Urinary System (General)

General Information
  • Body processes such as digestion and metabolism (when the body turns food into energy) produce wastes, or byproducts. The body takes what it needs, but the waste has to go somewhere. Thanks to the kidneys and pee, it has a way to get out.
  • The kidneys are key players in the urinary tract. They do two important jobs — filter waste from the blood and produce pee to get rid of it. If they didn't do this, toxins (bad stuff) would quickly build up in your body and make you sick. 

Things In You're Urine
Urine contains:
  • water
  • urea, a waste product that forms when proteins are broken down
  • urochrome, a pigmented blood product that gives urine its yellowish color
  • salts
  • creatinine, a waste product that forms with the normal breakdown of muscle
  • byproducts of bile from the liver
  • ammonia

Terms
  • kidneys: two bean-shaped organs that filter waste from the blood and produce urine
  • ureters: two thin tubes that take pee from the kidney to the bladder
  • bladder: a sac that holds pee until it's time to go to the bathroom
  • urethra: the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body when you pee

Nutrients Needed for a Healthy Bladder
  • Making some simple lifestyle changes‚ such as swapping potentially troublesome foods for more healthful items, can help you alleviate overactive bladder symptoms.
  • We know that consuming the right amount of fiber can stave off constipation and constipation is not only uncomfortable, but it can also increase the likelihood of both OAB and incontinence. Because the bladder and colon are in close proximity, being constipated puts constant pressure on the bladder.
  • To get the most out of your fiber intake, combine both soluble fiber, which absorbs water and slows digestion, and insoluble fiber, which helps maintain regularity, Newman suggests. Good sources of fiber include whole-grain bread and cereals, barley, brown rice, oatmeal, beans, peas, apples, cabbage and carrots. For snacking, try fresh or dried fruit, raw veggies, popcorn, whole-grain crackers or a handful of nuts.
  • Instead of coffee...drink herbal tea
  • Instead of seltzer...drink spring water
  • Instead of milk or dark chocolate...eat carob
  • Instead of raw onions...eat cooked onions
  • Instead of citrus fruits...eat blueberries, pears
  • Instead of artificial sweeteners...eat sugar


How are UTI's diagnosed?
  • Urine tests: A sample of your urine is collected and sent to a lab for tests to learn what germ is causing your infection. You may be able to give a urine sample by urinating into a cup.
  • Blood tests: You may need blood tests to check if you have a prostate infection.
  • Imaging tests: You may need imaging tests if your UTI does not get better or you get another UTI. 
Urinary Infections
Women
  • UTIs are a key reason women are often told to wipe from front to back after using the bathroom. That's because the urethra -- the tube that transports urine from the bladder to the outside of the body -- is located close to the anus. Bacteria from the large intestine, such as E. coli, are in the perfect position to escape the anus and invade the urethra. From there, they can travel up to the bladder, and if the infection isn't treated, continue on to infect the kidneys. Women may be especially prone to UTIs because they have shorter urethras, which allow bacteria quick access to the bladder. Having sex can introduce bacteria into the urinary tract, too. 
  •  Symptoms of UTIs
  • Here are Symptoms of UTIs To identify an UTI for women
  •  Keep an eye out for the following symptoms:A burning feeling when you urinateA frequent or intense urge to urinate, even though little comes out when you doPain or pressure in your back or lower abdomenCloudy, dark, bloody, or strange-smelling urineFeeling tired or shakyFever or chills (a sign the infection may have reached your kidneys)

Men
  • A urinary tract infection (UTI) is caused by bacteria that get inside your urinary tract. Most bacteria that enter your urinary tract are expelled when you urinate. If the bacteria stay in your urinary tract, you may get an infection. Your urinary tract includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Urine is made in your kidneys, and it flows from the ureters to the bladder. Urine leaves the bladder through the urethra. A UTI is more common in your lower urinary tract, which includes your bladder and urethra.
  • Urinating more often or waking from sleep to urinate
  • Pain or burning when you urinate
  • Pain or pressure in your lower abdomen
  • Urine that smells bad
  • Leaking urine
MLA Format
Works Cited

"Eat Your Way to a Healthy Bladder." - Overactive Bladder. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.

"Urinary System." InnerBody. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.

"Urinary Tract Infection In Men - Symptoms & Treatment Options." Urinary Tract Infection In Men - Symptoms & Treatment Options. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.

"Urinary Tract Infection In Men - Symptoms & Treatment Options." Urinary Tract Infection In Men - Symptoms & Treatment Options. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.