The urinary system refers to all organs in the body from the kidneys, ureters, bladder to the urethra. In addition to being responsible for excreting the body’s metabolic waste, it plays an important role in electrolyte balance, blood production, bone metabolism, endocrine regulation, blood pressure and water control. Why do we have urinary tract infections? Urine is sterile in a normal healthy urinary system, but because our external urethral opening is one of the body’s natural openings to the outside world, it is inevitable that bacteria or other microorganisms will enter the urinary tract as a result. The external urethral opening is very close to the anus, so E. coli from the anus can easily travel backwards to the bladder and cause bacterial infections in the urinary system. Just like the flu, everyone can get it, so urinary tract infections are not an unspeakable disease. Also catheterization or long-term placement of catheters etc. in the urinary system can cause cystitis, urethritis etc. All in all, bacterial infections of the urinary system mainly come from upstream infections of the urethra, but there are other different routes of infection as well. For the average healthy adult, urinary tract infections may not be a serious disease, and may only cause discomfort and inconvenience in life. However, if a urinary tract infection occurs in children or the elderly, it needs to be treated aggressively because it is likely to cause inflammation of the kidneys. For example, urinary reflux in children and repeated acute pyelonephritis may result in “chronic pyelonephritis,” which can leave kidney scars and affect kidney development or cause high blood pressure in young adults. Urinary tract infections in the elderly, bedridden patients, or diabetic patients can lead to sepsis and even be fatal if not treated appropriately. What types of people are susceptible to urinary tract infections? Women, children, the elderly, bedridden patients, or patients with congenital urinary or neurological disorders, urinary stones, kidney disease, or diabetes are all at high risk for urinary tract infections. Some people cannot go to the toilet at any time because of work factors, such as drivers, stock market salesmen, teachers, nurses, supermarket cashiers, etc., are also at high risk for urinary tract infections. In addition, people who are often constipated are also one of the high-risk groups for urinary tract infections. Proper handling of constipation can also help prevent urinary tract infections. Poor lifestyle habits can easily lead to urinary tract infections People who have bad lifestyle habits, such as holding urine and drinking less water because they are very concerned about the cleanliness of public toilets, are at high risk for urinary tract infections. So the direction of daily cleaning should be wiped from the front urethra to the back of the anus to avoid bringing the E. coli bacteria near the anus to the urethra and causing infection. The recurrence rate of urinary tract infections is quite high. If you underestimate the signs of discomfort and are embarrassed or ignore them without seeking medical treatment, it is likely that the symptoms will worsen, leading to urethritis, cystitis, prostatitis, urinary stones, and even difficulty urinating and kidney inflammation. Therefore, it is quite important to take care of your urinary system on a daily basis. The actual fact is that you can find a lot of people who are not able to get a good deal on a lot of things. If you often hold urine, it will remain in the bladder and become a breeding ground for the growth of germs.