Symptoms of a Bladder Infection

What Causes Chronic Bladder Infection?

The symptoms of a bladder infection are fairly clear: pain when urinating is one of the most common symptoms. What causes a bladder infection? And why do some infections recur? What causes chronic bladder infection? The answers to those questions can be found on this website page.

Symptoms of a Bladder Infection

Do you have pain when urinating? Do you have a severe 'burning' sensation when you urinate? Do you feel feverish and achy in the lower abdomen, back and sides? Do you have the urge to urinate frequently (more than six or seven times a day)?

All of these symptoms, and more, can be an indicator of a bladder infection; they can also be a symptom of other urinary tract infections.

An advanced infection can exhibit symptoms of a bladder infection that include high fever, chills, and nausea. That is an indication that the infection is spreading. See your doctor immediately.

What Causes a Bladder Infection?

• Waiting too long to go to the bathroom! The bladder stretches and contracts when urine is being held, and then released. If you wait too long, too often, you will weaken your bladder muscle. Because the muscle is weak, when you do urinate not all the urine will be released. That residual urine will increase the risk of a bacterial infection in the bladder.
• Sometimes, during sexual activity, bacteria in the vaginal area can enter the urethra.
• Pregnancy can cause a bladder infection, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. The pressure on the bladder may cause the bladder to not release all the urine (even though it feels like you have done so). Additionally as you grow larger, it becomes more difficult to wipe yourself properly after urinating.
• Constipation can create pressure on the bladder (as the colon presses up against it), this will also cause the bladder to not drain completely.
• Improper wiping after going to the bathroom. Always wipe front to back to ensure the bacteria from stool do not enter the urethra.

What to do about Chronic Bladder Infections?

If you are prone to chronic bladder infections (and a number of women are), then you need to take some preventative measures:

• Bacteria is often trapped in the area by synthetic, non breathable clothing. Try wearing underwear that is 100% cotton (at least in the crotch area) to allow moisture to escape. This will make the area 'less hospitable' to bacteria.
• Some doctors believe that thong underwear applies too much pressure and helps to 'push' the bacteria up into the urethra.
• Drink lots of water; each and every day.
• Practice good hygiene; shower or bathe daily. And wipe yourself from front to back after going to the bathroom.
• Do not hold the urge to urinate (you're too busy, no bathroom nearby, etc.). You should be urinating about six times a day.
• Urinate before and after sexual activity to try to eliminate the bacteria that may have entered the urethra during that activity.
• Keep your body in balance: take Vitamin C on a daily basis. Make sure it is a time-release Vitamin C as 'over-doses' are rapidly eliminated, rather than assimilated, by your body.
• Cranberry juice is recognized as having some very good health properties for treatment of urinary tract health conditions. Take a glass or two a daily as a preventative. There are also cranberry supplements that you can take to help your urinary health.

Bladder infections can be uncomfortable in the best case scenarios, and painful and serious in the worst case. Prevention is the best way to treat chronic bladder infections. Make sure you clearly understand the symptoms of a bladder infection because early treatment is the best treatment. Talk to your doctor before using bladder infection home remedies and about the causes of bladder infections.

We recommend BladderWell from Native Remedies for UTI, Bladder Infections and Cystitis; it helps to heal bladder and urinary tract infections, relieve burning sensations, frequent urination, and will improve complete urinary system health. Don't forget to check out this great product.

Another good product from Native Remedies is called UTI-Clear. It is a homeopathic remedy which helps to prevent bladder and urinary infections - it promotes a healthier bladder.