bladder), are also susceptible. UTIs can be caused by fungi or bacteria, but most occur when E. coli bacteria from the digestive tract enters the urinary tract. Sexual intercourse is also a factor, as sex can introduce bacteria into the ureter. Some health conditions can increase the risk for UTIs. These include constipation, kidney stones, dehydration and diabetes. Women have a greater than 50 percent lifetime chance of developing a UTI, due largely to female anatomy. "Women do not have a prostate, which acts as a kind of barrier against UTIs in men, and women have a shorter urethra, so it's a quicker pathway for the bacteria to travel," says Brent Yanke, M.D., attending physician in urology at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, "Bacteria can more easily move from a woman's urethra to her bladder to cause an infection." Symptoms like abdominal pain, a frequent urge to urinate, foul-smelling urine, cloudy or reddish-color urine, and burning or tingling during urination can signal a UTI. "Untreated bladder infections can lead to kidney infections, which are more serious, so seek treatment if you suspect you have a UTI," Dr. Yanke says. "Your doctor can diagnose the condition through urinalysis and prescribe oral antibiotics that typically clear up the infection within three to 14 days." DO's and DON'Ts TO PREVENT A UTI: urinate after sexual intercourse. "Both men and women should take this preventive step," Dr. Yanke says. "Doing so flushes bacteria from the urinary tract." DON'T neglect hygiene. Wiping front to back may keep bacteria from traveling to the urethra. TO HELP CURE A UTI: drink lots of water or other fluids. Drinking helps flush toxins and bacteria from your system. DON'T stop treatment just because symptoms improve. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for a UTI, it's important to finish the complete dose. "Antibiotics kill most of the bacteria after a few days, which is why you start to feel better," Dr. Yanke says. "But the remaining bacteria keeps growing, so if treatment stops at this point, the infection could recur." Understanding UTIs A urinary tract infection, also known as a UTI, is a condition that sends more than eight million people to the doctor annually. P H Y S I C I A N RE F E R R A L / / 718 . 49 9. C A RE 7 D O s A N D D O N ' T s