A bladder infection is a bacterial infection within the bladder. Some people call a bladder infection a urinary tract infection (UTI). This refers to a bacterial infection anywhere in the urinary tract, such as the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or the urethra. While most cases of bladder infection occur suddenly (acute), others may recur over the long term (chronic). Early treatment is key to preventing the spread of the infection.

What causes Bladder Infection?
Bacteria that enter through the urethra and travel into the bladder cause bladder infections. Normally, the body removes the bacteria by flushing them out during urination. Men have added protection with the prostate gland, which secretes protective hormones as a safeguard against bacteria. Still, sometimes bacteria can attach to the walls of the bladder and multiply quickly. This overwhelms the body s ability to destroy them, resulting in a bladder infection.
Bacteria that enter through the urethra and travel into the bladder cause bladder infections. Normally, the body removes the bacteria by flushing them out during urination. Men have added protection with the prostate gland, which secretes protective hormones as a safeguard against bacteria. Still, sometimes bacteria can attach to the walls of the bladder and multiply quickly.

Other factors can increase the risk of bladder infections for both men and women. These include:

Advanced age
Insufficient fluid intake
Surgical procedure within the urinary tract
A urinary catheter
Urinary obstruction, which is a blockage in the bladder or urethra
Urinary tract abnormality, which is caused by birth defects or injuries
Urinary retention, which means difficulty emptying the bladder
Narrowed urethra
Bowel incontinence
Pregnancy
Diabetes
Symptoms for Bladder Infections

Cloudy or bloody urine
Urinating more often than usual
Foul-smelling urine
Pain or burning when urinating
A frequent sensation of having to urinate, which is called urgency
Cramping or pressure in the lower abdomen or lower back
Bladder infections can also cause back pain. This pain is associated with pain in the kidneys. Unlike muscular back pain, you might experience pain on both sides of your back or the middle of your back. Such symptoms mean the bladder infection has likely spread to the kidneys. A kidney infection can also cause a low fever.

Bladder Infections - Decoding one of the Most Common Gynae Problem in Women

The prostate gland in males surrounds the urethra, through which urine and sperm are passed out of the body. Its function is to secrete a fluid, which provides nourishment to the sperm. It is about the shape of a walnut and is present between the pubic bone and the rectum.

As a man crosses 40, the prostate gland begins to increase in size due to an increase in the number of cells. This is known as hyperplasia.  The condition is usually benign and therefore the name benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). As it continues to grow, there is an increased pressure on the urethra. Therefore, there can be problems with urination. The bladder, being a muscular organ, compensates to some extent and so the problems with urination are mostly managed. If left untreated, this can continue to be a major problem and the bladder may not be able to compensate. In men who are 60-plus, BPH is very common.

Signs and symptoms 

One of the initial symptoms of BPH is when the urine stream begins to grow weak.
There could also be a reduced speed of passing urine.
Men with BPH never have a feeling of complete emptying of the bladder.
On the other hand, there is also a constant difficulty in initiating a urine stream. There could be intermittent breaks in the urine stream.
The person may feel the need to strain to initiate the stream and to ensure complete emptying.
There could be dribbling of urine after passing urine.
The duration between two bathroom visits can constantly reduce, with the constant urge to urinate.
There is a constant urge to visit the bathroom, which is more common in the night. One of the most annoying features of BPH is the walking up at night to urinate, but with an inability to initiate a stream and an inability to completely empty the bladder, it leaves the person very irritated and frustrated.
There could be blood in the urine. In fact, blood in the urine accompanied by fever, chills, nausea and vomiting are indications of an emergency.
There could be blockage of urine completely, if the enlargement is quite severe.
Diagnosis
If you are having any of these symptoms, then the doctor will first test for an enlarged prostate through a digital rectal exam. Then a test is done to check a chemical called prostate specific antigen.  Increased levels of this chemical is almost always indicative of BPH. In addition, X-rays and scanning may be used to confirm diagnosis. 

Treatment
Though medications are available, confirmatory treatment is through surgical removal. The procedure needs a inimum of 2 to 3 days.

Enlarged Prostate - 10 Warning Signs To Watch Out For

Infection caused in the kidneys, bladder, urethra or the ureters is known as urinary tract infection. According to doctors, women are generally more at risk of suffering from this condition than men. Some of the causes which contribute to the development of this infection are:

1. Invasion of bacteria: like any other infection, one of the causes of urinary tract infection is the invasion of the bacteria escherichia coli in the bladder. This type of bacteria is most commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract and is most often held responsible for urinary tract infection.

2. Spreading of the bacteria from anus to urethra: the spread of the gastrointestinal bacteria from the anus to the urethra leads to the infection of the urethra thereby causing urinary tract infection. 

Some of the symptoms of urinary tract infection are

1. A nagging urge to urinate: one of the most predominant symptoms of urinary tract infection is a persistent, nagging urge to urinate. You would know your urinary tract is infected when you feel the urgency to urinate extremely frequently.

2. There is a burning sensation when you urinate: the symptoms of urinary infection are extremely visible and are felt intensely by the one suffering from it. If you feel a burning sensation while urinating, chances are extremely high that you are suffering from urinary tract infection.

3. Red colored urine: sometimes your urine may contain perceptible amount of blood in them. In most cases, presence of blood in urine is a definite sign of urinary tract infection.

4. Foul smelled urine: an internal infection in the urinary tract manifests itself in different ways. One of the chief symptoms of this infection is discharging foul smelling urine.

5. Pain in the pelvic area: women who suffer from urinary tract infection experience excruciating pain near the pelvic area, sometimes extending to the pubic bone.

Causes and Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection

What is Diabetic Nephropathy?

Diabetic nephropathy (Diabetic Kidney Disease) is defined as the progressive damage to the kidneys caused by diabetes. It is characterised by the scarring of the glomeruli in the kidneys due to prolonged diabetes mellitus.

What Causes Diabetic Nephropathy?

Diabetes is a condition characterized by high concentration of blood sugar. Although the cause of Diabetes Nephropathy is not yet well defined, it is likely that the high sugar levels in the blood damage the blood vessels present in the kidneys that help to filter waste products, thus resulting in decreased kidney function and ultimately, kidney failure.

Not everyone with diabetes suffers from diabetic nephropathy. Although, factors that can increase your chances of getting diabetic neuropathy are-

Smoking

Poor control of blood glucose

High blood pressure

History of kidney diseases

What are the symptoms of diabetic nephropathy?

In the early stages, there may be no symptoms at all, but as the disease progresses, you may notice swelling in the extremities like your feet. Thus it is recommended to get your blood albumin levels tested on a regular basis. If it is diagnosed in early stages, the damage can be reversed. Other symptoms that can indicate damage to the kidneys are-

Severe malaise

Headaches

Nausea

Lack of appetite

Frequent voiding

Itchiness of skin

General feeling of illness

Diagnostic tests that can confirm diabetic nephropathy are-

Routine urine test (urinalysis) - Kidney diseases are detected by the presence of a protein in the urine called albumin and this condition is called albuminuria. Other parameters that must be regularly monitored are-

Blood pressure

Cholesterol levels in your blood

How can you treat/ manage diabetic nephropathy?

If this type of nephropathy is diagnosed in the early stages, the damage to the kidneys can be reversible. The key to managing diabetic nephropathy are-

Diet: Reduce the dietary intake of salt, phosphorous and potassium in the advanced stages.

Glycemic Control: Monitor your blood glucose levels regularly

Management of Hypertension: It is important to manage your blood pressure as it can have a direct effect on the coronary blood vessels which in turn pump blood to the various blood vessels of the body

Renal Replacement Therapy: In chronically ill patients, renal replacement therapy is the best option. This can include haemodialysis (a procedure to flush out toxins from the blood, such as urea), peritoneal dialysis or ultimately renal transplantation.

Diabetic Nephropathy - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Severe disorders in one or more kidneys can be debilitating since the quality of life is severely affected. If you suffer from such a condition, you may already be undergoing dialysis. But, have you considered kidney transplant yet? 

Here is a look at some benefits of kidney transplant over dialysis.

1.Increased life expectancy

You may not know this, but dialysis restricts your life expectancy. For instance, a person undergoing dialysis at 30 will have a life expectancy of 15 more years. However, with a transplant, you can go on to lead a full life. The same 30-year old person will have a life expectancy of 30 additional years in case of a transplant from a brain-dead donor. If the donor is a healthy individual, life expectancy may extend to 40 years as well.
Therefore, if you want to live longer, you need to seek a kidney transplant.
2. Enhanced quality of life
Not only does severe kidney disorder mean relying on dialysis, but it also imposes other major restrictions in regards to diet and lifestyle. However, the kidney transplant is a more permanent solution to the problem. Once the transplant is completed and you recover from the surgery, you can resume a normal life. Additionally, some of the dietary restrictions are also lifted in such a case. 

Why dialysis is more common?
Dialysis is more common for the following reasons-
    The kidney to be transplanted may not be readily available. You would be placed on a list and it may take a while for a suitable kidney to arrive. During this period, you would need to undergo dialysis.
    Since dialysis is a minimally invasive procedure, it is often preferred by patients. However, kidney transplantation is better in the long-term.



Why Should You Opt For Kidney Transplant Instead Of Dialysis?

A problem pertaining to the storage function of the bladder that results in bouts of sudden, often uncontrollable urge to urinate is referred to as an overactive bladder. This condition which is marked by unconditioned or involuntary loss of urine can sometimes be quite difficult to stop. People who experience such a condition often feel humiliated and as such tend to limit their social and work life. Despite such, only a few are conscious that a brief evaluation can help them manage and overcome an overactive bladder.

Mechanism of urination

During urination, the urine proceeds from the bladder and flows into the urethra which is located at the tip of the penis in men and above the vagina in women. As the bladder fills, the nerve signals in the brain prompts urination by coordinating the relaxation and contraction of the urinary sphincter muscles.

Causes and symptoms of an overactive bladder

Primarily caused due to involuntary contraction and relaxation of sphincter muscles, several conditions can lead to overactive bladder. 

Some of them are: 
1. Parkinson's disease, alzheimer's and other neurological disorders
2. Poor kidney function due to diabetes
3. Medications that lead to increased production of urine
4. Bladder abnormalities like tumors or stones
5. Constipation
6. Excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol

Some of the common signs of an overactive bladder are:
1. Bouts of sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate
2. Awakening at night frequently to urinate
3. Urinating more than eight times a day

Risks
The risk of an overactive bladder gradually increases with age. Conditions, such as diabetes and an enlarged prostate results in the increased likelihood of an overactive bladder. People who have previously faced strokes and heart attacks experience cognitive decline, which often times lead to the development of an overactive bladder.

Urinary incontinence as well as a host of associated factors can be detrimental to your life. Emotional distress, interrupted sleep cycles and depression are some of the observed complications of this condition.

Thus if you experience or entertain suspicion of an overactive bladder, you should consider visiting a general physician who might refer you to a specialist, if need be.

All about Overactive Bladder

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