UTI - Urinary Tract Infection
UTI - Learn the basics about The urinary tract and how it gets infected
A UTI occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract and reproduce
out of control
The main factor determining whether or not
a UTI occurs is the strength of body's defense mechanisms at the time
The urinary tract
• Kidneys.
A pair of purplish-brown organs located below the ribs toward the middle
of the back. Kidneys remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood in the form
of urine, keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood, and
produce a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells
• Ureters.
Narrow tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder
• Bladder.
A triangular shaped chamber in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the
bladder
• Urethra.
Urine in bladder is emptied through the urethra
•
The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same.
Except the male urethra is longer
There are different types of UTIs depending
on location
• Urethritis.
An infection limited to the urethra, where most UTIs occur;
• Bladder
Infection (Cystitis). UTI spreads from urethra to the bladder;
• Kidney Infection
(Pyelonephritis). Untreated, sometimes the infection can
travel up
the ureters to infect the kidneys - a very serious condition.
• Bacterial
Prostatitis. Male-only UTI causing inflammation of the prostate
gland;
Candida albicans Overgrowth
- Candida
albicans naturally occurs in your body, but gets out of control because of antibiotics,
or antibiotic chemicals (E.g. chlorine in tap water, or sodium fluoride
in toothpaste)
- This yeast
can invite the bad bacteria to take up residency by changing the pH of your urinary
tract
- Take
Grapefruit Seed Extract
(GSE)
or a broad spectrum herb like
Wild Oregano Oil (WOO) .
Interstitial cystitis
(IC)
a.k.a. Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS)
Interstitial Cystitis (IC) -"Painful
Bladder Syndrome"
Body's defense against UTIs
Normal urine is sterile and has a slightly acidic pH.
Urine contains fluids,
salts, and waste products and is normally free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi;
-
Urine's only slightly acidic pH allows it to control growth of many microorganisms.
The bacteria that cause most UTIs like a more acid environment,
but produce alkaline waste that will eventually slow down their own growth;
-
Healthy pH urine levels are 6.0 - 6.5
in the morning and 6.5 - 7.0 in the evening .
The higher morning acidity
is due to decreased pulmonary ventilation that causes respiratory acidosis during
sleep.
-
Urine pH can vary from 4.4 - 8. When the body ingests
too many acid-forming foods/drinks, the acid can be buffered using alkalizing minerals,
such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium (borrowed from bone if not in diet).
Excess acids can also be excreted via urine, however, a urine pH below 6.0 (morning)
or 6.5 (evening) suggests that the body's buffering system is overwhelmed.
-
Diet rich in citrus fruits, most vegetables, and legumes will alkalize the urine.
A diet high in meat and cranberry juice will make the urine
more acidic.
Microbial resistant properties of bladder
lining, and prostate fluid (in men);
Flora maintain bacterial balance in anterior
urethra (part of urethra closest to where urine comes out of
body). Commonly colonized with normal flora, which usually maintains
a balance with bacterial contaminants, e.g. from rectum, skin, or vulva.
