November 23, 2023 McKin Health

UTI's and Bladder Health

Urinary tract infections (UTI’s) can affect anybody and that is why it is important to take care of your bladder health. UTI’s are preventable and it is important to recognize UTI symptoms and address the infection with your healthcare providers before they worsen and become more serious. See your healthcare provider if you believe you may have a UTI.

UTI Symptoms

Blood in urine
Stomach pain
Dark and cloudy urine
Pain when urinating
Fever
Fatigue

Preventing UTI’s

There are many steps you can take in your daily life to prevent UTI’s, one of which is staying hydrated. It is recommended for most populations to drink 6-8 glasses of water daily to stay hydrated during your daily activities. It is also recommended to avoid beverages that contain caffeine, such as coffee or teas, as they can dehydrate you.

Additionally, according to studies, cranberry supplements and cranberry juices have been used as a method of UTI prevention for many as it can lower the possibility of developing one in certain populations.

UTI’s are an issue for many demographics, and it is important to recognize symptoms and get treated before it worsens.

Urostomates and UTI’s

Urinary tract infections (UTI’s) can happen to anybody and in any age group but if you are a urostomate, they may occur more frequently. A urostomy is a type of surgery that allows urine to leave your body through a stoma as opposed to going through a bladder and can increase the likelihood of urinary tract infections occurring. This can be due to a variety of factors due to the urinary tract still being in place and if bacteria are still able to find its way into the body, UTI’s are still possible. Urostomate’s may be more vulnerable to this due to your body being more vulnerable after surgery.

A way that urostomates can prevent UTI’s is to empty your pouch frequently, as urine is an environment that causes bacteria to develop quickly and as a result, if your bag gets too full, it may cause urine to flow backwards into the stoma. Most urostomy appliances come with a non-return valve that prevents this from occurring but it’s best to double check with your stoma care nurse.

McKin Health offers a variety of products for urinary health including our UTIVA Urinary Tract Infection Control Supplement for UTI prevention.