What is urinary tract infection? Functions of the urinary system The urinary system refers to all organs in the body from the kidneys, ureters, bladder to the urethra. In addition to 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 urethra is one of the natural openings to the outside of the body, bacteria or other microorganisms can be avoided from entering the urinary tract. The 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 tract. Just like the flu, everyone can get it, so urinary tract infection is not an unspeakable disease. Also catheterization or long-term placement of catheters etc. in the urinary system can cause cystitis, urethritis etc. Bacteria can also be caused by the blood circulation system to the kidneys. In summary, bacterial infections of the urinary tract mainly come from the urethra upstream, but there are other different routes of infection. Taking the seriousness of urinary tract infections seriously For the average healthy adult, urinary tract infections may not be a serious illness, 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 pyelogram tests may result in “acute pyelonephritis,” which can leave kidney scars and affect kidney development or cause high blood pressure in youth. Urinary tract infections in the elderly, bedridden patients, or diabetic patients can cause sepsis and even be fatal if not treated properly. What kind of people are prone to urinary tract infections? Women, children, the elderly, bedridden patients, or patients with congenital urinary tract or neurological disorders, urinary tract stones, kidney disease, diabetes, etc. are at high risk for urinary tract infections. Some people cannot go to the toilet at any time because of their work, such as drivers, stock market salesmen, teachers, nurses, salesmen and so on, are also at high risk of urinary tract infections. In addition, people who are often constipated are also a high risk group for urinary tract infections, and proper management 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 of 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 inflammation of the kidneys. Therefore, it is 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 your urine, it will stay in the bladder and become a breeding ground for germs to grow.