Plan to Stay in Shape Today URINARY TRACT INFECTION

Plan to Stay in Shape Today URINARY TRACT INFECTION

DID YOU KNOW? 50 60% of women will experience a urinary tract infection at least once in their lives. Though less common, men can also get UTIs. URINATING IS A NORMAL, VITAL HUMAN FUNCTION. URINE IS PRODUCED BY A SET OF COMPLEX, HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED ORGANS CALLED KIDNEYS. Kidneys filter the blood. This means they re extremely important in keeping the body alive. They re part of the urinary, or renal, system, which includes several organs. Like all organs, kidneys can get infected. In this guide, you ll learn about the urinary system. The urinary system is like a sophisticated machine, but can still fall prey to a number of diseases. We ll take a closer look at the most common of these: cystitis, also known as a urinary tract infection (UTI). The physical differences between men and women extend to their urinary systems. That s why this guide is divided into two sections: one for women and one for men. Of course, feel free to read both!

TABLE CONTENTS OF 4 10 13 19 The body s filtering system Kidneys, bladder, tubes Urinary tract infection: Your bladder under attack Ladies, you re at greater risk Gentlemen, you are not immune

THE BODY S FILTERING SYSTEM Kidneys, bladder, tubes The urinary system is made up of a few vital organs: two kidneys and a bladder. The kidneys have the biggest job to do, since they filter and purify the blood in your body. The other parts of the urinary system are used to transfer and hold the urine before it s expelled from the body. URINARY SYSTEM 4URINARY TRACT INFECTION KIDNEYS URETERS BLADDER URETHRA The kidneys and the bladder are linked by two small tubes called ureters. Another tube, the urethra, runs out from the bladder, allowing urine to be expelled from the body.

Our kidneys: The body s filtration system A kidney is about the size of an adult fist. It looks like a kidney bean (hence the name). Your kidneys are located on either side of your spinal column, just below your ribs. They re not in your lower back, as is often assumed, but rather in the middle. The kidneys work together with the lungs, heart, brain, liver, and a number of other organs. Together, they keep your body balanced and healthy. If you think of your body as a sports team, the kidneys are two of your star players. They re involved in a number of vital functions, like: > Filtering the blood > Eliminating waste, drugs, and other foreign substances found in the blood > Controlling blood pressure > Regulating the amount of water in the body > Regulating the amount of nutrients in the blood to keep the cells functioning properly > Controlling the body s acidity to keep the organs working properly 5URINARY TRACT INFECTION

DID YOU KNOW? The average male body holds five to six litres of blood; women hold four to five. Our kidneys filter about a litre of blood every minute. So in about five minutes, your kidneys filter all the blood in your body. A big job for small organs! 6URINARY TRACT INFECTION Let s take a closer look at this sophisticated machine! If you d look at one of your kidneys through a microscope, you d see that it s made up of tiny blood vessels. These vessels carry blood so that it can be filtered. Because these vessels are so small, the kidneys can easily sort out waste, drugs, water, and electrolytes. When the kidney detects one of these substances, it decides whether to send it through to the bladder to be eliminated as urine. Blood that has passed through WHAT ARE ELECTROLYTES? Electrolytes are minerals that play a role in some of the body s vital functions. For muscles to contract, the heart to beat, and bones to grow strong, you need electrolytes. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium are all well-known electrolytes. the kidneys is sent back clean to the body and used for its vital functions.

Storage and excretion: The bladder and urine The bladder is the organ used to temporarily store urine. It is enveloped by muscles that allow it to expand or contract. When the bladder is emptied, it s called miction, or urination. The bladder can take on a number of shapes, depending on how much urine it contains. Think of a balloon that can be full of air or deflated. Now fill it with urine instead of air. That s your bladder! 7URINARY TRACT INFECTION DID YOU KNOW? The kidneys produce between one and two litres of urine a day. Why is urine yellow? The various substances eliminated by our bodies as waste make urine yellow. The waste is created through digestion and as old blood decomposes. When you drink enough water, the kidney detects that your body has enough and eliminates the rest through urine, making it pale in colour.

If you don t drink enough water or exercise and lose a lot of water through sweat, your urine will be dark. That means it contains more waste than water. This is completely normal. It just means your kidneys are saving as much water as possible to keep your body functioning properly. 8URINARY TRACT INFECTION Should I worry if my urine changes colour? The amount of liquids you drink isn t the only factor that can change the colour of your urine food and prescription drugs can too. Eating a lot of beets, for example, can drastically change the colour of your urine. The colour of your urine can also tip you off to a health problem. For example: > If your urine is really dark (brownish, even) and your feces are very pale, you may have a liver problem. If you notice these symptoms, see a health professional without delay. > If your urine is pink, red, or even brown, it may contain blood. If you have blood in your urine, it may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (bladder, kidneys, etc.) or another condition. These symptoms are also a good reason to see a health professional without delay. In either case, when in doubt, talk to your healthcare professional!

As soon as I finish my coffee, I have to pee. That s normal. Once again, your kidneys are responsible! The amount of urine produced by your kidneys depends on your water, alcohol, coffee, and medication intake. Diuretic medication and foods cause you to urinate more frequently. In terms of comestibles, you ll have noticed that alcohol, caffeine, and various fruits and vegetables have diuretic properties. 9URINARY TRACT INFECTION

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS Your bladder under attack All of the organs in the urinary system can be infected by microbes. The urethra the small tube exiting the bladder is an easy pathway for bacteria looking to enter the body and attack the urinary tract. There are different types of urinary infections, each caused by a different microbe. When someone talks about a UTI (urinary tract infection) or cystitis, they re talking about the same problem: an inflamed bladder. So there are three names for the problem we ll be discussing in the next few paragraphs. To keep things simple, we ll use just one: UTI. URINARY TRACT INFECTION 10

What are the most common symptoms of a UTI? Here are the most common signs and symptoms of a UTI, both for men and women: > Frequent need to urinate > Urgent need to urinate > A burning sensation when peeing > Inability or difficulty emptying your bladder fully > Urine has blood in it, has a foul odour, or is cloudy > Pain or discomfort in your lower abdomen 11 URINARY TRACT INFECTION What should I do if I experience these symptoms? First of all, these symptoms should not be taken lightly. You should see a health professional as soon as possible in order to avoid complications. A doctor might have a sample of your urine analyzed. Urinary tract infections can be serious. The sooner you deal with yours, the less chance there is of complications. FICTION: I think I have a UTI. I m going to wait it out it ll probably go away on its own. FACT: UTIs need to be treated ASAP! The longer you wait, the greater the risk of complications.

Types of complications When a urinary tract infection isn t properly treated, the bacteria can travel up the tubes that run between the bladder and the kidneys and attack the kidneys. When a kidney is infected in this way, it s called pyelonephritis. It s the most common complication of a UTI. The symptoms include fever, lower abdomen and back pain, general discomfort, nausea, and vomiting. If you experience these symptoms, see a health professional without delay. Treatments A number of prescription medications can reduce your symptoms and accelerate your recovery from a UTI. In most cases, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. When you receive your medication, it s important to follow the instructions and take your prescription until it s finished. Treating an infection is as important for men as it is for women. URINARY TRACT INFECTION 12 A few helpful IFs 3 If you re a woman 3 3 If it isn t the first time you ve experienced these symptoms If you meet certain specific criteria Your pharmacist may prescribe a UTI treatment if it makes sense to do so. For more information, just ask a pharmacist.

LADIES YOU RE AT GREATER RISK

It s well known that men and women are different on many levels. The differences that interest us here are the anatomical differences of their urinary systems. Bladder Urethra In men, the urethra goes through the prostate and ends at the tip of the penis. It is a conduit for both sperm and urine. URINARY TR AC T INFEC TION Bladder 14 Anus Urethra Vagina In women, the urethra is located near the vaginal orifice and is only a conduit for urine.

Because of their anatomy, the urethras of women are more likely to become infected. Here s why: > Women have shorter urethras than men. This means that bacteria have a shorter distance to travel before they reach the bladder and cause an infection. > The urethra is located near the anus. This increases the likelihood that bacteria will enter the urinary tract. In addition to anatomical differences, women are at greater risk of developing UTIs for the following reasons: > Sexual intercourse: makes some women more prone to UTIs by pushing bacteria into the urethra. > Pregnancy: the significant hormonal changes caused by pregnancy and the shift in the position of the urinary system can increase the likelihood of infections. > Menopause: the drop in female hormones following menopause reduces the body s natural defences against UTIs. If you are post-menopausal, your doctor may prescribe hormone therapy. 15 URINARY TRACT INFECTION

URINARY TRACT INFECTION 16 Let s talk prevention Luckily, there are many ways to reduce the risk of getting a UTI: > Drink a lot of water about six to eight glasses per day. A glass equals 250 ml or one cup. > Avoid spicy foods and other irritants (coffee, tea, alcohol, etc.). > If you need to pee, pee. Don t hold it in! > Make sure you empty your bladder completely when you pee. > Urinate after having sexual intercourse. It stops the bacteria from travelling up your urethra. > Use a lubricant during sexual intercourse to reduce vaginal dryness and irritation. > Avoid using scented soaps and vaginal douches. They can irritate your vagina. > Develop good personal hygiene. > After you defecate (go poo), always wipe from front to back. > When menstruating, change your tampons and sanitary pads often.

FACT AND FICTION FICTION: Once I ve had a UTI, I m immune from repeat infections. FACT: Some women repeatedly get UTIs. In such cases, it s important to put all the preventive measures into practice to reduce the number of infections. Your doctor may also prescribe a preventive treatment. To find out more, just ask a healthcare professional! 17 URINARY TRACT INFECTION FICTION: I have a UTI. I ll just pick up some cranberry juice at the grocery store! FACT: Cranberries are small red berries that have antibacterial properties. Cranberries can not treat a UTI. As for drinking cranberry juice to prevent future infections, scientific studies have left some questions unanswered. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that drinking cranberry juice will stop you from getting a urinary infection.

FICTION: Urinary infections cause intense itching or burning sensations in the genital area. FACT: If you have experience an itching or burning sensation around your genitals, it s probably not a UTI. Frequent itching is usually a sign that the vagina has been infected by a candida fungus what s called a yeast infection. If you experience these symptoms, be sure to consult your health professional. FICTION: UTIs can be transmitted during sexual intercourse. FACT: Your sexual partner cannot catch your UTI. But the symptoms of a UTI, especially the burning sensation when you pee, can be much like the symptoms of certain STIs and BBVs (sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses). Which means taking precautions is still your best option. If you re worried and need more information, just ask your health professional! URINARY TRACT INFECTION 18

GENTLEMEN YOU ARE NOT IMMUNE

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) As a man, you have far less chances of getting a UTI. The reason is simple: your urinary tract is designed differently. For men under 50, UTIs are quite rare. When they do occur, it s usually tied to sexual activity that infects the urethra. Most of the men who get UTIs are over 50. Unlike their female counterparts, UTIs in men over 50 aren t caused by bacteria entering the urethra, but rather by urine that is never completely emptied from the bladder. The prostate is usually to blame. The prostate is a gland that s part of the male reproductive and urinary system. It has an oval shape with a rounded tip and varies in size from one man to the next. It can be as small as a walnut or as big as a small apple. The prostate is located just under the bladder. The urethra passes right through it. URINARY TRACT INFECTION 20 Prostate gland

The prostate s main job is to produce the liquid part of sperm, the contents of which keep the spermatozoa alive. With age, the prostate gland increases in size. This usually starts in a man s early 40s. By the age of 60, around half of men have an enlarged prostate. Having an enlarged prostate is a common cause of UTIs. As it grows, the prostate gland tends to exert pressure on the urethra, shrinking it. Just imagine squeezing a garden hose with your hands the water will have a harder time getting through. It s the same thing for a urethra that travels through an enlarged prostate gland: it makes it harder to push urine out of the bladder. If old urine stays in the bladder, bacteria will start to grow, and a UTI can soon follow. Other factors can make it more likely for men to get UTIs: > Kidney stones > An abnormal urinary tract > A recent urology surgery or urology exam As for the symptoms of a UTI, whether you re a man or a woman, they re mostly the same. In men, the prostate gland can cause prostatitis, which can be just as serious if left untreated. 21 URINARY TRACT INFECTION

Prostatitis Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. For men, this is a more common problem than UTIs themselves. There are different types of prostatitis. The most common are: > Chronic pelvic pain syndrome: The main symptom of this condition is pain in the lower abdomen and genital organs that isn t caused by a bacterial infection. This is a poorly understood condition that occurs mostly in younger men. > Acute bacterial prostatitis: A single occurrence of prostatitis caused by bacteria. > Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Recurrent prostatitis caused by bacteria. Normal prostate Prostatitis URINARY TRACT INFECTION Prostate Urine Urethra Urine Inflamed prostate 22

What are the symptoms of prostatitis? A number of symptoms are associated with prostatitis, and some are like the symptoms of a UTI. The symptoms can be quite different from one man to the next. They are: > High temperature and shivering > General discomfort > Blood in your urine > A burning sensation when you pee > Pain when you ejaculate > Pain in your genital organs, bum, or back APPROXIMATELY ONE IN TWO MEN WILL DEVELOP A FORM OF PROSTATITIS AT SOME POINT IN HIS LIFE. Rest assured: > Prostatitis is not a form of prostate cancer. > Having prostatitis does not increase your risk of prostate cancer. > A change in how you pee: peeing more often, feeling an urgent need to pee, or producing a thinner stream when you pee If you experience these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as you can. He or she will assess your condition and prescribe an appropriate treatment. For the purpose of the assessment, your doctor may proceed with a rectal examination. The point of a rectal exam is to assess the size of your prostate, see if it has any anomalies, and see if it s painful. 23 URINARY TRACT INFECTION

WHAT IS A RECTAL EXAM? When you get a rectal exam, the health professional puts on gloves and inserts a finger into your rectum to examine the nearby organs. With men, this procedure can be used to examine the prostate. Although UTIs are rarer for men under 50, they can still happen. If you re under 50, it s still important to be aware of all the symptoms listed above. Some of them can be the result of an STI or BBV, which are not uncommon among younger men. URINARY TRACT INFECTION 24 A word about getting tested for STIs and BBVs Sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne diseases are on the rise, particularly among men between the ages of 15 and 24. The symptoms can be very similar to those of a UTI. Gonorrhoea, for example, can be accompanied by a burning sensation when you pee or pain in your lower abdomen. If left untreated, STIs and BBVs can cause serious damage by infecting other conduits or organs, and can even make you sterile.

CONCLUSION The urinary system is complex and highly sophisticated. Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are the most common type of infections with the urinary system. Women are more at risk of UTIs, largely due to their anatomy. But men are by no means immune. Whatever your age, if you experience the symptoms of a UTI, see your health professional as soon as possible! Remember: left untreated, UTIs can have serious consequences for your health. 25 URINARY TRACT INFECTION

Sources and useful links: > Public Health Agency of Canada http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ > Canadian Urological Association http://www.cua.org/ > College of Family Physicians of Canada http://www.cfpc.ca/ > The Kidney Foundation of Canada http://www.kidney.ca > MSSS, Quebec s Ministry of Health and Social Services http://itss.gouv.qc.ca/mts-its-itss.dhtml > The Canadian Journal of Urology http://canjurol.com/html > Canadian Cancer Society http://www.cancer.ca/ > Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada http://sogc.org/ URINARY TRACT INFECTION 26

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Plan to Stay in Shape Today IN GUIDE THIS The body s filtering system Kidneys, bladder, tubes Urinary tract infection: Your bladder under attack Only pharmacists are responsible for the professional activities of the pharmacy practice. They use various tools such as the PSST! (Plan to Stay in Shape Today) program. Printed in Quebec August 2016/056706 18010 Ladies, you re at greater risk Gentlemen, you are not immune