Health Essentials
Urinary tract infection is common, do not take it home!
Have you ever experienced a burning sensation while urinating? Did your urine have a strong smell? Were you also experiencing frequent urination at the time?
Then you may have had a Urinary Tract Infection. The above symptoms are but a few of the symptoms if it presents any.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can occur in any part of your urinary tract – kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. Infections of the lower urinary tract – the bladder and urethra – are most common.
Women are more likely to experience UTIs than men. Infections of the bladder can be uncomfortable and unpleasant, but if a UTI spreads to your kidneys, serious consequences can occur.
There are not always symptoms associated with urinary tract infections, but when they do occur they may include:
- A strong, persistent urge to urinate
- Burning sensations when urinating
- Routinely passing small amounts of urine
- Cloudy urine
- Blood in the urine may appear red, bright pink, or cola-coloured
- Strong-smelling urine
- A woman may experience pelvic pain, especially in the area of the pubis
Elderly adults are more likely to overlook UTIs or confuse them with other conditions.
Infections can occur in different parts of the urinary tract, and they are called by different names depending on where they happen.
- Cystitis of the bladder can cause you to pee excessively or to feel pain when you do. It can also cause you to have cloudy urine or blood in your urine.
- Pyelonephritis (kidneys) can result in fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and upper back pain and discomfort.
- Urethritis may cause a discharge and pain when you urinate.
Bacteria entering the urinary tract through the urethra and multiplying in the bladder often cause urinary tract infections. Even though the urinary system is designed to protect against such bacteria, these defences sometimes fail. If that occurs, bacteria could take hold and grow into a full-blown infection in the urinary tract.
- Infection of the bladder (cystitis). In this type of UTI, Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract (GI), is responsible for the infection. However, other bacteria can also cause infection. Sexual intercourse may lead to cystitis, but you don’t have to be sexually active to develop it. A woman’s anatomy makes her vulnerable to cystitis, especially the short distance between the urethra and anus and the opening along the urethral wall that leads to the bladder.
- Infection of the urethra (urethritis). In this type of UTI, GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra. Additionally, because the female urethra is located close to the vagina, infections such as herpes, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and mycoplasma may cause urethritis.
Women are prone to urinary tract infections, and many experience more than one infection in their lifetime. Specific risk factors for women include:
- Female anatomy. Women have a shorter urethra than men, which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder.
- Sexual activity. Women who are sexually active tend to have more UTIs than those who aren’t. Switching partners also increases your risk.
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- Birth control methods. Women who use diaphragms for birth control, as well as those who use spermicidal agents, may be at higher risk.
- Menopause. As estrogen levels decline during menopause, you become more susceptible to infections in the urinary tract.
- Abnormalities of the urinary tract. The risk of UTIs is higher in babies born with abnormalities of the urinary tract that prevent urine from leaving the body normally or cause urine to back up in the urethra.
- Urinary tract obstructions. UTIs can be caused by kidney stones or an enlarged prostate that trap urine in the bladder.
- A suppressed immune system. The risk of UTIs increases with diabetes and other diseases that impair the immune system.
- Catheter use. An increased risk of UTIs exists for people who can’t urinate on their own and use a tube (catheter). The category may include people who are hospitalised, people with neurological problems that make it hard for them to control their bladder function, and people who are paralysed.
- Recent urological surgery. An exam of your urinary tract with medical instruments or a surgery on your urinary tract can both place you at risk for urinary tract infections.
Infections of the lower urinary tract rarely result in complications when they are treated promptly and properly. An untreated urinary tract infection, however, can cause serious complications.
Complications of a UTI may include:
- Recurring infections, especially in women who experience more than two UTIs in a six-month period or four or more within a year.
- Acute or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) caused by an untreated UTI that permanently damages the kidneys.
- Pregnant women are more likely to deliver low birth weight or premature babies.
- Men with recurrent urethritis have narrowing (stricture) of the urethra, a condition previously seen with gonococcal urethritis.
- Infections can lead to sepsis, which is a potentially life-threatening complication, especially if the infection goes into your urinary tract or kidneys.
Here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of urinary tract infections:
- Drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Drinking water helps dilute your urine and ensures that you’ll urinate more frequently — allowing bacteria to be flushed from your urinary tract before an infection can begin.
- Drink cranberry juice. Although studies are not conclusive that cranberry juice prevents UTIs, it is likely not harmful.
- Wipe from front to back. Doing so after urinating and after a bowel movement helps prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
- Empty your bladder soon after intercourse. Also, drink a full glass of water to help flush bacteria.
- Avoid potentially irritating feminine products. Using deodorant sprays or other feminine products, such as douches and powders, in the genital area can irritate the urethra.
- Change your birth control method. Diaphragms, or unlubricated or spermicide-treated condoms, can all contribute to bacterial growth.
Source:
Maureen Masopeh and Tina Amarh
Content Creators
Health Essentials Ghana Limited
References:
- Mayoclinic.org
- Webmd.com
Health Essentials
Do you want to be happy?
Don’t we all dream of a life that is filled with laughter? That may be a reason for chasing big bucks, which like the Golden Fleece eludes the majority of us.
Financial Wellness is extremely important but there are other factors that make us happy and healthy and eventually wealthy.
I will introduce a few everyday activities that are guaranteed to make you happy if you continue practising them.
You definitely do not need to live in Finland to experience happiness even though many people agree that is the “headquarters” of happiness.
1. Wake-Up Ritual
a. Say to yourself that today will be a beautiful day or a great day!
b. Ask God what He has in store for you. Use me Lord (if not a Christian what you believe in will be useful as well.
c. Remind yourself of your purpose in life and get out of bed.
d. Do Not grab your phone as the first thing for the day.
2. Pray
a. Talking to God has a way of calming our nerves. It brings about unexplained peace and when we add praise and worship then the floodgates open. That is how to win battles against unhappiness.
3. Smile
a. Definitely floods your body with feel good hormones and insulates you from stress.
b. Smiling is infectious so the more you smile the better and you set off a smiling OR happiness domino effect.
4. Meditate
a. Extremely good for your brain and an easy way to start is to do deep-breathing and just focus on your “breath” excluding all others. That is what some will prefer to call mindfulness. Being in the moment has immense benefits. Things you never knew existed suddenly spring up.
5. Exercise
a. That wonder drug that trumps virtually all others. Like smiling it does pour out feel good hormones. Strength training even goes an extra mile causing our muscles to act as “pharmacies” that pour out life-changing signals every time they contract.
6. Be kind to yourself & to others
a. We are often too harsh on ourselves. Give yourself a break. Self-care is the real deal!!
b. Being harsh to others has no benefits.
7. Spend some time doing nothing!
a. We need to re-set from time to time. Spend about 10 minutes a day doing absolutely nothing. There is happiness and innovation in “idling”. Do not abuse idling though.
8. Spend time with loved ones.
a. This is another powerful happiness “hack”. You have to make time and be intentional about this; talk on phone, send messages, arrange to meet for a drink or meal. Social Wellness ranks very high on the happiness index and it’s fairly easy to plug into it.
b. While spending time together remember that your choice of food and drinks also impacts on how happy or sad or anxious you may feel.
9. Indulge in a hobby.
a. Our bodies and brain love variety. Do you have a hobby? Get one
10. Write in your gratitude diary.
a. That is all it takes – keep doing it regularly.
11. Get a pet.
This list is not exhaustive but definitely a good start. Share your happiness hacks with me via email and together we can keep the world smiling and happy.
At the end of each day ask yourself if you did better than the previous day. That is all it takes. Doing better than the previous day for 365 days, for 5 years, 10 years… How amazing that will be!!!
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ Medics Clinic
(dressel@healthessentialsgh. com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “There is no magic formula to being happy but making a conscious effort to be happy goes a long way.” – Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials
Measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer
May 17 is World Hypertension Day and please do not panic. This is not a stress-filled day that aims at increasing your blood pressure but rather it’s a day set aside to increase awareness of a serial yet silent killer. That is exactly what Hypertension it; its killing the young and old at an alarming rate yet in most instances people with high blood pressure may feel absolutely well.
The theme for this year is “Measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer”
Do these when you take your blood pressure since the accuracy of the reading matters:
• If you have been walking or running rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes
• No caffeinated drinks or alcohol two or three hours before checking blood pressure
• Sit (sometime you may need to stand or lay in bed) comfortably with your back rested/supported and your arm for the cuff resting on a table of firm surface
• Have your feet flat on the floor and not legs crossed
• Ensure the cuff is the right size for your arm
• If using an electronic monitor ensure battery is working well
• If clothing covering arm is thick remove
• Loosen your neck-tie or belt if uncomfortable
• If you are not conversant with checking blood pressure, get the appropriate training
Global statistics show that only 50 per cent of those with hypertension are actually aware and that awareness in some areas may be as low as 10 per cent while awareness may exceed 75 per cent in a few areas.
The bitter truth is some people do not have enough information about the condition, a significant number do not have easy access to measuring their blood pressure and a few stubborn ones think it is better not to know if something is going wrong.
What do we need to understand about our blood pressure numbers? There are ALWAYS two numbers in a blood pressure reading such as 120/80mmHg. The top figure represents the force of the blood against the artery (blood vessel) walls as your heart beats and the lower value represents the force on the walls in between beats or while the heart rests. Both numbers are important.
Essentially when your blood pressure is higher than it should normally be all organs in the body are exposed to elevated pressures since arteries supply blood to every part of the body. These sustained high pressures will be causing harm gradually every minute of the day.
Prevention of high blood pressure is based mainly on adopting the appropriate lifestyle, while having regular medical check-ups to pick up conditions that can may lead to hypertension if not tackled early. Management of hypertension on the other hand requires a three-pronged attack in most situations;
• Lifestyle modifications
• Regular medical checks to pick up other conditions that be worsen our hypertension or general wellbeing
• Use of appropriate physician prescribed medication
Age and our genes may have a way of increasing our blood pressure or predisposing us to hypertension, but since we have no control over the choice of our family and years rolling by, it may be worth focusing on the above three that we can control to a large extent.
Lifestyle Modification
• Exercise adequately
• Do not smoke
• Limit or avoid alcohol
• Aim at fat (weight) loss
• Manage stress appropriately
• If you have sleep apnoea (intermittent snoring during sleep and feeling tired and sleepy on waking up) seek medical intervention
• Adopt the DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet; low sodium (salt), increased potassium from fruits and vegetables, low or no saturated fats and increased fibre.
• Control conditions such as diabetes, cholesterol challenges and kidney disease.
Exercise need not be rushing to the gym to sweat out only, but taking walks, gardening, cleaning your home, using the stairs and many others. Exercise increases heart function and lowers blood pressure but there is a little hitch: the benefits of exercise on blood pressure do not last beyond 72 hours.
In short frequency is the watch word. Do not be a once a week or once a month exercise fan. The effect of exercise on the heart does not rely on past glory so if you were an athlete years ago but you have now become one with your sofa, I am sorry to disappoint you but you need to get moving NOW!
All types of exercises will benefit you and lower your blood pressure but a word of caution here;
• When your blood pressure is not controlled DO NOT lift weights above your head
• Do not overdo exercises of the upper body but lower body exercises such s squatting will enhance lowering of your blood pressure.
• Breathe properly especially while you train with weights; breathe out during the exertion phase as you lift a weight and breathe in while you relax.
• Of course brisk walking, swimming, use of the treadmill and other exercises that target heart function are also a must
When all is said and done, you can never know our blood pressure without measuring or checking it. Take a few minutes to check your blood pressure and ensure at least one other person checks their blood pressure before the end of the month.
Associations, companies and all identifiable groups should ensure they check their blood pressure and go an extra mile and as a corporate social responsibility help to check the blood pressure of hundreds or even thousands of people. You will be saving lives.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ Mobissel
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
